Bluetooth Motion Detection Using Angle of Arrival and Departure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless networks lack an efficient method to detect motion within their vicinity without relying on dedicated motion sensors, which increases costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The system uses wireless signals, specifically Bluetooth packets with supplemental information, to estimate angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) information, comparing this to a reference angle to detect motion and determine direction, allowing operations to be triggered based on detected motion and direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dedicated motion sensors are used to detect motion in wireless networks, then motion detection capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables existing wireless communication devices to perform motion detection in addition to their primary communication function. By analyzing angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) information from standard Bluetooth packets, the system allows communication devices to serve dual purposes: data transmission and motion sensing, thereby eliminating dedicated motion sensors and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless communication system itself performs motion detection using its own transmitted and received signals. The AoA and AoD information, which are inherently generated during normal Bluetooth communication, are repurposed for motion detection without requiring external sensors or additional hardware, making the system self-sufficient for both communication and motion sensing tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If dedicated motion sensors are used to detect motion, then motion detection accuracy is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion detection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes inexpensive Bluetooth communication packets that are already being transmitted for data purposes. By repurposing these low-cost communication signals for motion detection, the system achieves sensing capability without investing in expensive dedicated sensors, effectively using cheap existing resources to replace costly specialized components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Device complexity

If angle estimation is performed using Bluetooth packets, then motion detection without dedicated sensors is enabled, but measurement precision may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidangle estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple angle measurement approaches (AoA from receiver perspective and AoD from transmitter perspective) to detect motion. By merging these two complementary measurements, the system compensates for individual measurement limitations and achieves reliable motion detection using standard Bluetooth communication without dedicated sensing hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors changes in AoA and AoD measurements over time and uses this feedback to detect motion events. By comparing sequential angle measurements and identifying significant deviations from baseline values, the system achieves reliable motion detection despite the inherent limitations of using communication signals rather than dedicated sensors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10462633B2Bluetooth based motion detection systems

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for detecting motion based on wireless signals. In some implementations, a receiving device may receive, from a transmitting device, a packet containing a sequence. In some aspects, the packet may be a Bluetooth packet, and the sequence may be contained in a supplemental information appended to the Bluetooth packet. The receiving device may estimate angle information of the packet based on the sequence, and determine a difference between the estimated angle information and a reference angle. The angle information may be an angle of arrival (AoA) or an angle of departure (AoD) of the packet. The receiving device may detect motion based on the determined difference.