Wireless Earbuds Antenna Diversity for Indoor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Positioning systems using satellite or radio frequency signals face challenges in indoor environments due to signal penetration issues, multi-path effects, and shadowing, which degrade signal quality and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing two wireless earbuds with separate antennas configured to receive and transmit signals, employing diversity and MIMO schemes to mitigate signal degradation, and incorporating processors to determine user position and facing direction using signal strength, Time-of-Flight, and Angle-of-Arrival methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellite signals are used for positioning, then positioning can be achieved in outdoor environments, but satellite signals cannot penetrate walls and fail in indoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless earbuds as intermediary devices that receive positioning signals and relay positioning information to the user. The earbuds act as mediators between the signal source (smartphone/base station) and the user, enabling positioning functionality to work around physical barriers like walls by using acoustic transmission through the ear-canal pathway.
2Reliability
If radio frequency beacons are installed for indoor positioning, then positioning can be provided indoors, but multi-path effects and shadowing degrade signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional radio frequency signal transmission with acoustic signal transmission through the ear-canal pathway. This substitution of transmission medium (from electromagnetic waves in air to acoustic waves through bone/conductile pathways) avoids multi-path effects and shadowing that plague RF signals in indoor environments, as acoustic signals travel directly through the user's body structures.
3Measurement precision
If multiple antennas are used to mitigate signal degradation, then signal quality may improve, but device form factor constraints prevent sufficient spatial diversity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the antenna system from the traditional two-dimensional plane of the smartphone to the three-dimensional space of the human head, utilizing the vertical and lateral separation between ears. This spatial dimensionality change provides natural antenna diversity without requiring multiple antennas within the constrained smartphone form factor, as each earbud houses its own antenna separated by the distance between ears.
4Measurement precision
If user holds device for orientation-based positioning, then positioning accuracy may improve, but this requires manual user action and is not always practical
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining positioning information without requiring manual user actions. The earbuds continuously monitor acoustic signals and automatically calculate positioning data, eliminating the need for users to manually orient their devices or perform specific actions to obtain positioning information.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves positioning accuracy and provides interactive navigation and information services by enhancing signal quality and sensitivity to user movements, allowing for enhanced user experiences in indoor environments without the need for manual device orientation.
Implementation Method 1
the first antenna and the second antenna may be configured to receive signals from a same frequency channel... Diversity and Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) schemes may be used to mitigate the negative impacts of these degrading effects
Implementation Method 2
Diversity and Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) schemes may be used to mitigate the negative impacts of these degrading effects
Implementation Method 3
Based on the first signal and the second signal, the one or more processors may determine at least one signal strength. The one or more processors may then determine a position of the user relative to the beacon based on the signal strength
Implementation Method 4
employing diversity and MIMO schemes to mitigate signal degradation, and incorporating processors to determine user position and facing direction using signal strength, Time-of-Flight, and Angle-of-Arrival methods
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The technology provides for a pair of earbuds. For instance, a first earbud may include a first antenna, and a second earbud may include a second antenna. The pair of earbuds may further include one or more processors configured to receive, from the first antenna, a first signal from a beacon, and receive, from the second antenna, a second signal from the beacon. Based on the first signal and the second signal, the one or more processors may determine at least one signal strength. The one or more processors may determine a position of the user relative to the beacon based on the at least one signal strength.