Millimeter-Wave Motion Sensing via Antenna Cross-Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion sensing technologies in electronic devices, such as capacitive sensing and IR motion detectors, are bulky, inefficient in terms of power consumption, and require continuous monitoring, making them unsuitable for efficient gesture recognition and biometric monitoring.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing millimeter band transmit/receive antenna modules, operating in 5G NR wireless devices, to detect motion by analyzing the cross-coupling of H and V polarized signals, allowing for gesture recognition and biometric monitoring with minimal additional hardware and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capacitive sensing or IR motion detectors are used for motion sensing, then motion detection capability is achieved, but device size increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling existing transmit and receive antennas to serve dual purposes: wireless communication and motion sensing. The antennas detect gestures and biometric data through cross-coupling effects without requiring dedicated motion sensing hardware, thus reducing device size while maintaining motion detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the communication antenna system with the motion sensing function. By combining these functions into a single hardware system, the patent eliminates the need for separate bulky capacitive sensing or IR detector modules, thereby reducing overall device complexity while preserving reliable motion detection
2Reliability
If capacitive sensing or IR motion detectors are used for motion sensing, then motion detection capability is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using discontinuous transmission intervals for the antennas. Motion sensing is performed during specific transmission periods rather than continuous monitoring, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable gesture and biometric detection capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional antenna system allows the device to use existing communication infrastructure for dual purposes. This eliminates the need for separate power-hungry dedicated motion sensing hardware, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining motion detection reliability
3Reliability
If video processing of camera imagery is used for motion sensing, then motion detection capability is achieved, but computational requirements and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical and computational video processing system with an electromagnetic field-based sensing approach. The antennas directly detect motion through cross-coupling effects, eliminating the need for continuous camera imaging and heavy computational processing, thereby significantly reducing computational power requirements while maintaining motion detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electromagnetic signal copying instead of visual copying. Rather than capturing and processing visual images, the system captures electromagnetic field variations caused by motion, providing a more computationally efficient pathway to motion detection
4Measurement precision
If dedicated motion sensing hardware is used, then motion detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high precision motion detection using existing antenna hardware by implementing multi-functionality. The same transmit and receive antennas used for communication are leveraged for precise gesture and biometric sensing through cross-coupling analysis, eliminating the need for dedicated motion sensing hardware while maintaining detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the antenna system to enable precise motion detection. By analyzing cross-coupling effects and signal variations during communication operations, the system extracts precise motion information without adding hardware complexity
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
Enables efficient gesture recognition and biometric monitoring with reduced hardware and power requirements, effectively detecting presence, motion, and biometric data like heartbeat and respiratory rates using existing antenna modules in electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a transmit antenna operable to transmit electromagnetic signals
Implementation Method 2
a receive antenna coupled with a processor. The receive antenna is configured to receive H-polarized and V-polarized signals cross coupled from the transmit antenna
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Techniques for performing one or both of gesture recognition and biometric monitoring with an electronic device are disclosed, where the electronic device has a wireless communications capability using beamforming techniques and includes a plurality of millimeter wave antenna modules. Each module includes at least one transmit antenna and at least one receive antenna, operable in one or more frequency ranges not less than 20 GHz, the receive antenna coupled with a first branch configured to receive H-polarized signals and a second branch configured to receive V-polarized signals. Performing one or both of gesture recognition and biometric monitoring includes detecting a presence and motion of a reflective object or anatomical feature by determining a relationship between received H-polarized signals and received V-polarized signals for two or more receive antennas as a function of time.