Mobile Device Radar Sensing for High-Accuracy Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional positioning technologies face challenges in achieving high accuracy, especially in indoor environments with flat, regular features and areas with moving objects, requiring multiple sensors and base stations, which increases complexity and cost, and may fail in scenarios lacking clear landmark structures or line-of-sight conditions.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communication device receives parameters from a network node to perform radar sensing, with the sensed data communicated back to the node for position determination, utilizing a coarse position and confidence measure to refine its location within a World Reference Frame, leveraging millimeter-wave Synthetic Aperture Radar (mmWave SAR) for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional radio-based positioning relies exclusively on communication between base stations and devices, then the system is simple to implement, but positioning accuracy is limited to a few meters and scales poorly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar sensing capabilities with conventional radio-based positioning systems. The mobile device integrates both a radio transceiver for network communication and a radar apparatus for local area sensing, merging two different sensing modalities to achieve high-accuracy positioning that overcomes the limitations of either system alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network node as an intermediary that receives radar sense data from the mobile device, processes this data along with radio-based position information, and computes the final high-accuracy position. This intermediary processing approach enables accurate positioning without requiring complex onboard processing in the mobile device.
2Measurement precision
If multiple base stations and anchor transmitters are deployed to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision increases, but installation cost and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the mobile device to perform self-positioning by using its own radar apparatus to sense the local environment and identify landmarks. The device independently captures radar data, processes it to determine its position relative to identified landmarks, and communicates only the final position result to the network, eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing base stations multi-functional by enabling them to serve both as communication nodes and as reference points for radar-based positioning. The network node processes both radio communication data and radar sense data, allowing the same infrastructure to support multiple functions without additional dedicated positioning infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If radar-based SLAM uses 360 degrees panoramic high-resolution range information to achieve accurate positioning, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent focuses radar sensing on the local area surrounding the mobile device rather than requiring complete 360-degree panoramic coverage. The radar apparatus senses landmarks in the immediate vicinity, and the system processes only the relevant local radar data needed for positioning, reducing processing complexity while maintaining sufficient accuracy for local navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified version of radar-based SLAM that processes only the essential radar data needed for positioning without implementing the full complexity of complete environmental mapping. The system performs partial SLAM functionality focused specifically on determining device position rather than creating comprehensive environmental models.
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
This approach enables cm-range accuracy in proximity to objects and slightly lower accuracy at greater distances, reducing the need for multiple sensors and base stations, while optimizing radar usage for efficient positioning in complex environments.
Implementation Method 1
the sensing is radar sensing of the local area
Implementation Method 2
leveraging millimeter-wave Synthetic Aperture Radar (mmWave SAR) for enhanced accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A position of a mobile communication device is determined. This involves the mobile communication device performing reception, from a network node that serves the mobile communication device, a request for sensing of a local area in accordance with one or more parameters that guide how and/or where the sensing is to be performed. In response to the request for the sensing of the local area, sense data is produced by performing the sensing in accordance with the one or more parameters. The sense data is communicated to the network node. In response to communicating the sense data to the network node, a position of the mobile communication device is received.