Multi-Antenna Mobile Ranging for 3D Sensing Without Extra Radar Hardware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices with limited antenna arrays struggle to achieve accurate 3-dimensional ranging and sensing due to insufficient angular resolution and reliance on separate radios for communication and radar, which limits their ability to detect gestures, bio-signals, and proximity of objects.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing multiple RF antennas on mobile devices to configure transmit and receive antennas based on device orientation, enabling bi-static or multi-static radar systems that leverage existing 5G mmWave or 802.11ad capabilities for ranging and sensing, allowing for gesture recognition, depth sensing, liveliness detection, and bio-signal measurement without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single radio is used for both communication and radar, then device complexity is reduced, but angular resolution and ranging accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into multiple independent RF antennas that can be individually configured as transmit or receive antennas. This segmentation allows the system to create multiple transmit-receive pairs from a single radio platform, enabling radar functionality without requiring separate communication and radar radios, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the RF antennas universal by allowing them to dynamically switch between transmit and receive modes based on operational requirements. The same physical antennas serve both communication and radar functions, as well as providing multiple transmit-receive pairs for enhanced ranging accuracy, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware components
2Measurement precision
If multiple RF antennas are configured as transmit-receive pairs, then ranging accuracy and angular resolution improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of antenna roles through processor control. The system can adaptively assign transmit and receive functions to different antenna pairs based on device orientation, target location, and operational requirements. This dynamic reconfigurability enables high ranging accuracy without requiring complex fixed hardware architectures
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's own orientation sensors and processor to automatically determine optimal transmit-receive antenna configurations. The mobile device self-configures its antenna pairs based on its spatial orientation and environmental conditions, eliminating the need for external complex configuration systems
3Ease of manufacture
If existing hardware is reused for radar functionality, then ease of manufacture improves, but sensing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing RF antennas to perform multiple functions including communication, radar transmission, and radar reception. By configuring antennas as transmit-receive pairs and utilizing reflected signals, the system achieves radar sensing capabilities with the same hardware used for communication, eliminating dedicated radar hardware while maintaining sensing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of existing hardware to enable radar functionality. By adjusting antenna configuration modes, signal processing parameters, and utilizing time-of-flight measurements of reflected signals, the patent transforms communication-grade hardware into a functional radar system capable of gesture recognition and bio-signal detection
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
Enhances sensing quality by providing 3-dimensional short-distance ranging, improving detection of bio-signals like heartbeat and breathing, and enabling advanced user interaction through gesture recognition and proximity detection, while reusing existing device hardware.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antennas configured to transmit (TX) or receive (RX) mm-wave RF signal
Implementation Method 2
at least one RX antenna receive portions of the at least one RF signal, wherein the portions are reflected from at least one object
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A mobile electronic device includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antennas and a processor. RF antennas are configured to transmit (TX) or receive (RX) at least one RF signal. The processor is configured to configure one RF antenna, among the plurality of RF antennas, as a TX antenna and remaining RF antennas as at least one RX antenna, cause the TX antenna to transmit the at least one RF signal, cause the at least one RX antenna to receive portions of the at least one RF signal, the portions reflected from at least one object, calculate each of flight times of the at least one RF signal with respect to each of the at least one RX antenna, and identify a location of the at least one object based on each of flight times of the at least one RF signal, wherein each of the plurality of RF antennas is reconfigurable as the TX antenna or the at least one RX antenna. A method for operating a mobile device is also provided.