Multi-Frequency UWB Receiver Multipath Component Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing IR-UWB systems face challenges in determining multipath components in indoor environments due to interference situations, which affects the accuracy of position estimation and signal processing.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the transmission of UWB pulses at distinct central frequencies, where the receiver integrates and combines the squared moduli of complex samples at the same time of flight but different frequencies to isolate and determine multipath components beyond a predetermined threshold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multipath components are tracked using conventional methods in indoor environments, then position estimation can be performed, but interference between multipath components causes fading and loss of information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition estimation reliabilityVSAvoidsignal fading due to interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from single-frequency analysis to multi-frequency analysis by transmitting UWB pulses at multiple distinct central frequencies and combining the squared moduli of complex samples across different frequencies. This dimensional expansion from one frequency to multiple frequencies allows the system to overcome interference-induced fading at any single frequency, as the combination operation ensures that multipath components can be detected through at least one frequency where they do not fade.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If low-pass filtering is applied before multipath component detection to avoid fading, then some interference is reduced, but useful signal is suppressed and latency is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference reductionVSAvoiduseful signal suppression
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying low-pass filtering in the time domain, the patent changes the frequency parameter by transmitting pulses at multiple distinct central frequencies. The combination of squared moduli across these frequencies achieves interference mitigation without the signal suppression and latency penalties of temporal filtering, as each frequency component preserves the full bandwidth information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If multiple UWB pulses at distinct central frequencies are transmitted and combined, then multipath component determination accuracy is improved in interference situations, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultipath component determination accuracyVSAvoidtransmission and processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the UWB signal transmission into multiple pulses, each centered at a distinct frequency within the UWB band. This segmentation allows the system to process each frequency component separately through translation to baseband and integration, then combine the results. The segmentation approach manages complexity by breaking down the multi-frequency processing into manageable discrete steps while achieving superior accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If multipath components are used for position estimation when direct path is blocked (NLOS), then position estimation continuity is maintained, but interference from multiple paths increases measurement difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition estimation continuityVSAvoidmultipath component discrimination difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces multi-frequency analysis as an intermediary mechanism to discriminate multipath components in NLOS conditions. By translating pulses at different central frequencies to baseband and combining their squared moduli, the system creates frequency-diverse observations that make it easier to identify and track multipath components even when they overlap in time, thus maintaining position estimation continuity without excessive measurement difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively identifies and separates multipath components even in interference situations, enhancing the accuracy of position estimation and signal processing in IR-UWB systems.

Implementation Method 1

transmits a plurality of UWB pulses to a plurality (N) of distinct central frequencies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3471280B1Method for determining multipath components of a pulse-based UWB channel
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP3471280B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3471280B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3471280B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for determining the multipath components of a propagation channel in a geolocation system or an IR-UWB telecommunications system. The IR-UWB transmitter emits a plurality of UWB pulses at several center frequencies, sequentially or in parallel. The receiver translates the channel response to each of these pulses into baseband and integrates it over a plurality of time windows to provide intensity samples relative to successive times of flight. The intensity samples relative to the same time of flight and the different frequencies are combined to provide a composite sample at the output of a multiband IR-UWB receiver module (320). The multipath components are determined from the composite samples exceeding a predetermined threshold value (360).