Portable mmWave Imaging for Accurate Through-Obstacle Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging technologies using smartphones suffer from inaccuracies due to limited RF bandwidth and environmental obstructions, leading to poor position location and object detection, especially when objects or people are moving.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing mmWave RF radiation for beam steering and frequency sweeping, combined with adaptive antenna arrays, to generate real-time images or videos of the environment by analyzing reflections and scattering events, determining object positions and tracking movements using phase, time of arrival, and angle of arrival information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If RF bandwidth is limited for smartphone imaging, then device portability is maintained, but measurement precision and imaging resolution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna elements into an array configuration, where each antenna element processes a portion of the wide bandwidth signal. This merging approach enables the system to achieve high measurement precision through coherent integration of signals across multiple antennas, while distributing the bandwidth processing complexity across multiple simpler antenna elements rather than requiring a single complex wideband antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-antenna imaging to multi-antenna array imaging, adding the spatial dimension to the system. By arranging multiple antenna elements in specific geometric configurations (such as uniform linear arrays or planar arrays), the system achieves improved position location accuracy through spatial diversity and direction-of-arrival estimation, effectively trading increased device complexity in one dimension for significant gains in measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If directional multi-element antenna arrays are used to improve position location accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overall antenna array into multiple independent antenna elements, each capable of operating with standard bandwidth requirements. By dividing the complex wideband imaging function into multiple narrower-band antenna elements that work in parallel, the system achieves high position location accuracy through signal combining while keeping each individual antenna element relatively simple in design and implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with electronic signal processing approaches. Instead of using mechanical methods to determine position and orientation, the system uses electronic beamforming and phase difference measurement across the antenna array to achieve precise position location, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while improving measurement precision.
3Reliability
If physical obstructions are present in the environment, then imaging through obstructions becomes necessary, but signal degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiple antenna elements as intermediaries that can be positioned at different locations and orientations around the smartphone device. These antenna elements act as mediators to capture reflected, scattered, and diffracted signals from physical obstructions, enabling the system to reconstruct images of objects behind walls or other barriers by processing the composite signals received from multiple antenna perspectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite antenna array system where multiple antenna elements with different characteristics (such as varying orientations, positions, and potentially different frequency responses) work together as a unified imaging system. This composite approach enables the system to overcome signal degradation from obstructions by combining signals that have interacted with obstructions in different ways, thereby improving reliability of imaging through obstructions.
4Productivity
If objects or people are moving during imaging, then real-time tracking is required, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous imaging and tracking using the multi-antenna array system, where signal acquisition and processing occur continuously rather than in discrete intervals. This continuous operation enables the system to track moving objects and people in real-time by maintaining constant signal reception and updating position estimates, thereby achieving both high productivity through real-time capability and maintained measurement precision through continuous measurement and filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the position and motion information of detected objects are continuously fed back into the imaging and tracking algorithms. This feedback enables the system to adapt to moving targets by adjusting beamforming directions, updating tracking parameters, and compensating for motion-induced errors, thereby maintaining measurement precision while achieving real-time imaging capability.
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 accurate real-time imaging and position location of objects and people, even behind obstructions, with enhanced resolution and tracking capabilities, leveraging wide bandwidths and machine learning for improved environmental mapping.
Implementation Method 1
generating a first radiofrequency (RF) radiation based on beam steering or frequency sweeping using a wireless transmitter, providing the first mmWave RF radiation to the environment(s)
Implementation Method 2
receiving, at the wireless receiver, a second mmWave RF radiation from the environment(s) that can be based on the first mm Wave RF radiation... The second mm Wave RF radiation may be the result of the first mm Wave RF radiation suffering one or more reflections or scattering events off materials in the environment
Implementation Method 3
The second mm Wave RF radiation may be the result of the first mm Wave RF radiation suffering one or more reflections or scattering events off materials in the environment
Implementation Method 4
determining one or more of a phase, a time of arrival, a relative time of arrival, or an angle of arrivals of the second RF radiation... Information related to a phase(s) of the second mmWave RF radiation, a time of arrival of the second mmWave RF radiation, a relative time of arrival of the second mm Wave RF radiation, or an angle of arrival of the second mmWave RF radiation can be determined
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for selecting at least one location of (i) at least one receiver or transceiver or (ii) at least one transmitter or transceiver can be provided. For example, it is possible to facilitate a receipt, from the at least one transmitter or transceiver, of a plurality of signals by the receiver(s) or transceiver(s). Each of the signals has a multipath component. Then, it is possible to determine time of flight (ToF) information and angle of arrival (AoA) information of the multipath components present in the signals. Further, it is possible to determine one or more possible locations of (i) the receiver(s) or transceiver(s) or (ii) the transmitter(s) or transceiver(s) based on the ToF information, the AoA information, and a model of physical surroundings. The location(s) of (i) the receiver(s) or transceiver(s), or (ii) the transmitter(s) or transceiver(s) can be selected based on the one or more possible locations.