Position Determination Using Sensor and External Device Collaboration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The miniaturization of electronic devices makes it difficult to accurately determine the position of other electronic devices using wireless communication signals, as the number of antennas required for precise positioning is hard to mount, leading to reduced accuracy.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device that includes a communication module, a sensor module, and a processor to receive wireless communication signals from external devices, determine directions, and collaborate with additional external devices to accurately position the target device, even in environments where GPS is unavailable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple antennas are used to improve position determination accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and difficulty of mounting increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination accuracyVSAvoidnumber of antennas
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a second external electronic device as an intermediary to provide additional direction information. Instead of requiring multiple antennas in one device, the system collaborates with another device to obtain the necessary bearing data from multiple perspectives, thereby achieving accurate position determination without increasing the antenna count in the primary device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-device multi-antenna approach to a multi-device collaboration approach. By adding the dimension of spatial distribution across multiple external devices, the system obtains direction information from different locations, enabling accurate triangulation without requiring multiple antennas within a single miniaturized device.

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

2Measurement precision

If multiple antennas are mounted to achieve accurate position estimation, then measurement precision improves, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition estimation accuracyVSAvoiddifficulty of mounting antennas
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a second external electronic device as a manufacturing intermediary. This external device provides the additional directional measurements needed for accurate position estimation, eliminating the need to physically mount multiple antennas in the primary device and thus simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the function of providing multiple bearing measurements from the primary device's antenna system and relocates it to external electronic devices. This separation allows the primary device to maintain a simple antenna configuration while still achieving accurate position estimation through collaborative measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If wireless communication signals from multiple antennas are used, then position determination accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses external electronic devices as intermediaries to collect and process wireless communication signals from multiple locations. The second external device captures signals and provides direction information, reducing the signal processing burden on the primary device while maintaining high position determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent shifts the signal collection dimension from multiple antennas within one device to multiple external devices in different spatial locations. This dimensional change simplifies the primary device's signal processing requirements while achieving the same measurement precision through distributed signal acquisition.

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

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 method enhances the accuracy of position determination for electronic devices by leveraging multiple external devices, enabling precise location tracking in challenging environments such as underground parking lots.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor module sensing a direction of the electronic device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSensor detection:

Implementation Method 2

receive at least one wireless communication signal from a first external electronic device through the communication module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave propagation:

Data Source

PatentEP3416439B1Position determination method and device
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3416439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3416439B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3416439B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may include at least one antenna, a communication module, a sensor module for sensing a direction of the electronic device, and a processor, wherein the processor may be configured to receive at least one wireless communication signal from a first external electronic device through the communication module, obtain direction information of the electronic device using the sensor module, receive at least one wireless communication signal information received at a second external electronic device and direction information of the second external electronic device from the second external electronic device, and determine the direction in which the first external electronic device is located, by using the at least one wireless communication signal information received from the first external electronic device, the direction information of the electronic device, and the at least one wireless communication signal information and the direction information of the second external electronic device received from the second external electronic device. In addition, other embodiments are also possible.