Adaptive Radar Thresholding for Gesture Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in providing intuitive and non-intrusive user interfaces, particularly for portable devices, as traditional input methods like touchscreens can be cumbersome and ineffective in situations such as wearing gloves or dirty hands, and raw radar data often contains noise and irrelevant information, making gesture recognition difficult.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an adaptive thresholding and noise reduction system for radar data, which includes a processor configured to transmit and receive signals to track object movement, identify range and speed measurements, and recognize gestures based on these measurements, allowing users to interact with electronic devices without direct physical contact, using techniques like millimeter wave radar for high-resolution tracking and neural networks for signal processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional touchscreen or physical input methods are used, then precise input control is achieved, but usability becomes cumbersome especially when wearing gloves or with dirty hands

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveusabilityVSAvoidinput method complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical input methods (touchscreen, keyboard, mouse) with a radar-based gesture recognition system that uses electromagnetic waves to detect and interpret user gestures in three-dimensional space, eliminating the need for physical contact with the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If radar data is used for gesture recognition, then non-contact interaction is enabled, but noise and irrelevant information in raw radar data make gesture recognition difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction capabilityVSAvoidgesture recognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts relevant gesture information from raw radar data by implementing noise reduction algorithms and filtering techniques that separate meaningful gesture signals from irrelevant background noise and reflections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate processing layers including signal filtering, feature extraction, and pattern recognition algorithms that act as mediators between the raw radar data and the final gesture recognition decision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If millimeter wave radar is used for high-resolution tracking, then gesture detection capability is improved, but noise interference in the radar data increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking resolutionVSAvoidnoise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the challenge of noise interference into an opportunity by using advanced signal processing techniques that not only filter out noise but also enhance the useful signal components, turning a detrimental factor into a manageable parameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 efficient and accurate gesture recognition, allowing users to control electronic devices through non-contact means, improving usability and reducing noise interference in radar data, thus enhancing user interaction, especially in scenarios where traditional input methods are impractical.

Implementation Method 1

The transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals for measuring range and speed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

track movement of an object relative to the electronic device within a region of interest based on reflections of the signals received by the transceiver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

identify features from the reflected signals, based on at least one of the range measurements and the speed measurements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11567580B2Adaptive thresholding and noise reduction for radar data

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device for gesture recognition, includes a processor operably connected to a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals for measuring range and speed. The processor is configured to transmit the signals, via the transceiver. in response to a determination that a triggering event occurred, the processor is configured to track movement of an object relative to the electronic device within a region of interest based on reflections of the signals received by the transceiver to identify range measurements and speed measurements associated with the object. The processor is also configured to identify features from the reflected signals, based on at least one of the range measurements and the speed measurements. The processor is further configured to identify a gesture based in part on the features from the reflected signals. Additionally, the processor is configured to perform an action indicated by the gesture.