Radar-Based Gesture Sensing for Lighting-Robust Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch and in-the-air gesture interaction technologies are not robust to lighting changes, susceptible to hacking, and require significant processing power and cost, limiting their effectiveness and practicality in various applications.

Innovation Solution

A radar-based sensing system that uses radio waves to detect user interactions, employing inward and outward-facing transceivers and dynamically switching between trilateration and radar imaging modules to provide robust, high-resolution gesture recognition and scene analysis, capable of operating in diverse environmental conditions and through various materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If radar-based sensing system is used, then robustness to lighting changes and security against hacking are improved, but device complexity and processing power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobustness to lighting changesVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical-based sensing systems (camera, infrared) with radar-based sensing using radio waves. This substitution provides robustness to lighting changes because radar operates independently of visible light conditions, using electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency range to detect user interactions and gestures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces optical-based sensing systems with radar technology to achieve security against hacking and spoofing. Radar's ability to penetrate materials and its unique signal characteristics make it more secure compared to optical systems that can be easily spoofed with lights or cameras.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If radar-based sensing system is used, then robustness to lighting changes and security against hacking are improved, but processing power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against hackingVSAvoidprocessing power requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs radar technology to achieve security against hacking and spoofing attempts. Radar signals are harder to spoof compared to optical signals, and the system can detect genuine user interactions through material penetration and signal reflection characteristics, thereby improving security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional touch or gesture technologies are used, then processing power and cost are reduced, but robustness to lighting changes and security are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidrobustness to lighting changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces camera-based and infrared-based gesture recognition systems with radar technology. This substitution enables the system to operate robustly under various lighting conditions, including complete darkness or bright light, because radar uses radio waves that are unaffected by visible light variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The radar-based sensing system offers robust, efficient, and cost-effective detection of touch and in-the-air gestures, enabling reliable user interaction in challenging lighting conditions and through various materials, with reduced processing power requirements, making it suitable for a wide range of applications including smart devices and public displays.

Implementation Method 1

Radar, an abbreviation for 'radio detection and ranging,' is an object detection system that uses radio waves (electromagnetic waves between 3 MHz and 120 GHz) to determine range, velocity, angular direction, size and shape of objects.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Implementation Method 2

A radar-based sensing system uses radio waves to detect user interactions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation:

Data Source

PatentUS11953619B2Radar-based system for sensing touch and in-the-air interactions

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Radar-based sensing includes, at an electronic device that includes one or more radar-based transmitters and one or more radar-based receivers, transmitting, from one or more of the radar-based transmitters, radio waves into an area in a vicinity of the electronic device and receiving, at one or more of the radar-based receivers, radio waves reflected off one or more objects in the vicinity of the electronic device. The radio waves, as reflected off the one or more objects, can be processed using a radar imaging module.