Radar Occupancy Sensing With Dynamic Pulse Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smart home systems lack efficient methods for managing radar usage and communication, particularly in detecting and interpreting object presence, movement, and input commands within a smart environment, which affects precision and accuracy in various applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing radar-based touch interfaces in computing devices with radar transceivers to detect objects, determine contact, and identify input commands based on location and movement, utilizing one-dimensional or multi-dimensional radar systems for proximity detection, occupancy determination, and motion classification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radar systems continuously operate to detect objects and gestures, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system operates in periodic pulses rather than continuously. The controller activates the radar transceiver at specific intervals to transmit radar signals, then enters a low-power state between pulses. This periodic operation maintains detection capability while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts radar operation based on detected activity. When motion or gestures are detected, the radar increases its activity and pulse frequency to maintain reliable tracking. When no activity is present, the radar reduces pulse frequency or enters standby mode, optimizing the balance between detection reliability and power consumption in real-time.
2Measurement precision
If radar transceivers operate at high power to improve detection precision, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system applies partial action by transmitting signals at sufficient power to achieve the required detection precision threshold, but not excessively high. The controller adjusts the transmit power to the minimum level needed for reliable detection at the given distance, avoiding the energy waste of excessive power transmission while maintaining adequate precision.
3Measurement precision
If multiple radar transceivers are used to improve detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system is segmented into multiple functional components: multiple transceivers for signal transmission and reception, a separate controller for coordinating operation and processing radar returns, and a gesture recognition module for interpreting detected movements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing functions across specialized modules.
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
Enhances precision and accuracy in detecting objects and interpreting input commands, enabling effective control of smart devices and environments while reducing power consumption through adjustable duty cycles and pulse intervals.
Implementation Method 1
a radar transceiver configured to detect one or more objects in the vicinity of the computing device
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for adjusting operation of an electronic device are described. In an example, while the electronic device is operating in a first operating mode according to a first parameter, a set of signals indicating an object in a room, and based on received reflected radar signals, are transmitted by a radar transceiver of the electronic device to one or more processors of the electronic device. By analyzing the set of signals to identify the object as a person, the one or more processors determine that the room is occupied. In accordance with determining that the room is occupied by the person, the electronic device is adjusted to operate in a second operating mode according to a second parameter suitable for sensing objects at a closer distance than the first parameter.