Radar Vital Sign Tracking Without Contact Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking living objects in smart home and office environments require contact sensors, which are not user-friendly, and video-based systems that raise privacy concerns, especially in bedrooms and bathrooms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using at least one processor to track living objects by receiving signals from transmitting antennas, identifying locations, determining movements, and estimating vital signs, such as breathing rate and heartbeat, without the need for contact sensors or video surveillance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contact sensors are used for VS detection, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inconvenience of wearing sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact sensors with an electromagnetic wave-based radar system. The radar system uses transmitting and receiving antennas to detect vital signs through electromagnetic signals reflected from the human body, eliminating the need for physical contact or wearable devices while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic waves as an intermediary medium between the detection system and the human body. The radar system transmits electromagnetic signals that interact with the body's movement and vital signs, allowing indirect measurement without direct contact or visual observation.
2Measurement precision
If video-based VS monitoring is used, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to privacy concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical video-based monitoring with an electromagnetic radar-based system. This substitution allows vital sign detection through electromagnetic wave reflection without capturing visual images, thereby eliminating privacy invasion while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electromagnetic waves as an intermediary that interacts with the body's physiological movements without requiring visual observation. This intermediary approach enables accurate vital sign measurement while avoiding the privacy issues inherent in video surveillance.
3Measurement precision
If wire connection or wireless transmitter is used for sending VS data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection and transmission functions into a single integrated radar system. The same transmitting and receiving antennas that detect vital signs also transmit the data, eliminating the need for separate communication hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The radar system performs multiple functions using the same components: it transmits electromagnetic signals for detection, receives reflected signals for vital sign measurement, and transmits detection results for data communication. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the system architecture.
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 approach enables efficient and accurate tracking of living objects' locations and vital signs, improving convenience and privacy while avoiding the limitations of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
receiving, via a plurality of receiving antennas, signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitting antennas
Implementation Method 2
determining a movement of each of the one or more living objects based on the identified location
Implementation Method 3
detecting peaks in the frequency domain values with respect to a discrete time
Implementation Method 4
generating frequency domain values by applying a Fourier Transform to the sequence of received signal values
Implementation Method 5
determining one or more vital signs of each of the one or more living objects based on the movement of each of the one or more living objects
Data Source
AI summary
A method for tracking one or more living objects using at least one processor is provided. The method includes: receiving, via a plurality of receiving antennas, signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitting antennas; identifying a location of each of the one or more living objects with respect to a discrete time based on the signals received in a number of a sampling periods; determining a movement of each of the one or more living objects based on the identified location; determining one or more vital signs of each of the one or more living objects based on the movement of each of the one or more living objects; and tracking collectively the location and the one or more vital signs of each of the one or more living objects.