Screen-Integrated Millimeter-Wave Sensing Without Display Interference

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing AI applications on terminal devices, such as face recognition and fingerprint scanning, often require camera usage or screen interaction, which affects screen display.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a terminal device with transmitting and receiving antenna arrays for millimeter or terahertz electromagnetic waves in non-active areas of the screen to sense user information, allowing for 2D/3D modeling without activating cameras or touching the screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If camera or fingerprint sensor is used for sensing user information, then sensing accuracy is improved, but screen display is affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensing accuracyVSAvoidscreen display impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sensing function from the traditional camera/fingerprint sensor location and implements it through antenna arrays positioned in non-active areas of the screen. This separates the sensing operation from the display operation, allowing both to function simultaneously without interference. The antenna arrays are specifically placed in regions that do not affect the active display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna arrays serve multiple functions: they are used for both communication purposes and sensing operations. By making the antenna system multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensing hardware that would occupy screen real estate, thereby avoiding display interference while maintaining sensing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate sensing hardware is added to terminal device, then sensing capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensing capabilityVSAvoidhardware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna arrays are designed to perform both communication and sensing functions using the same hardware infrastructure. This multi-functionality approach increases sensing capability without proportionally increasing hardware complexity, as the same antenna structures serve dual purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the communication antenna system with the sensing antenna system into a unified array structure. By combining these functions into a single hardware platform, the overall device complexity is minimized while achieving both communication and advanced sensing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 user information sensing without impacting screen display, reducing hardware costs through multiplexing antennas for integrated communication and sensing, and supporting AI applications like gesture recognition and health monitoring.

Implementation Method 1

receiving, in segments, a sensing echo sequence signal which is formed by means of reflection after the sensing detection sequence signal reaches a target object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4726435A1Information sensing method based on electromagnetic waves, and device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 ZTE CORP
  • EP4726435A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4726435A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4726435A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6(C)

AI summary

Provided in the present application are an information sensing method based on electromagnetic waves, and a device and a storage medium. The method is applied to a terminal device, the terminal device is configured with a transmitting antenna array and a receiving antenna array of electromagnetic waves, and the electromagnetic waves are millimeter waves or terahertz waves. The method comprises: transmitting a sensing detection sequence signal on the basis of the transmitting antenna array; on the basis of a receiving antenna array, receiving, in segments, a sensing echo sequence signal which is formed by means of reflection after the sensing detection sequence signal reaches a target object; performing division to obtain a plurality of virtual imaging areas on the basis of the sensing echo sequence signal, which is received in segments; and on the basis of signal parameters, corresponding to pixel grid units in each virtual imaging area, of the sensing echo sequence signal, which is received in segments, generating a near-field image sequence of the target object relative to each virtual imaging area.