Synthetic Antenna Array for Portable Device Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional GNSS systems face limitations in indoor and urban areas due to signal obstruction, and incorporating GPS receivers increases device cost, size, and energy consumption, while existing alternative methods like physical and virtual antenna arrays are bulky and require calibration.
Innovation Solution
A method using a synthetic antenna array formed by moving a single antenna element and processing data samples to determine geographic location, which minimizes processing and storage requirements on the device and allows for positioning independent of signal transit time, enabling the use of narrowband signals and eliminating the need for synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS receivers are incorporated into portable electronic devices, then positioning functionality is provided, but device cost, space, and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a synthetic antenna array by copying the function of multiple physical antennas through signal processing. A single physical antenna captures signals at multiple time points, and these temporal samples are processed to simulate the spatial diversity that would normally require multiple simultaneous antenna elements. This copying approach eliminates the need for expensive, space-consuming GPS receivers while maintaining positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of multiple physical antenna elements with a signal processing system. Instead of using multiple antennas to capture spatial signal variations simultaneously, the invention uses temporal signal sampling and processing to achieve the same directional estimation and positioning objectives, thereby reducing hardware complexity.
2Measurement precision
If physical antenna arrays are used for directional estimation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device size and calibration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temporal dynamics to replace spatial configuration. Instead of using a fixed array of multiple antennas in specific spatial positions, the invention moves a single antenna through different positions over time, capturing signals at multiple time points. This dynamic approach creates a synthetic array that achieves the same directional estimation accuracy without the static complexity of multiple physical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter domain from spatial to temporal. Multiple antenna elements in space are transformed into multiple sampling instances in time. The synthetic array is formed by processing temporal signal samples with associated position data, converting spatial array processing into temporal signal processing while maintaining measurement precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If virtual antenna arrays are used to avoid calibration, then calibration requirements are reduced, but device size increases due to positioning devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single antenna serve multiple functions: it acts as both the signal receiving element and the positioning reference. By combining the antenna with a motion detector that tracks its position, the system eliminates the need for separate calibration equipment or additional positioning devices, achieving ease of manufacture without increasing device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own motion detector to self-determine the position of the antenna element throughout the measurement period. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external calibration equipment or additional positioning devices, reducing device size while maintaining the ability to create accurate synthetic array data.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Determining the geographic location of a portable electronic device (100) in a radio communications network, by transmitting radio signals from a plurality of first network transmitters (200, 300, 400); receiving, in the network, a measurement signal from the portable electronic device, which measurement signal comprises, for each transmitted radio signal, a plurality of data samples obtained in the electronic device from the respective transmitted signal at different time points during a measurement period with movement of the portable electronic device (100), and local position data associated to each data sample obtained from a local positioning unit in the electronic device, so as to form a synthetic antenna array; obtaining, a direction measurement between the electronic device and the first network transmitter from the synthetic antenna array; obtaining geographic location data for the first network transmitter; and identifying geographic location data of the portable electronic device based on the direction measurement and the geographic location data for the first network transmitter.