UWB Antenna Layout for Accurate Access Intent Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current access control systems require active physical user interaction, such as swiping or tapping credentials, to grant access, which can be inconvenient and may not always accurately determine the user's intent to access a passageway.
Innovation Solution
An electronic lock system utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas to detect user intent by determining the location of a UWB-capable mobile device relative to the lock, allowing for automatic access control without physical user input, using phase difference of arrival and angle of arrival calculations from UWB signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active physical user interaction (swiping or tapping credentials) is required to grant access, then the access control system can reliably verify user identity, but the user experience becomes inconvenient and the system cannot accurately determine user intent to access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical credential interaction system (swiping or tapping physical credentials) with a wireless UWB-based detection system. The access control device uses UWB antennas to detect the presence and location of UWB-capable mobile devices without requiring physical contact or active user actions like swiping or tapping, thereby eliminating the mechanical interaction while maintaining security through phase difference of arrival and angle of arrival calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the mobile device to automatically serve the access control function by detecting the device's presence and location through UWB signals. The user simply needs to have the authorized mobile device nearby, and the system automatically determines access intent based on the device's spatial position relative to the access control device, without requiring the user to actively present credentials
2Measurement precision
If multiple UWB antennas are positioned close together (no greater than one half of a wavelength apart) to improve intent detection accuracy, then the measurement precision of user location is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the spacing parameter of the UWB antennas by positioning them no greater than one half of a wavelength apart, which creates an optimal balance between achieving sufficient measurement precision for location detection and minimizing the physical footprint and complexity of the antenna array. This parameter optimization allows the system to accurately determine phase difference of arrival and angle of arrival without requiring excessively large antenna separations
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 convenient and accurate automatic access control by determining the user's intent to access a passageway, eliminating the need for physical interaction and improving accuracy through UWB antenna positioning and signal processing.
Implementation Method 1
a first ultra wideband antenna secured to a first side of a printed circuit board assembly and configured to operate on a first ultra wideband channel, a second ultra wideband antenna secured to the first side of the printed circuit board assembly no greater than one half of a wavelength of the first ultra wideband channel from the first ultra wideband antenna
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic lock according to an embodiment includes an exterior escutcheon on an unsecure side of the door, an interior escutcheon on a secure side of the door, a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) positioned within the exterior escutcheon, and a plurality of ultra wideband (UWB) antennas secured to an exterior-facing side of the PCBA, wherein the plurality of UWB antennas comprises a first UWB antenna and a second UWB antenna configured to operate on a first UWB channel, and wherein the second UWB antenna is positioned no greater than one half of a wavelength of the first UWB channel from the first UWB antenna along a first axis.