UWB Body Movement Sensing Without IMU Drift or Extra Transceivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensors for measuring body movement during physical activities suffer from accuracy issues due to drift, latency, and the need for separate transceivers, leading to errors and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
An ultra-wide band (UWB) sensor configured in radar, communication, and ranging modes to detect and communicate body movement data without drift compensation, using a single UWB transceiver for efficient and accurate monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensors (IMUs, accelerometers, gyroscopes) are used to measure body movement, then body movement data can be gathered, but accuracy deteriorates due to drift and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) with an electromagnetic-based radar system using UWB signals. The radar transceiver emits signals that reflect off the body, and movement is determined by analyzing changes in the reflected signals' time of flight and phase, eliminating mechanical drift and latency issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct mechanical acceleration to time of flight of electromagnetic signals. By measuring the round-trip time of UWB signals and analyzing phase changes in reflections, the system achieves drift-free measurement of position, velocity, and acceleration
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate transceivers are used for communication and ranging, then communication and ranging functions can be performed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single UWB transceiver that performs multiple functions: radar sensing for movement detection, communication for data transfer, and ranging for position determination. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate transceivers while maintaining all required capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges communication, ranging, and radar sensing functions into a single UWB transceiver system. The same hardware infrastructure is used for all three functions, reducing component count and system complexity while enabling integrated operation
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and transceivers are used for accurate monitoring, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By using a single UWB transceiver for multiple functions (radar, communication, ranging), the system eliminates the power consumption of multiple separate devices while maintaining measurement accuracy through the sophisticated signal processing capabilities of the unified system
Solution Approach 2:
Replacing power-hungry mechanical sensors with the electromagnetic UWB radar system reduces overall power consumption while providing continuous drift-free monitoring. The radar system can operate in low-power modes when movement is minimal and only activates full processing when motion is detected
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
The UWB sensor provides accurate, power-efficient, and cost-effective monitoring of body movements with reduced complexity, minimizing the need for additional transceivers and compensating for drift, while enabling precise determination of position, velocity, and angular motion.
Implementation Method 1
The UWB sensor transmits UWB pulses which are received as reflected UWB pulses
Implementation Method 2
determine a time of flight based on a transmission timing of the frame and a reception timing of the ack frame
Data Source
AI summary
Monitoring object movement comprises attaching an ultra-wide band (UWB) sensor to an object and transmitting, by the UWB sensor in a radar mode, a plurality of UWB pulses. The UWB sensor in the radar mode receives a plurality of reflected UWB pulses and determines over a time a channel response (CIR) based on the plurality of transmitted and reflected UWB pulses. The CIR is indicative of the object movement.