Smart Home Position Marking Using UWB and IMU Pointing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for marking the position of smart home devices using ultra-wideband (UWB) chips are not applicable to devices without UWB chips, and the accuracy of positioning is affected by signal strength, leading to reduced control precision.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a UWB chip and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) separately points to a home device in multiple orientations to calculate its position, using spatial position-attitude information and a rotation matrix to improve accuracy, independent of UWB base station signal strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If UWB chip is used for position marking, then positioning capability is improved, but applicability to all home devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidapplicability to all home devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device performs multiple functions: it acts as both a UWB terminal for receiving position information and as a positioning device using IMU sensors. This dual functionality allows the system to mark positions of both UWB-equipped devices and non-UWB devices uniformly, resolving the contradiction between positioning capability and universal applicability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic device serves as an intermediary between UWB base stations and non-UWB home devices. It receives position information from UWB base stations, processes it using IMU data, and determines positions of devices without UWB chips, enabling indirect positioning for devices that cannot directly communicate with base stations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If single orientation measurement is used, then measurement process is simplified, but positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement process complexityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from single-orientation measurement to multi-orientation measurement by incorporating spatial attitude information (pitch, roll, yaw angles) as additional dimensions. The IMU apparatus captures orientation data in three-dimensional space, and the processor uses these angular measurements across multiple orientations to calculate precise position information, effectively adding dimensional depth to the positioning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12586457B2Home device position marking method and electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method is implemented by an electronic device to mark a position of a home device. The method includes that the electronic device receives a first operation of a user, where the first operation is used to trigger the electronic device to mark a position of a first home device in a plurality of home devices. In response to the first operation, the electronic device obtains, by using a UWB chip, spatial position-attitude information of the electronic device when the electronic device separately points to the first home device in n orientations, and calculates spatial position information of the first home device based on the spatial position-attitude information of the electronic device in the n orientations.