Vibrational Radar Backscatter Communications for Vehicle Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mmW radar systems in vehicles lack the capability to transmit additional messaging information beyond position and motion, due to the need for complex and expensive retro-directive antenna arrays, which hinders their use in communicating hazardous conditions or important messages.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of vibrational radar backscatter communications (VRBC) systems that utilize existing mmW radar systems to transmit and receive vibrational backscatter signals, allowing for encoded message delivery and vehicle actions without the need for additional expensive hardware, by transmitting radar waveforms, receiving vibrational backscatter, synchronizing, decoding, and communicating actionable messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional backscatter communications are used at mmW frequencies, then messaging information can be transmitted, but complex and expensive retro-directive antenna arrays are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transponder as an intermediary device that reflects mmW radar signals back to the radar system. The transponder modulates the reflected signal to encode messaging information, enabling communication without requiring complex retro-directive antenna arrays on the radar system itself. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining messaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the existing mmW radar system's transmission and reception capabilities to create a communication channel. By having the radar system transmit waveforms and receive reflected signals from the transponder, the system effectively copies the radar's existing functionality for a new communication purpose, avoiding the need for separate dedicated communication hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing mmW radar systems are used for communication, then messaging capability can be added, but additional expensive hardware is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing mmW radar system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both its original detection function and new messaging communication function. The radar system transmits waveforms for both object detection and communication, and receives signals for both purposes. This universality eliminates the need for separate communication hardware, reducing overall system cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the mmW radar system to serve itself for communication purposes by using its own transmitted waveforms as the communication carrier. The radar system's existing transmission capability is leveraged to send messages through the transponder reflection mechanism, eliminating the need for separate communication transmitters and reducing hardware requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mmW radar systems transmit additional messaging information, then communication functionality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication function into separate components: the radar system handles waveform transmission and signal reception, while the transponder handles signal modulation and message encoding. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple while the overall system achieves enhanced communication functionality through coordinated operation of the segmented parts.
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 near-instantaneous messaging and action-taking in adverse conditions like fog or rain, improving roadway safety by allowing vehicles to receive and respond to critical messages without requiring complex add-ons, thus enhancing the functionality of existing mmW radar systems.
Implementation Method 1
When mmW radar waves are transmitted by a vehicle's driver assistance systems and/or autonomous driving system, the mmW radar waves contact an object in their path and are reflected and/or backscattered back to the mmW radar system's antenna.
Implementation Method 2
receiving, from a vibrating transponder, vibrational backscatter of the radar waveforms
Implementation Method 3
the vibrational backscatter results in phase modulation of the radar waveforms
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing vibrational radar backscatter communications includes transmitting radar waveforms at millimeter wave frequencies, receiving, from a vibrating transponder, vibrational backscatter of radar waveforms, performing synchronization on the vibrational backscatter to determine a start of an encoded communication message sequence, calculating a predicted symbol sequence based on the encoded communication message sequence, identifying, from one or more predetermined messages, an actionable message from the predicted symbol sequence, and communicating the actionable message to a display of a vehicle or causing the vehicle to take an action. This method can also be performed on a computing system that includes a processor, memory, and instructions stored in the memory and the method can be stored on computer readable storage media.