Short-Range Wireless Distance Ranging Using Tone Signal Phase Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing short-range wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in distance ranging due to the need for transmitting large amounts of measurement data via legacy connections, which increases latency and delays the distance ranging process.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an integrated circuit in a short-range communication reflector device, equipped with a processor and a tone generator, which processes incoming tone signals, determines IQ values, and applies phase shifts and amplitude modulation to outgoing tone signals based on determined tone quality indicators (TQI), thereby reducing the need for data transmission via legacy connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If measurement data is transmitted via legacy connections, then data can be communicated between devices, but latency increases and distance ranging is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential distance ranging information directly from the tone signal measurements (IQ values and TQI) and encodes it in the phase and amplitude of reflected tone signals. This eliminates the need to transmit large amounts of raw measurement data through legacy connections, thereby reducing latency while maintaining the core functionality of distance ranging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the measurement data into different parameter representations - specifically encoding distance information in the phase shift and amplitude modulation of reflected tone signals. This parameter transformation allows the initiator to calculate distance directly from the reflected signals without requiring extensive data transmission, thus reducing latency and communication overhead.
2Measurement precision
If phase shift and amplitude modulation are applied to tone signals, then distance measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the reflector device multi-functional by enabling it to perform tone signal reception, IQ value determination, TQI determination, phase shift calculation, and amplitude modulation all within a single integrated circuit. This allows the reflector to encode distance information in the reflected tone signals without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each function, thereby improving measurement accuracy while controlling device complexity.
3Loss of time
If data transmission via legacy connections is reduced, then latency is reduced, but communication reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the reflector receives tone signals from the initiator, processes them to determine IQ values and TQI, and then reflects modified tone signals back to the initiator with encoded distance information. This closed-loop feedback system ensures reliable distance ranging by allowing the initiator to verify signal quality and recalculate distance based on the reflected signals, maintaining communication reliability while reducing latency.
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
This solution reduces latency and improves efficiency in short-range wireless distance ranging by minimizing data transmission requirements, allowing for more accurate distance measurements and reducing power consumption in the reflector device.
Implementation Method 1
the tone generator is configured to generate, for each antenna path, an outgoing tone signal for transmission, and the processor is configured to instruct the tone generator to apply a phase shift to each outgoing tone signal, wherein the phase shift is equal to the phase of the determined IQ value
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit for use in a short-range communication reflector device, the integrated circuit comprising a processor and a tone generator electrically coupled to the processor, wherein, for each channel of a plurality of channels, the processor is configured to process incoming tone signals received via a plurality of antenna paths, and to determine an IQ value of an incoming tone signal received on a selected antenna path of the plurality of antenna paths, the tone generator is configured to generate, for each antenna path, an outgoing tone signal for transmission and the processor is configured to instruct the tone generator to apply a phase shift to each outgoing tone signal, wherein the phase shift is equal to the phase of the determined IQ value for the selected antenna path.