# US 11,079,289 B2 · Radar-based force sensing

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- Number: US 11,079,289 B2
- Document ID: US11079289B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/681,120
- Filed: 2017-08-18
- Published: 2019-02-21
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-18
- Assignees: Google Inc.
- Applicants: Google LLC
- Inventors: Ivan Poupyrev
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079289B2

## CPC

- G01L 1/04: by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
- G01S 13/75: using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders {, or using passive reflectors}
- G01S 13/88: Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00)
- G01S 7/4004: {of parts of a radar system}
- G01S 13/582: {adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements}
- G01S 13/584: {adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements}
- G01S 13/89: for mapping or imaging
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

This document describes techniques using, and devices embodying, radar-based force sensing. These techniques and devices can enable a great breadth of forces to be measured. Furthermore, radar-based force sensing enables those forces to use, control, and interact with devices.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
transmitting, with a radar system, radar signals to a reflective surface that has a deformation caused by an applied force;
receiving, via the radar system, the radar signals reflected from the reflective surface;
detecting, via the radar system and based on the reflected radar signals, the deformation of the reflective surface; and
measuring a characteristic of the applied force based on the detected deformation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
mapping the characteristic of the applied force to an input for a computing device; and
controlling the computing device based on the input.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a location of the applied force on the reflective surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a movement of the applied force across the reflective surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a direction of the applied force.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a size of a region that deformed on the reflective surface based on the applied force.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a frequency of an occurrence of the applied force.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a magnitude of the applied force.

### Claim 9

A radar system configured to:
transmit radar signals to a reflective surface that has a deformation caused by an applied force;
receive the radar signals reflected from the reflective surface;
detect, based on the reflected radar signals, the deformation of the reflective surface; and
measure a characteristic of the applied force based on the detected deformation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, further configured to:
map the characteristic of the applied force to an input for a computing device; and
cause the computing device to act based on the input.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a location of the applied force on the reflective surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a movement of the applied force across the reflective surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a direction of the applied force.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a size of a region that deformed on the reflective surface based on the applied force.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a frequency of an occurrence of the applied force.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the applied force includes a magnitude of the applied force.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the reflective surface comprises a surface of a keyboard, a surface of a display screen, a surface of a television, or an exterior surface of a robot.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The radar system of claim 9, wherein the deformation is caused by a push, a pull, a twist, a bend, or a physical vibration of the reflective surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a surface of a keyboard, a surface of a display screen, a surface of a television, or an exterior surface of a robot.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the deformation is caused by a push, a pull, a twist, a bend, or a physical vibration of the reflective surface.