US 11,693,086 B2 · Smart device with an integrated radar system

Abstract

Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement a smart device with an integrated radar system. The radar integrated circuit is positioned towards an upper-middle portion of a smart device to facilitate gesture recognition and reduce a false-alarm rate associated with other non-gesture related motions of a user. The radar integrated circuit is also positioned away from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antennas and a wireless charging receiver coil to reduce interference. The radar system operates in a low-power mode to reduce power consumption and facilitate mobile operation of the smart device. By limiting a footprint and power consumption of the radar system, the smart device can include other desirable features in a space-limited package (e.g., a camera, a fingerprint sensor, a display, and so forth).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A smartphone comprising:

a radar system comprising:
a radar integrated circuit comprising:
a transceiver configured to:
receive a radar signal, at least a portion of the radar signal having a frequency of sixty gigahertz;
and
generate an intermediate-frequency beat signal based on the radar signal;
and
a first storage memory;
and
a data-processing integrated circuit coupled to the radar integrated circuit, the data-processing integrated circuit comprising:
a circular buffer;
and
a direct-memory access controller configured to transfer samples of the intermediate-frequency beat signal from the first memory of the radar integrated circuit to the circular buffer of the data-processing integrated circuit.

10 more elements

A smartphone shaped as a rectangular prism, the rectangular prism having a length, width, and height, the height being larger than the length and width, the length being greater than the width, the length and height forming a rectangular plane on a first exterior plane of the smartphone coexisting with a viewing plane of the smartphone, the first exterior plane having:

a top edge and a bottom edge opposite the top edge;
and
a left edge and a right edge opposite the left edge,
the smartphone comprising an exterior viewing panel that forms the viewing plane, the exterior viewing panel having an upper portion that is proximate to the top edge and a lower portion that is proximate to the bottom edge, the upper portion and the lower portion separated by a sensor plane that is perpendicular to the left edge and the right edge;
the smartphone configured to operate in a portrait orientation in which a ground plane is closer to the bottom edge than the top edge, the smartphone comprising:
a display element positioned inside the rectangular prism beneath the lower portion of the exterior viewing panel;
and
a radar system positioned inside the rectangular prism beneath the upper portion of the exterior viewing panel, the radar system comprising a radar integrated circuit having a length of approximately 6.5 millimeters and a height of approximately 5 millimeters, the radar integrated circuit comprising:
at least one transmit antenna that faces the exterior viewing panel;
and
at least one receive antenna that faces the exterior viewing panel.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/457,914Filed 28 Jun 2019

Published

US 2020/0408876 A131 Dec 2020

Granted

4 Jul 2023

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

G01S 7/03
Of systems according to group G01S13/00: details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
G01S 13/582
Using transmission of interrupted pulse modulated waves and based upon the Doppler effect resulting from movement of targets: adapted for…
G01S 7/028
Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness: miniaturisation, e.g. surface mounted device [SMD] packaging or housings
G01S 7/032
Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver: constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems

Smart device with an integrated radar system

Life of this patent

Smart device with an integrated radar system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20