Range-based transmission parameter adjustment

• US 10,673,479 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fernando, Udara, Park, Sang-June, Patel, Shrenik, Rimini, Roberto, Ciccarelli, Steven Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Rui M
• Application Number:
  US15/938,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20180287651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 455552, 455553, 4555521, 4555531, 455 411- 413
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/343 using sawtooth modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/345 using triangular modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/103 Reflected power, e.g. return loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for range-based transmission parameter adjustment. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a wireless transceiver. The wireless transceiver is coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna. The wireless transceiver is configured to transmit a proximity detection signal via the first antenna. The wireless transceiver is also configured to receive a reflected proximity detection signal via the second antenna. The reflected proximity detection signal including a portion of the proximity detection signal that is reflected by an object. The wireless transceiver is additionally configured to adjust a transmission parameter based on the reflected proximity detection signal. The transmission parameter varies according to a range to the object. The wireless transceiver is further configured to transmit an uplink signal using the transmission parameter.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first antenna and a second antenna; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna, the wireless transceiver configured to;

transmit a multi-tone signal via the first antenna, the multi-tone signal comprising at least three tones associated with different frequencies that are relatively constant;

receive a reflected multi-tone signal via the second antenna, the reflected multi-tone signal including a portion of the multi-tone signal that is reflected by an object;

adjust a transmission parameter based on a change in phase relative to a change in frequency across the at least three tones of the reflected multi-tone signal, wherein the transmission parameter varies according to a range to the object; and

transmit an uplink signal using the transmission parameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to:

transmit a frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal via the first antenna;

receive a reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal via the second antenna, the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal including a portion of the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal that is reflected by another object;

adjust another transmission parameter based on the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal, wherein the other transmission parameter varies according to the range to other object; and

transmit another uplink signal using the other transmission parameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wireless transceiver includes local oscillator circuitry configured to generate one or more reference signals associated with frequency-conversion operations within the wireless transceiver, the frequency-conversion operations associated with:

transmitting the multi-tone signal;

receiving the reflected multi-tone signal;

transmitting the uplink signal;

transmitting the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal; and

receiving the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the local oscillator circuitry includes;

a frequency-modulated local oscillator configured to generate a frequency-modulated local oscillator signal as one signal of the one or more reference signals, the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal associated with the transmitting of the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal and the receiving of the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal; and

a local oscillator configured to generate a local oscillator signal as another signal of the one or more reference signals, the local oscillator signal associated with the transmitting of the multi-tone signal, the receiving of the reflected multi-tone signal, and the transmitting of the uplink signal, the local oscillator signal having a relatively constant frequency compared to the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal; and

a mixer that is selectively coupled to the frequency-modulated local oscillator or the local oscillator, the mixer configured to upconvert an input signal based on the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal or the local oscillator signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the wireless transceiver includes another mixer that is selectively coupled to the frequency-modulated local oscillator or the local oscillator, the other mixer configured to downconvert a receive signal based on the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal or the local oscillator signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the local oscillator circuitry includes selection circuitry;

the selection circuitry coupled to the local oscillator, the frequency-modulated local oscillator, and the mixer;

the selection circuitry configured to selectively connect the frequency-modulated local oscillator or the local oscillator to the mixer to provide the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal or the local oscillator signal to the mixer, respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to:

switch between transmitting the multi-tone signal or transmitting the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal based on a target range for detecting the object.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission parameter comprises at least one of the following:

a power level;

a beam steering angle;

a frequency;

a selected antenna;

or

a communication protocol.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an antenna array including a first antenna element and a second antenna element, wherein:

the first antenna comprises the first antenna element;

the second antenna comprises the second antenna element; and

the wireless transceiver is further configured to receive the reflected multi-tone signal via the second antenna element during a portion of time that the multi-tone signal is transmitted via the first antenna element.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission parameter varies according to a composition of the object.

11. An apparatus comprising:

detection means for transmitting a multi-tone signal via a first antenna and receiving a reflected multi-tone signal via a second antenna, the reflected multi-tone signal including a portion of the multi-tone signal that is reflected by an object, the multi-tone signal comprising at least three tones associated with different frequencies that are relatively constant;

adjustment means for adjusting a transmission parameter based on a change in phase relative to a change in frequency across the at least three tones of the reflected multi-tone signal, wherein the transmission parameter varies according to a range to the object; and

communication means for transmitting an uplink signal using the transmission parameter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

radar means for transmitting a frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal via the first antenna and receiving a reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal via the second antenna, the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal including a portion of the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal that is reflected by the object, wherein;

the adjustment means is configured to adjust another transmission parameter based on the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal, the other transmission parameter varying according to the range to the object; and

the communication means is configured to transmit another uplink signal using the other transmission parameter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

oscillation means for producing at least two reference signals that are associated with frequency-conversion operations performed via the radar means, the oscillation means including;

frequency-modulation means for generating a frequency-modulated local oscillator signal as one signal of the at least two reference signals, the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal associated with both an upconversion operation and a downconversion operation performed via the detection means, the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal having a frequency that depends on time; and

upconversion means for generating the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal using the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal, the upconversion means coupled to the oscillation means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frequency-modulation means comprises ramp generation means for controlling a modulation of the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

downconversion means for generating a downconverted receive signal using the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal, the downconversion means coupled to the oscillation means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the downconverted receive signal includes a beat frequency representative of a frequency offset between the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal and the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal; and

the adjustment means is configured to adjust the other transmission parameter based on the beat frequency.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transmission parameter comprises at least one of the following:

a power level;

a beam steering angle;

a frequency;

a selected antenna;

or

a communication protocol.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

oscillation means for producing at least one reference signal that is associated with frequency-conversion operations performed via the detection means and the communication means, the oscillation means including;

local oscillation means for generating a local oscillator signal as one signal of the at least one reference signal, the local oscillator signal having a relatively constant frequency.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising upconversion means for generating the multi-tone signal and the uplink signal using the local oscillator signal.

20. A method for range-based transmission parameter adjustment, the method comprising:

transmitting a multi-tone signal via a first antenna, the multi-tone signal comprising at least three tones associated with different frequencies that are relatively constant;

receiving a reflected multi-tone signal via a second antenna, the reflected multi-tone signal including a portion of the multi-tone signal that is reflected by an object;

adjusting a transmission parameter based on a change in phase relative to a change in frequency across the at least three tones of the reflected multi-tone signal, wherein the transmission parameter varies according to a range to the object; and

transmitting an uplink signal using the adjusted transmission parameter.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

transmitting a frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal via the first antenna;

receiving a reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal via the second antenna, the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal including a portion of the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal that is reflected by the object;

adjusting another transmission parameter based on the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal, wherein the other transmission parameter varies according to the range to the object; and

transmitting another uplink signal using the other transmission parameter.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

generating a first local oscillator signal that upconverts the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal and downconverts the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal, the first local oscillator signal comprising a frequency-modulated local oscillator signal having a frequency that depends on time;

downconverting the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal using the first local oscillator signal to produce a downconverted receive signal that includes a beat frequency; and

adjusting the transmission parameter based on the beat frequency.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

generating a second local oscillator signal that upconverts the multi-tone signal and downconverts the reflected multi-tone signal, the second local oscillator signal having a relatively constant frequency.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising upconverting the uplink signal using the second local oscillator signal.

25. An apparatus comprising:

an antenna array;

a first mixer coupled to a first antenna of the antenna array;

a second mixer coupled to a second antenna of the antenna array; and

local oscillator circuitry coupled to the first mixer and the second mixer, the local oscillator circuitry including;

a frequency-modulated local oscillator configured to generate a frequency-modulated local oscillator signal having a frequency that varies over a time interval;

a local oscillator configured to generate a local oscillator signal having a relatively constant frequency; and

selection circuitry coupled between the frequency-modulated local oscillator, the local oscillator, the first mixer, and the second mixer, the selection circuitry configured to connect or disconnect the frequency-modulated local oscillator or the local oscillator to or from the first mixer and the second mixer.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:

the selection circuitry is configured to connect the frequency-modulated local oscillator to the first mixer and the second mixer;

the first mixer is configured to generate an upconverted transmit signal using the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal; and

the antenna array is configured to transmit a frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal, the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal derived from the upconverted transmit signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a processor, wherein:

the antenna array is configured to receive a reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal, the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal including a portion of the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal that is reflected by an object;

the second mixer is configured to generate a downconverted receive signal using the frequency-modulated local oscillator signal, the downconverted receive signal derived from the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal, the downconverted receive signal including a beat frequency that is representative of a frequency difference between the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal and the reflected frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal; and

the processor is configured to adjust a transmission parameter based on the beat frequency, the transmission parameter varying according to a range to the object.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising an amplifier coupled between the first mixer and the antenna array, wherein:

the selection circuitry is configured to connect the local oscillator to the first mixer and the second mixer;

the first mixer is configured to generate another upconverted transmit signal using the local oscillator signal;

the antenna array is configured to transmit an uplink signal, the uplink signal derived from the other upconverted transmit signal;

the transmission parameter comprises a transmission power level; and

the amplifier is configured to provide amplification associated with the uplink signal based on the transmission power level.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a signal generator configured to generate a digital signal that includes at least three tones, wherein:

the selection circuitry is configured to connect the local oscillator to the first mixer and the second mixer;

the first mixer is configured to generate an upconverted transmit signal using the local oscillator signal; and

the antenna array is configured to transmit a multi-tone signal, the multi-tone signal derived from the upconverted transmit signal.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the apparatus is configured to:

switch between transmitting the multi-tone signal or transmitting the frequency-modulated continuous-wave signal based on a target range for detecting an object.