Sensing Proximity Utilizing A Wireless Radio Subsystem

• US 20130324056A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maguire, Yael
• Granted Patent: US 9,191,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/11 for calibration
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/02 using transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 using subgroups of transmit antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In particular embodiments, a wireless communications device includes an RF transceiver, a plurality of antennas coupled to the transceiver, and processing circuitry. The device may transmit an RF reference signal using the RF transceiver. When the RF reference signal is reflected back from each of the plurality of antennas, the device may determine at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal (e.g., amplitude, phase, dispersion, waveform shape, or distortion). The device may then characterize at least one aspect of the environment around the device based on the characteristic and control a function of the device based on the at least one aspect. For example, the device may detect that an object (e.g., a hand or other body part) is approaching the device but not yet in contact with the device and activate a first feature of the device based on the characterization.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device comprising:

an RF transceiver;

a plurality of antennas coupled to the transceiver; and

processing circuitry coupled to the RF transceiver, the processing circuitry configured to;

cause the RF transceiver to transmit an RF reference signal;

determine at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal reflected back from each of the plurality of antennas; and

process the at least one determined characteristic in order to control at least one function of the device based on the at least one determined characteristic.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic includes at least one of:

amplitude;

phase;

dispersion;

waveform shape;

or

distortion.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing the at least one determined characteristic in order to control at least one function comprises:

characterizing at least one aspect of the environment around the device based on the at least one determined characteristic; and

controlling at least one function of the device based on the at least one aspect.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one aspect includes at least one of:

the presence or absence of an object;

the distance of an object from the device;

the location of an object relative to the device;

movement of an object relative to the device;

orientation of an object relative to the device;

a disposition of the device;

or

a time-of-flight measurement of an object to the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the object includes a body part.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one function includes activating a first feature of the device based on based on the at least one aspect.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a touch sensor, wherein the first feature is activated upon detecting that an object is approaching the device but before the object is in contact with the device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a second feature of the device is activated upon detecting that the object is in contact with the device.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a motion sensor, wherein a third feature of the device is activated upon detecting that the device is in motion while the object is in contact with the device.

10. A method comprising:

transmitting, by an RF transceiver of a wireless communications device, an RF reference signal;

determining, by a processor of the device, at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal reflected back from each of a plurality of antennas coupled to the transceiver; and

processing, by the processor, the at least one determined characteristic in order to control at least one function of the device based on the at least one determined characteristic.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the processing the at least one determined characteristic in order to control at least one function comprises:

characterizing at least one aspect of the environment around the device based on the at least one determined characteristic; and

controlling at least one function of the device based on the at least one aspect.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one aspect includes at least one of:

the presence or absence of an object;

the distance of an object from the device;

the location of an object relative to the device;

movement of an object relative to the device;

orientation of an object relative to the device;

a disposition of the device;

or

a time-of-flight measurement of an object to the device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the object includes a body part.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling at least one function comprises:

activating a first feature of the device based on the at least one aspect.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting that an object is approaching the device but not yet in contact with the device; and

activating the first feature of the device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting, by a touch sensor of the device, that the object is in contact with the device; and

activating a second feature of the device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detecting, by a motion sensor of the device, that the device is in motion while the object is in contact with the device; and

activating a third feature of the device.

18. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:

transmit, by an RF transceiver of a wireless communications device, an RF reference signal;

determine, by a processor of the device, at least one characteristic of the RF reference signal reflected back from each of a plurality of antennas coupled to the transceiver;

characterize at least one aspect of the environment around the device based on the at least one determined characteristic; and

control at least one function of the device based on the at least one aspect.

19. The media of claim 18, further comprising software operable when executed to:

detect that an object is approaching the device but not yet in contact with the device; and

activate a first feature of the device based on the at least one aspect.

20. The media of claim 19, further comprising software operable when executed to:

detect, by a touch sensor of the device, that the object is in contact with the device; and

activate a second feature of the device.