APPARATUS FOR POSITION DETECTION USING MULTIPLE HCF TRANSMISSIONS

• US 20080316085A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Maryam, Seshadri, Nambirajan, ROFOUGARAN, AHMADREZA (REZA)
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

An apparatus a transmitter section, a receiver section, and a processing module. The transmitter section transmits a plurality of high carrier frequency beamformed signals in a loop manner until a desired number of signals has been transmitted. The receiver section receives the plurality of high carrier frequency beamformed signals and determines reception properties of the plurality of high carrier frequency beamformed signals. The processing module determines at least one of: reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through based on the reception properties. The processing module then distinguishes an animate entity from an inanimate entity based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through. The processing module then determines position of the animate entity within a given physical area.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprises:

a transmitter section coupled to enter a transmitter loop, wherein the transmitter loop includes;

generating a plurality of high carrier frequency signals in accordance with a beamforming orientation of a plurality of beamforming orientations;

transmitting the plurality of high carrier frequency signals to produce a high carrier frequency beamformed signal;

when a desired number of high carrier frequency beamformed signals have been generated, exiting the transmitter loop; and

when the desired number of the high carrier frequency beamformed signals have not been generated, repeating the transmitter loop using another beamforming orientation of the plurality of beamforming orientations;

a receiver section coupled to;

receive echo signals of at least some of the desired number of high carrier frequency beamformed signals; and

determine properties of the echo signals; and

a processing module coupled to;

determine at least one of reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through based on the properties;

distinguish an animate entity from an inanimate entity based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through; and

determine position of the animate entity within a given physical area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the properties comprises at least one of:

received signal strength;

phase shift;

frequency shift; and

Doppler effect.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter loop further comprises:

generating the plurality of high carrier frequency signals in accordance with the beamforming orientation of a plurality of beamforming orientations and further in accordance with at least one of;

a carrier frequency of a plurality of carrier frequencies;

a polarization of a plurality of polarizations;

a pulse signal pattern; and

a frequency modulation pattern;

transmitting the plurality of high carrier frequency signals to produce the high carrier frequency beamformed signal;

when a desired number of at least one of the plurality of carrier frequencies, the plurality of polarizations, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern have been used, utilizing a next one of the plurality of beamforming orientations; and

when a desired number of at least one of the plurality of carrier frequencies, the plurality of polarizations, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern have not been used, utilizing a next one of the at least one of the plurality of carrier frequencies, the plurality of polarizations, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter section comprises at least one of:

a baseband beamforming section coupled to generate a plurality of beamforming coefficients; and

a radio frequency (RF) beamforming section coupled to generate a plurality of phase offsets, wherein the plurality of beamforming orientations includes at least one of the plurality of beamforming coefficients and the plurality of phase offsets.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining the position of the animate entity within the given physical area comprises:

determining at least one distance from the receiver section to the animate entity;

determining position of the animate entity based on the at least one distance; and

mapping the position to a coordinate system, wherein the coordinate system is applied to the given physical area.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing module further functions to:

track motion of the animate entity by determining various positions of the animate entity within the given physical area.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver section comprises:

a plurality of receivers, wherein at least two of the plurality of receivers are distributed within the given physical area.

8. An apparatus comprises:

a transmitter section coupled to enter a transmitter loop, wherein the transmitter loop includes;

generating a high carrier frequency signal in accordance with a carrier frequency of a plurality of carrier frequencies;

transmitting the high carrier frequency signal;

when a desired number of high carrier frequency signals have been generated in accordance with the plurality of carrier frequencies, exiting the transmitter loop; and

when the desired number of high carrier frequency signals have not been generated in accordance with the plurality of carrier frequencies, repeating the transmitter loop using another carrier frequency of the plurality of carrier frequencies;

a receiver section coupled to;

receive echo signals of at least some of the desired number of high carrier frequency signals; and

determine properties of the echo signals; and

a processing module coupled to;

determine at least one of reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through based on the properties;

distinguish an animate entity from an inanimate entity based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through; and

determine position of the animate entity within a given physical area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmitter loop further comprises:

generating the high carrier frequency signal in accordance with the carrier frequency of the plurality of carrier frequencies and further in accordance with at least one of;

a beamforming orientation of a plurality of beamforming orientations;

a polarization of a plurality of polarizations;

a pulse signal pattern; and

a frequency modulation pattern;

transmitting the high carrier frequency signal;

when a desired number of at least one of the plurality of beamforming orientations, the plurality of polarizations, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern have been used, utilizing a next one of the plurality of carrier frequencies; and

when a desired number of at least one of the plurality of beamforming orientations, the plurality of polarizations, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern have not been used, utilizing a next one of the at least one of the plurality of beamforming orientations, the plurality of polarizations, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determining the position of the animate entity within the given physical area comprises:

determining at least one distance from the receiver section to the animate entity;

determining position of the animate entity based on the at least one distance; and

mapping the position to a coordinate system, wherein the coordinate system is applied to the given physical area.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing module further functions to:

track motion of the animate entity by determining various positions of the animate entity within the given physical area.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiver section comprises:

a plurality of receivers, wherein at least two of the plurality of receivers are distributed within the given physical area.

13. An apparatus comprises:

a transmitter section coupled to enter a transmitter loop, wherein the transmitter loop includes;

generating a plurality of high carrier frequency signals in accordance with a polarization of a plurality of polarization;

transmitting the plurality of high carrier frequency signals to produce a high carrier frequency polarized signal;

when a desired number of high carrier frequency polarized signals have been generated in accordance with the plurality of polarizations, exiting the transmitter loop; and

when the desired number of high carrier frequency polarized signals have not been generated in accordance with the plurality of polarizations, repeating the transmitter loop using another polarization of the plurality of polarization;

a receiver section coupled to;

receive echo signals of at least some of the desired number of high carrier frequency polarized signals; and

determine properties of the echo signals; and

a processing module coupled to;

determine at least one of reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through based on the properties;

distinguish an animate entity from an inanimate entity based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through; and

determine position of the animate entity within a given physical area based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transmitter loop further comprises:

generating a plurality of high carrier frequency signals in accordance with a polarization of a plurality of polarization and further in accordance with at least one of;

a beamforming orientation of a plurality of beamforming orientations;

a carrier frequency of a plurality of carrier frequencies;

a pulse signal pattern; and

a frequency modulation pattern;

transmitting the plurality of high carrier frequency signals to produce the high carrier frequency polarized signal;

when a desired number of at least one of the plurality of beamforming orientations, the plurality of carrier frequencies, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern have been used, utilizing a next one of the plurality of polarizations; and

when a desired number of at least one of the plurality of beamforming orientations, the plurality of carrier frequencies, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern have not been used, utilizing a next one of the at least one of the plurality of beamforming orientations, the plurality of carrier frequencies, the pulse signal pattern, and the frequency modulation pattern.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the determining the position of the animate entity within the given physical area comprises:

determining at least one distance from the receiver section to the animate entity;

determining position of the animate entity based on the at least one distance; and

mapping the position to a coordinate system, wherein the coordinate system is applied to the given physical area.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing module further functions to:

track motion of the animate entity by determining various positions of the animate entity within the given physical area.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the receiver section comprises:

a plurality of receivers, wherein at least two of the plurality of receivers are distributed within the given physical area.

18. A video game system comprises:

a transmitter section coupled to enter a transmitter loop, wherein the transmitter loop includes;

generating a high carrier frequency signal in accordance with at least one of;

a carrier frequency of a plurality of carrier frequencies;

a beamforming orientation of a plurality of beamforming orientations;

a polarization of a plurality of polarizations;

a pulse signal pattern; and

a frequency modulation pattern;

transmitting the high carrier frequency signal;

when a desired number of high carrier frequency signals have been generated, exiting the transmitter loop; and

when the desired number of high carrier frequency signals have not been generated, repeating the generating and the transmitting of the high carrier frequency signal using one of;

the carrier frequency of the plurality of carrier frequencies;

the beamforming orientation of the plurality of beamforming orientations;

the polarization of the plurality of polarizations;

another carrier frequency of the plurality of carrier frequencies;

another beamforming orientation of the plurality of beamforming orientations;

another polarization of the plurality of polarizations;

the pulse signal pattern; and

the frequency modulation pattern;

a receiver section coupled to;

receive echo signals of at least some of the desired number of high carrier frequency signals; and

determine properties of the echo signals; and

a processing module coupled to;

determine at least one of reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through based on the properties;

distinguish a video game player from an inanimate object based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through; and

determine position of the video game player within a given physical area based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through.

19. The video game system of claim 18, wherein the determining the position of the video game player within the given physical area comprises:

determining at least one distance from the receiver section to the video game player;

determining position of the video game player based on the at least one distance; and

mapping the position to a coordinate system, wherein the coordinate system is applied to the given physical area.

20. The video game system of claim 19, wherein the processing module further functions to:

track motion of the video game player by determining various positions of the video game player within the given physical area.

21. The video game system of claim 19, wherein the determining the position of the video game player within the given physical area comprises:

determining at least one distance from the receiver section to a second video game player;

determining a second position of the second video game player based on the at least one distance from the receiver section to a second video game player; and

mapping the second position to the coordinate system.

22. The video game system of claim 21, wherein the processing module further functions to:

track motion of the second video game player by determining various second positions of the second video game player within the given physical area.

23. The video game system of claim 18, wherein the receiver section comprises:

a plurality of receivers, wherein at least two of the plurality of receivers are distributed within the given physical area.