18464567. Electronic Devices with Doppler-Based Object Detection simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

From WikiPatents
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Electronic Devices with Doppler-Based Object Detection

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Michael Ney of Be'er Sheva (IL)

Michael Kerner of Tel Mond (IL)

Lev Grobman of Tel Aviv-Yafo (IL)

Electronic Devices with Doppler-Based Object Detection - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18464567 titled 'Electronic Devices with Doppler-Based Object Detection

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes an electronic device that uses radar signals to detect external objects and adjust the transmit power level of communications data based on the presence of these objects.

  • Sensing circuitry transmits radar signals and receives reflected signals over antennas.
  • Doppler information is generated to detect external objects on the device's surface.
  • Communications circuitry transmits data without power reduction if object is not within hot-spot cone.
  • Transmit power level is reduced if object is within hot-spot cone to comply with regulatory limits.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in:

  • Autonomous vehicles for detecting obstacles in their path.
  • Smart home devices for adjusting signal strength based on nearby objects.

Problems Solved

This technology addresses the following issues:

  • Ensuring compliance with regulatory limits on radio-frequency exposure.
  • Improving the efficiency of communication by adjusting power levels based on external objects.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include:

  • Enhanced safety by detecting objects in the device's vicinity.
  • Optimized communication performance by adjusting power levels as needed.

Potential Commercial Applications

The potential commercial applications of this technology include:

  • Automotive industry for integrating into collision avoidance systems.
  • Telecommunications sector for improving signal transmission in crowded environments.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be radar systems used in military and aviation applications to detect objects in the surrounding environment.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology impact battery life of the electronic device?

The abstract does not mention the impact of this technology on the battery life of the electronic device. It would be important to understand if the radar sensing and power adjustments have any significant effect on the device's energy consumption.

What are the potential privacy concerns associated with using radar technology in electronic devices?

The abstract does not address any potential privacy concerns that may arise from using radar technology to detect external objects. It would be essential to consider how this technology may impact user privacy and data security.


Original Abstract Submitted

An electronic device may include sensing circuitry that transmits radar signals and receives reflected signals over a set of antennas. Communications circuitry may use the antennas to transmit communications data subject to a maximum transmit power level. The sensing circuitry may generate Doppler information based on the reflected signals and may detect whether an external object is on a surface of the device based on the Doppler information. When the external object is detected on the surface, the external object is not within a hot-spot cone of the antennas and the communications circuitry may transmit the communications data without reducing the maximum transmit power level. When the external object is detected off the surface, the external object may be within the hot-spot cone and the communications circuitry may transmit the communications data with a reduced maximum transmit power level to satisfy regulatory limits on radio-frequency exposure or absorption.