Electronic Devices with Standard-Compliant Sensing Capabilities: abstract simplified (18167017)

• This abstract for appeared for patent application number 18167017 Titled 'Electronic Devices with Standard-Compliant Sensing Capabilities'

Simplified Explanation

This abstract describes an electronic device that uses wireless technology to communicate with a base station. It also has the ability to detect the distance to an external object using a specific type of antenna that transmits a signal compliant with a communication standard. The device receives a reflected signal containing the transmitted signal using a second antenna. The device then performs calculations on the received signal to determine the distance to the object. This allows the device to perform spatial ranging without the need for separate radar equipment, while still maintaining efficient data transfer.

Original Abstract Submitted

An electronic device may include wireless circuitry that conveys data with a base station according to a communication standard and that detects range to an external object using a first antenna that transmits a waveform compliant with the standard. The waveform may be a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) waveform, a transmit data waveform, or another waveform. A second antenna may receive a reflected signal that includes the transmitted waveform. The communications circuitry may perform element-wise division on symbols of a selected subcarrier in the reflected signal using corresponding phases and magnitudes of a set of complex OFDM symbols used to generate the transmitted waveform. Peak detection may be performed to detect the range. Using standard-compliant transmit waveforms to also perform spatial ranging may allow the communications circuitry to avoid dedicated radar circuitry while also minimizing impact to the transfer of the data.