Silicon Laboratories Inc.

Silicom Laboratories Inc.

Sauli Johannes Lehtimaki

Joel Kauppo

Antonio Torrini

Mika Tapio Länsirinne

Jere M Knaappila

Terry Lee Dickey

Attila Zólomy

Sebastian Ahmed

Ádám Süle

Adám Süle

A system and method for determining the distance between two wireless network devices is disclosed. The present system utilizes an algorithm that relies on the power ratio between the trial signal power and the remaining signal power. Remaining signal power is defined as the power that is left after subtracting the trial signal power from the total signal power. This algorithm computes the channel frequency response and uses the phase signal at each frequency and distance to calculate the line of sight distance between two wireless network devices. This approach does not rely on eigenvectors or any prior estimate of the number of signals, and can therefore be computed quickly and efficiently.

Efficient ranging algorithm for high accuracy distance measurements

A system and method for determine the spatial position of a network device is disclosed. A locator device having an antenna array is used to perform an AoX calculation to find the direction to the network device. The AoX calculation utilizes a plurality of the antennas in the antenna array. The locator device also performs a high accuracy distance measurement (HADM). In certain embodiments, only one antenna in the antenna array is used for the HADM calculation. Using the direction and the distance to the network device, the locator is able to determine the spatial position of the network device. In some embodiments, the antenna array may a rotational symmetry array having a plurality of outer antenna elements and one central antenna element.

Hybrid AoX and HADM system for low cost and simple location finding

A system and method for selecting a polarization for a particular antenna in an antenna array is disclosed. The system comprises an antenna array, wherein each antenna is adapted to receive and transmit horizontally and vertically polarized signals. The system also includes a switching network that is adapted to select the vertical or horizontal polarized signal for each antenna in the antenna array. The switching network also allows selection of a circular polarized signal from one or more of the antenna elements in the antenna array. This allows the AoX to be more accurate, as it is able to receive horizontally and vertically polarized signals, rather than just circular polarized signals, thereby improving its accuracy. The ability to receive circular polarized signals may be beneficial during reference periods to acquire the proper gain and frequency.

Antenna array with selectable horizontal, vertical or circular polarization

A system and method for determining a position or a movable device is disclosed. The present system utilizes a movable device equipped with a locator device that has an antenna array such that it may determine the angle of arrival of a plurality of incoming beacon signals. In certain embodiments, the movable device is also able to measure its distance travelled. By knowing its distance moved and the angle of arrival from each beacon, the locator device is able to calculate its position as well as the position of each beacon. This procedure may be executed at regular intervals so that the movable device accurately determines its position.

Positioning and self-calibration mechanism using moving AoA locator

A wireless locator that facilitates determining a location of a nearby wireless asset including an antenna array with multiple antennas, at least one wireless transceiver that receives a location signal from the nearby wireless asset and that takes multiple samples from the location signal including a set of samples for each antenna, and a processor that compresses the samples to generate location information associated with the nearby wireless asset. The wireless locator may be part of a wireless location system including multiple wireless locators distributed in the area and a central processing system. Various compression methods are disclosed, including averaging of the samples, bit reduction of the samples, converting the samples to corresponding phase values, and combining corresponding samples of multiple sample supplemental sets. Combinations of the various compression methods are also disclosed.

Compression of location information during backhaul communications of a wireless location system

A system and method for detecting a multipath environment is disclosed. A first pseudospectrum based on azimuth angle and elevation angle is created. The result of this first pseudospectrum are used to create a second pseudospectrum based on polarization and field ratio. The sharpness of the results for these two pseudospectrums is determined and may be used to detect whether a multipath environment exists. If a multipath environment is believed to exist, the results from this device are ignored in determining the spatial position of the object.

AoX multipath detection

A device and method for improving the accuracy of angle of arrival and departure computations is disclosed. The device and method rely on manipulation of the antenna switching pattern to achieve an improved calculation of arrival angle. In one embodiment, the device calculates an estimate angle of arrival using conventional methods. The device then determines which of a plurality of different antenna switching pattern yields the more accurate results at this estimated angle of arrival. The AoA measurement is then repeated using the preferred antenna switching pattern. In another embodiment, the device captures the amplitude and/or phase of the signal from each antenna element. The device then sorts these antenna elements and defines a preferred antenna switching pattern based on the sort list. The AoA measurement is then performed using the preferred antenna switching pattern. In another embodiment, neural networks may be utilized to determine the preferred antenna switching pattern.

Dynamic switch pattern selection for angle of arrival

A system and method of determining the angle of arrival or departure using a neural network is disclosed. The system collects a plurality of I and Q samples as a packet containing a constant tone extension is being received. The I and Q samples are used to form I and Q arrays, which are used as the input to the neural network. The neural network produces a first output representative of the azimuth angle and a second output representative of the elevation angle. In certain embodiments, the neural network is capable of detecting a plurality of angles, where, for each angle, there are three outputs, a first output representative of the azimuth angle, a second output representative of the elevation angle and a third output representative of the relative amplitude. In some embodiments, the neural network is configured to determine the carrier frequency offset of an incoming signal as well.

Angle of arrival using machine learning

A system and method for determining a direction of arrival of an incoming signal is disclosed. The present system utilizes a plurality of pseudo-spectrums to create a more accurate result matrix. The pseudo-spectrums are one or two dimensional arrays, where peaks in the arrays are indicative of the angle of arrival. A result matrix is generated by performing a mathematical operation of corresponding elements in each pseudo-spectrum. This mathematical operation may be addition or multiplication. The result matrix provides a more accurate indication of the angle of arrival than can otherwise by achieved. In some embodiments, a measure of quality may also be calculated for the result matrix.

Pseudo-spectrum averaging for angle of arrival detection

A system and method for detecting and compensating for carrier frequency offset is disclosed. This system compensates for CFO and calculates a corrected phase. This corrected phase may be used by, for example, an AoX algorithm, such as MUSIC, to more accurately determine the angle of arrival or angle of departure of a signal. In certain embodiments, the system oversamples the incoming signal to create a plurality of samples. The system then determines the phase of each of the plurality of samples and calculates the carrier frequency based on the time derivative of the phase. In certain embodiments, a particular portion of an incoming packet is used to determine the carrier frequency offset. In other embodiments, the system calculates the carrier frequency offset throughout an entirety of the incoming packet. Once the carrier frequency offset is determined, it can be used to adjust the received signals. These adjusted signals are then used to determine the angle of arrival or angle of departure.

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Nummela, Finland

Sauli Johannes Lehtimaki