Method and apparatus for reading code using short-range millimeter wave (mmWave) radar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10698102-B2
Application number	US-201916298396-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2019
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A code reading method and a radar system using a short-range millimeter wave (mmWave) radar are provided. The method includes transmitting a mmWave radar signal to a target object from a radar system and receiving a reflection wave signal reflected on the target object, extracting reflection signal strengths for a plurality of line codes constituting the target object from the reflection wave signal, compensating for the reflection signal strengths considering a difference in antenna gain between the plurality of line codes as per an antenna radiation pattern of the radar system, forming a radar image using the compensated reflection signal strengths, and reading a binary code from the radar image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for identifying an object using a short-range millimeter wave (mmWave) signal in an electronic device, the method comprising:
transmitting a mmWave signal to the object, the mmWave signal having a radiation pattern;
receiving reflection wave signals reflected from a plurality of points on the object;
obtaining reflection signal strengths corresponding to the plurality of points on the object based on the received reflection wave signals;
compensating the obtained reflection signal strengths based on antenna gains of the radiation pattern in directions corresponding to the plurality of points; and
identifying the object using the compensated reflection signal strengths.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first obtained reflection signal strength associated with a first point of the plurality of points is different from a second obtained reflection signal strength associated with a second point of the plurality of points.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a transmission period between each of a plurality of mmWave signals based on an initial measurement time and a moving speed of the object.

4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein an antenna gain of a first reflection wave signal associated with a first point of the plurality of points is smaller than an antenna gain of a second reflection wave signal associated with a second point of the plurality of points, and
wherein the first point is spaced apart from a center of the plurality of points a greater distance than the second point.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the object comprises:
calculating a threshold for signal strength corresponding to pixels on a radar image of the object based on a distribution of the compensated reflection signal strengths; and
setting one or more compensated signal strengths less than the threshold for the signal strength among the compensated reflection signal strengths to zero.

6. An electronic device identifying an object using a short-range millimeter wave (mmWave) signal, the electronic device comprising:
a transceiver configured to:
transmit a mmWave signal to the object, the mmWave signal having a radiation pattern, and
receive reflection wave signals reflected from a plurality of points on the object; and

at least one processor configured to:
obtain reflection signal strengths corresponding to the plurality of points on the object based on the received reflection wave signals,
compensate the obtained reflection signal strengths based on antenna gains of the radiation pattern in directions corresponding to the plurality of points, and
identify the object using the compensated reflection signal strengths.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein a first obtained reflection signal strength associated with a first point of the plurality of points is different from a second obtained reflection signal strength associated with a second point of the plurality of points.

8. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
determine a transmission period between each of a plurality of mmWave signals based on an initial measurement time and a moving speed of the object.

9. The electronic device of claim 6 ,
wherein an antenna gain of a first reflection wave signal associated with a first point of the plurality of points is smaller than an antenna gain of a second reflection wave signal associated with a second point of the plurality of points, and
wherein the first point is spaced apart from a center of the plurality of points a greater distance than the second point.

10. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
calculate a threshold for signal strength corresponding to pixels on a radar image of the object based on a distribution of the compensated reflection signal strengths, and
set one or more compensated signal strengths less than the threshold for the signal strength among the compensated reflection signal strengths to zero.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the compensating of the obtained reflection signal strengths further comprises:
calculating a first angle of the radiation pattern based on a first distance between a transmission point of the mmWave signal and the object and a second distance between the center of the plurality of points and the first point; and
determining a first antenna gain of the radiation pattern in a first direction corresponding to the first point, based on the first angle.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
calculate a first angle of the radiation pattern based on a first distance between a transmission point of the mmWave signal and the object and a second distance between the center of the plurality of points and the first point; and
determine a first antenna gain of the radiation pattern in a first direction corresponding to the first point, based on the first angle.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Joo-Sung
• Bae Ki-Taek
• Kim Dae-Hyun
• HAN Seung-Ku
• Yang Tae-Sik
• Chang Sang-Hyun

Classifications

• G06K7/10009

  sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves · CPC title

• G01S13/89 Primary

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G01S13/584

  adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements · CPC title

• G06K7/10326

  the antenna being of the very-near field type, e.g. capacitive · CPC title

• G01S13/753

  using frequency selective elements, e.g. resonator · CPC title