Patent Description:
<CIT> relates to an operation method of a first electronic device including transmitting a first ranging control message (RCM) comprising interval information to a second electronic device, determining a first time to transmit a second RCM based on the interval information, determining a first RCM timing window (RTW) based on the first time, transmitting the second RCM to the second electronic device in the first RTW, and transmitting a third RCM at a second time in a second RTW, based on a failure to receive a response message corresponding to the second RCM within a specific time period in the first RTW, wherein the second time is a random time point in the second RTW.

<CIT> relates to a method of operating a controller that performs a ranging with a controlee using ultra wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method including: transmitting, to the controlee, a first ranging control message comprising information of a first ranging interval for a second RCM; changing a ranging interval for the second RCM from the first ranging interval to a second ranging interval; transmitting, to the controlee, an interval update message for the second RCM comprising information for the changed ranging interval based on the first ranging interval; and transmitting, to the controlee, the second RCM based on the changed ranging interval.

In general, a smart key (SMK) system locates a smart key (or a fob key), controls locking/unlocking of a vehicle door, and starts a vehicle using low frequency (LF, <NUM>) or radio frequency (RF, <NUM>) technology.

Some technologies, such as the global positioning system (GPS), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth®, are used in order to provide local based services (LBSs), in which it is difficult to enable precise measurement. In contrast, ultra-wideband (UWB) has advantages such as a wide frequency band, low power communication, and high-precision positioning on a level of tens of centimeters.

Here, the UWB is a technology for calculating the distance between communicating parties by multiplying a signal travel time between the communicating parties by the velocity of light using time of flight (ToF) technology.

Conventional position tracking technologies based on the GPS and mobile communications networks have an error range of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM>, respectively. With the GPS, a satellite signal may fail to reach a GPS receiver in a dense cluster of buildings in a city.

Here, Wi-Fi technology may enable position tracking at low cost. However, with increases in the number of objects to be tracked, channel division may be limited, since the available frequency band is narrow. In addition, the connection of a mobile terminal to a stationary access point (AP) may be disconnected.

Bluetooth® technology enables a plurality of sensors to be disposed at low cost. However, due to high communication latency, Bluetooth® technology is not suitable for real-time positioning tracking in a dynamic environment.

In contrast, UWB technology uses a wide frequency band unlike Wi-Fi technology or Bluetooth® technology, and can transmit a large amount of information with low power and at a high transmission rate.

Positioning using UWB technology has advantages, such as a low error range on a level of about <NUM>, high transmittance with respect to obstacles, and the ability to not be influenced by other signals, for example, Wi-Fi signals.

Here, an operation of measuring the distance between a fob (or a fob key) and an anchor is referred to as ranging. In this case, a data structure is based on the IEEE802. 4z standard, and about <NUM> is taken for the transmission of one packet. In addition, a slot is defined as an amount of time taken for the fob or the anchor to transmit a following signal (or receive a signal) after transmitting a signal once.

A background technology of the present disclosure is disclosed in <CIT>, entitled "UWB System").

When ranging is performed using UWB technology as described above, the anchor opens a receiver window before an expected reception time by RX_MARGIN_TIME (e.g., <NUM>) for standby of a signal allocated to each slot, and maintains the receiver window opened after the expected reception time by RX_TIMEOUT (e.g., <NUM>).

The reason for which the receiver window is opened before and after the expected reception time is to overcome a time error that would otherwise be caused by the difference of the clock CLK between a smartphone and the anchor.

For example, when the clock CLK of the smartphone performing the ranging once every <NUM> has a time error of +<NUM> ppm and the clock CLK of the anchor has a time error of -1000ppm, a clock difference of <NUM> ppm (=<NUM>) per <NUM> occurs. Thus, the time for which the ranging may be continued may vary depending on the length of the receiver window.

In this case, when a set value is RX_MARGIN_TIME (e.g., <NUM>) + RX_TIMEOUT (e.g., <NUM>) = <NUM>, the ranging may be only continued <NUM> times every <NUM>.

In this manner, when the RX_MARGIN_TIME/RX_TIMEOUT time of the receiver window is longer, the ranging may be continued for a longer time. In contrast, unnecessary consumption of power (or current) increases by the time during which the receiver window is opened, which may be problematic.

In addition, according to physical characteristics of UWB communication, it is highly probable that an anchor opposite to a vehicle with respect to the smartphone may fail wireless communication due to the vehicle acting as an obstacle through metal components included therein.

Thus, even in the case in which the anchor opposite to the vehicle is standing by for the ranging, when a reception signal is not continuously provided at actual estimated times, the time error between the smartphone and the anchor caused by the difference of the clock CLK accumulates. In this case, when the ranging succeeds at an estimated reception time, the time error occurring/accumulated due to the difference of the clock is reset with respect to the succeeded time. However, in the case that the ranging has successively failed, the time error is accumulated.

When the ranging every <NUM> has failed <NUM> times, the ranging may not succeed even in the case that the smartphone has entered a radio communication available area. That is, while the anchor operates, substantially all ranging attempts fail, thereby consuming power needlessly.

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems, and an objective of the present disclosure is directed to a UWB device and a control method thereof, wherein, when an anchor in the UWB device has successively failed a ranging procedure, the UWB device may enter a sleep mode by setting a maximum standby count corresponding to a UWB receiver window, thereby minimizing unnecessary power consumption caused by infinite standby of a UWB signal that cannot be covered. Any references in the following description to embodiments, objects, aspects and/or examples, which are not covered by the appended claims, are considered as not being part of the present invention.

In an embodiment, provided is a UWB device including: a communications part configured to transmit and receive a packet to and from a mobile device; a memory in which a program for performing ranging and a maximum standby count are stored; and a processor configured to execute the program. The processor performs the ranging together with the mobile device on basis of a set reception window, when the ranging fails the processor is configured to count a standby counter, and when the standby counter is equal to or greater than the maximum standby count, the processor is configured to exit a standby mode and enter a sleep mode.

When the ranging succeeds, the processor is configured to clear the standby counter.

The maximum standby count is set according to a length of the reception window, wherein the length of the reception window is set to account for an accumulated time error between a clock of the UWB device and a clock of the mobile device.

When the ranging succeeds, the processor may output a result of the ranging.

The mobile device may include at least one of a fob key and a smart phone.

Also provided is a control method of the UWB device, the control method including: performing, by a processor, ranging together with a mobile device on basis of a set reception window; when the ranging performed by the processor fails, counting, by the processor, a standby counter; when the ranging performed by the processor succeeds, clearing, by the processor, the standby counter; and comparing, by the processor, the standby counter with a maximum standby count, and repeating the ranging or entering a sleep mode.

The control method may further include outputting, by the processor, a result of the ranging when the ranging succeeds.

In the repeating of the ranging or the entering of the sleep mode, the standby counter may be compared with the maximum standby count. When the standby counter is less than the maximum standby count, the processor repeats the ranging. When the standby counter is equal to or greater than the maximum standby count, the processor exits a standby mode enters the sleep mode.

In the UWB device and the control method thereof according to aspects of the present disclosure, when the anchor in the UWB device has successively failed a ranging procedure, the UWB device may enter a sleep mode by setting a maximum standby count corresponding to a UWB receiver window, thereby minimizing unnecessary power consumption caused by infinite standby of a UWB signal that cannot be covered.

Hereinafter, a UWB device and a control method thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the specification and drawings, thicknesses of lines in the drawings and sizes of constituent elements may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience. Further, the following terms will be defined, considering functions thereof in the present disclosure, and may be varied according to intentions and customs of a user or an operator. Therefore, the terms should be defined on the basis of the contents of the entire specification.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a UWB device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a table illustrating the results of tests of times in which the UWB device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may return when ranging fails depending on the receiver window.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the UWB device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a communications part <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>.

The communications part <NUM> may transmit and receive a packet to and from a mobile device <NUM> on the basis of UWB communication. The communications part <NUM> may be implemented as a module, a device, a circuit, an antenna, or the like for UWB communication. The configuration of the communications part <NUM> may be realized using a technology well-known in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains, and thus a further detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the mobile device <NUM> may include at least one of a fob key and a smartphone.

The memory <NUM> may have a ranging program stored therein, and a maximum standby count set according to the reception window may be stored in the memory <NUM>.

Here, the maximum standby count is a reception standby time in which ranging may fail even in the case in which a standby operation is performed by adjusting the reception window. The maximum standby count may be used to set a termination time at which the standby operation is terminated instead of being infinitely performed.

For example, <FIG> is a table illustrating actual test measurements of times in which the UWB device may return to a normal mode when the ranging has successively failed in a situation in which the reception windows RX_MARGIN_TIME/RX_TIMEOUT are <NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>/<NUM>, and <NUM>/<NUM>, respectively. Here, there may be variations in elements according to anchor samples as well as variations according to smartphone manufacturers/samples.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the reception window is <NUM>/<NUM>, it can be appreciated that, when returning to the normal mode has failed through repetition of about <NUM> minute, the ranging will fail successively even in the case the standby operation is performed for <NUM> minutes. In addition, when the reception window is <NUM>/<NUM>, it can be appreciated that, when returning to the normal mode has failed through repetition of about <NUM> minutes, the ranging will fail successively.

Thus, when the reception window is <NUM>/<NUM>, the maximum standby count may be set to be <NUM> minutes or <NUM>,<NUM> times.

For example, when the ranging is performed once every about <NUM>, the ranging may be performed <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM>,<NUM> (=<NUM> seconds=<NUM> minutes). Therefore, when the ranging has failed successively for <NUM>,<NUM> times, it is meaningless to maintain the reception standby mode for the ranging in current reception window conditions (RX_MARGIN_TIME/RX_TIMEOUT=<NUM>/<NUM>), since the ranging fails due to the distorted window.

Thus, the ranging reception standby time may be set in reception window conditions and maximum standby count conditions, thereby minimizing needless consumption of power.

The processor <NUM> may execute the program stored in the memory <NUM>.

That is, the processor <NUM> may perform the ranging together with the mobile device <NUM> on the basis of the reception window. Here, performing the ranging is a technology well-known in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains, and thus a further detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the ranging fails, the processor <NUM> counts a standby counter. Here, when the ranging succeeds at least once, the standby counter is cleared and the result of the ranging is output.

In this manner, the processor <NUM> counts the standby counter while performing the ranging. When the ranging fails and the standby counter is equal to or greater than the maximum standby count, the processor <NUM> may exit the reception standby mode for the ranging and enter a sleep mode.

As described above, in the UWB device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the anchor in the UWB device has successively failed the ranging, the UWB device enters the sleep mode by setting the maximum standby count corresponding to the reception window. In this manner, the UWB device may minimize unnecessary consumption of power that would otherwise be caused by infinite standby of a UWB signal that cannot be covered.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a UWB device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the control method of a UWB device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, first, the processor <NUM> performs ranging together with a mobile device on the basis of a reception window set for UWB ranging in S10.

After the ranging is performed in step S10, the processor <NUM> determines whether or not the ranging has succeeded in S20.

When the ranging fails instead of succeeding in step S20, the processor <NUM> counts a standby counter in S30.

In contrast, when the ranging succeeds in step S20, the processor <NUM> clears the standby count in S40.

In addition, the processor <NUM> outputs the result of the ranging in S50.

After the standby counter is counted in step S30 in response to the failure of the ranging in step S20 or when the result of the ranging is output in response to the success of the ranging in step S20, the processor <NUM> compares a maximum standby count with the standby counter in S60.

Here, the maximum standby count is a reception standby time in which the ranging may fail even in the case in which a standby operation is performed by adjusting the reception window. The maximum standby count may be used to set a termination time at which the standby operation is terminated instead of being infinitely performed.

When the standby counter is equal to or greater than the maximum standby count as the result of the comparison of the maximum standby count with the standby counter in step S60, the processor <NUM> exits the reception standby mode and enters a sleep mode in S70.

When the standby counter is less than the maximum standby count as the result of the comparison of the maximum standby count with the standby counter in step S60, the processor returns to step S10 to perform the ranging.

In the control method of a UWB device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, when the anchor in the UWB device has successively failed the ranging, the UWB device enters the sleep mode by setting the maximum standby count corresponding to the reception window. In this manner, the UWB device may minimize unnecessary consumption of power that would otherwise be caused by infinite standby of a UWB signal that cannot be covered.

Claim 1:
A ultra-wideband, UWB, device comprising:
a communications part (<NUM>) configured to transmit and receive a packet to and from a mobile device (<NUM>),
a memory (<NUM>) in which a program for performing ranging and a maximum standby count are stored, and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to execute the program,
wherein the processor performs the ranging together with the mobile device on basis of a reception window (S10),
wherein the maximum standby count is set according to a length of the reception window, wherein the length of the reception window is set to account for an accumulated time error between a clock of the UWB device and a clock of the mobile device, and
wherein when the ranging succeeds (S20) the processor is configured to clear a standby counter (S40),
when the ranging fails, the processor is configured to count the standby counter (S30), and
when the counted standby counter is equal to or greater than the maximum standby count (S60),
the processor is configured to exit a standby mode and enter a sleep mode (S70).