초록

A personal electronic device is configured to provide enhanced user awareness of the environment responsive to data from a micro-impulse radar (MIR).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device, comprising: a personal electronic device including a logic circuit and a user interface; andat least one micro-impulse radar operatively coupled to the logic circuit and configured to probe one or more regions near the personal electronic device by emitting a pulse in the probed one or

1. A device, comprising: a personal electronic device including a logic circuit and a user interface; andat least one micro-impulse radar operatively coupled to the logic circuit and configured to probe one or more regions near the personal electronic device by emitting a pulse in the probed one or more regions;wherein the logic circuit is configured to, receive micro-impulse radar data including information about at least one of spatial location of an object, shape of an object, direction of movement of an object, velocity of movement of an object, or density of an object in the one or more regions,process the transmitted return signal to generate micro-impulse radar data including information about at least one of spatial location of an object, shape of an object, direction of movement of an object, velocity of movement of an object, or density of an object in the probed one or more regions,analyze the micro-impulse radar data to determine if a hazard condition exists for a user based on at least one of a presence of a person other than the user within the one or more regions, a proximity and velocity of movement of an object relative to the user, a void in the one or more regions, or an uneven terrain in the one or more regions, andin cooperation with the user interface, at least conditionally provide information about the one or more regions to the user. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device includes a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal data assistant, a pager, a tablet computer, a netbook, a notebook computer, or a combination thereof. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the micro-impulse radar includes a signal processor embodied as software or firmware running on a microcontroller or microprocessor shared by the logic circuit. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the micro-impulse radar is configured to detect and provide a return signal responsive to the pulse to the logic circuit. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the micro-impulse radar includes a signal processor configured to convert a detected return signal responsive to the pulse to micro-impulse radar data; and wherein the micro-impulse radar is configured to output the micro-impulse radar data to the logic circuit. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more regions near the personal electronic device correspond one or more possible locations of a person or animal proximate to the personal electronic device. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more regions near the personal electronic device correspond one or more regions probed by the micro-impulse radar. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more regions near the personal electronic device correspond one or more regions not within a direct line of sight from the personal electronic device. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more regions near the personal electronic device correspond to one or more regions outside the current field-of-view of a user of the personal electronic device. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more regions near the personal electronic device correspond to one or more regions along a direction of travel of the personal electronic device. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device is configured to output user perceptible data corresponding to the micro-impulse radar data. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes one or more of a haptic or audio output device. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device is configured to output a processed representation of the micro-impulse radar data. 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more regions include one or more alarm zones. 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the micro-impulse radar data includes information related to a velocity of motion of one or more objects in the one or more regions. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the micro-impulse radar data includes information related to one or more physiological parameters of one or more persons in the one or more regions. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the logic circuit is configured to receive, from the user interface, user commands corresponding to one or more interactions between the micro-impulse radar and the logic circuit. 18. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device further comprises: one or more second sensors operatively coupled to the logic circuit. 19. A method, comprising: emitting a pulse from a micro-impulse radar operatively coupled to a personal electronic device including a logic circuit configured to process a return signal responsive to the emitted pulse to produce micro-impulse radar data;receiving a return signal responsive to the pulse;processing the return signal to produce micro-impulse radar data including at least one of spatial location of an object, shape of an object, direction of movement of an object, velocity of movement of an object, or density of an object;analyzing the micro-impulse radar data to determine if a hazard condition exists for a user based on at least one of a presence of a person other than the user within the one or more regions, a proximity and velocity of movement of an object relative to the user, a void in the one or more regions, or an uneven terrain in the one or more regions; andat least conditionally outputting user-perceptible data responsive to the micro-impulse radar data. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the personal electronic device includes a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal data assistant, or a tablet computer. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein processing the return signal to produce micro-impulse radar data radar includes operating a signal processor embodied as software or firmware running on a microcontroller or microprocessor shared by a personal electronic device logic circuit. 22. The method of claim 19, wherein emitting a pulse includes probing one or more regions located peripheral to the personal electronic device. 23. The method of claim 19, wherein at least conditionally outputting the user perceptible data includes displaying an indication of objects in one or more regions probed by the micro-impulse radar. 24. The method of claim 19, wherein outputting user-perceptible data includes outputting a processed representation of the micro-impulse radar data. 25. The method of claim 19, wherein outputting user-perceptible data includes outputting the user-perceptible data on a user interface of the personal electronic device. 26. The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving user input related to operating the micro-impulse radar or related to at least conditionally outputting the user-perceptible data. 27. The method of claim 19, further comprising: selecting one or more operating parameters of the micro-impulse radar. 28. The method of claim 19, further comprising: analyzing the micro-impulse radar data to determine whether to output the user perceptible data. 29. The method of claim 19, further comprising: analyzing the micro-impulse radar data to extract one or more parameters. 30. The method of claim 19, wherein analyzing the micro-impulse radar data to determine if a hazard condition exists further comprises: comparing the micro-impulse data or one or more parameters extracted from the micro-impulse radar data to one or more criteria including at least one of the presence of a person other than the user within the one or more regions, the proximity and velocity of movement of an object relative to the user, presence of a void in the one or more regions, or presence of an uneven terrain in the one or more regions; anddetermining whether to output the user-perceptible data responsive to the comparison. 31. The method of claim 19, further comprising: analyzing the micro-impulse radar data to determine or infer an environment of the personal electronic device. 32. The method of claim 19, wherein emitting a pulse includes probing one or more alarm zones. 33. The method of claim 19, further comprising: transmitting data corresponding to the micro-impulse radar data to a remote resource; andreceiving, from the remote resource, data for output to the user. 34. The method of claim 19, wherein the micro-impulse data includes information related to a velocity of motion of one or more objects in one or more regions near the personal electronic device. 35. The method of claim 19, wherein the micro-impulse data includes information related to one or more physiological parameters of one or more persons in one or more regions near the personal electronic device. 36. The method of claim 19, further comprising: operating one or more second sensors to receive second sensor data or signals. 37. A system, comprising: at least one micro-impulse radar configured to emit a pulse, receive a return signal responsive to the emitted pulse, and process the return signal responsive to the emitted pulse to generate micro-impulse radar data including at least one of spatial location of an object, shape of an object, direction of movement of an object, velocity of movement of an object, or density of an object;one or more personal electronic devices each being operatively coupled to at least one of the at least one micro-impulse radars and configured to transmit the micro-impulse radar data to a network resource;the network resource configured to receive micro-impulse radar data from the one or more personal electronic devices; andcommunications circuitry operatively coupling the one or more personal electronic devices to the network resource;wherein the network resource further comprises:a logic circuit configured to analyze the micro-impulse radar data from the one or more personal electronic devices and perform one or more logical operations responsive to the micro-impulse radar data including determining if a hazard condition exists for a user based on at least one of a presence of a person other than the user within the one or more regions, a proximity and velocity of movement of an object relative to the user, a void in the one or more regions, or an uneven terrain in the one or more regions. 38. A method for determining an environment of a personal electronic device, comprising: emitting a pulse from a micro-impulse radar operatively coupled to one or more personal electronic devices operatively coupled to one or more logic circuits;receiving a return signal responsive to the emitted pulse;processing the return signal to produce micro-impulse radar data including at least one of spatial location of an object, shape of an object, direction of movement of an object, velocity of movement of an object, or density of an object;receiving micro-impulse radar data from one or more personal electronic devices at the one or more logic circuits;analyzing the micro-impulse radar data using the one or more logic circuits to determine characteristics of objects in a region probed by a pulse from the micro-impulse radar; andperforming one or more logical operations responsive to the micro-impulse radar data using the one or more logic circuits to determine if a hazard condition exists for a user based on at least one of a presence of a person other than the user within the one or more regions, a proximity and a velocity of movement of an object relative to the user, a void in the one or more regions, or an uneven terrain in the one or more regions. 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising: storing or transmitting second data corresponding to the received micro-impulse radar data. 40. The method of claim 38, wherein analyzing the micro-impulse radar data includes extracting environment information from the micro-impulse radar data. 41. The method of claim 38, wherein performing one or more logical operations responsive to the micro-impulse radar data includes determining display information for presentation to a user of the personal electronic device. 42. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more logical operations includes generation of a signal for transmission to the one or more personal electronic devices responsive to an environment condition peripheral to the respective personal electronic devices. 43. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more logical operations includes modification of a user interface operational parameter of the respective personal electronic device. 44. The method of claim 38, wherein receiving the micro-impulse radar data, analyzing the micro-impulse radar data, and performing one or more logical operations responsive to the micro-impulse radar data is performed by a network resource operatively coupled to the one or more personal electronic devices across a communication network. 45. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more personal electronic devices includes a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal data assistant, a pager, a tablet computer, a netbook, a notebook computer, or a combination thereof. 46. The method of claim 38, wherein the each of the one or more personal electronic devices is operatively coupled to at least one micro-impulse radar exclusive to each one or more personal electronic device. 47. The method of claim 38, wherein at least one of the micro-impulse radars is located inside one of the one or more personal electronic devices. 48. The method of claim 38, wherein the logical operation is responsive to at least one parameter that is a function of the micro-impulse radar data. 49. The method of claim 38, wherein analyzing the micro-impulse radar data includes determining or inferring an environment of a particular personal electronic device. 50. The method of claim 38, wherein determining or inferring an environment includes determining or inferring if the particular personal electronic device has a probability of being outdoors; and performing one or more logical operations includes transmitting to the particular personal electronic device a parameter selected to cause the particular personal electronic device to select a high probe power for an associated micro-impulse radar responsive to determining or inferring that the particular personal electronic device has a probability of being outdoors. 51. The method of claim 38, wherein determining or inferring an environment includes determining or inferring if the particular personal electronic device has a probability of being indoors; and wherein performing one or more logical operations includes transmitting to the particular personal electronic device a parameter selected to cause the particular personal electronic device to select a low probe power for an associated micro-impulse radar responsive to determining or inferring that the particular personal electronic device has a probability of being indoors. 52. The method of claim 38, wherein the micro-impulse radar data includes information corresponding to one or more probes of one or more alarm zones peripheral to the respective one or more personal electronic device. 53. The method of claim 38, further comprising: receiving sensor data from the one or more personal electronic devices. 54. The method of claim 38, wherein performing one or more logical operations responsive to the micro-impulse radar data includes outputting data corresponding to the micro-impulse radar data.