Abstract: A digital filter according to the disclosure includes a processing circuit having a memory and a number of parallel processing circuits. The parallel processing circuits perform a convolution operations based on input data and function data that is accessed from the memory. The filter further includes a serializer for serializing data that is received from the processing circuits. A clock generator circuit provides a first clock signal to the processing circuit and a second clock signal to the serializer. The frequency of the second clock signal is greater than that of the first clock signal.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detecting obstruction of a device's antenna(s) and then changing an operation of the device. A transmission time at which an antenna of an electronic device transmitted a signal can be identified. A response signal can be detected that was received at a receiver of the electronic device subsequent to the transmission time. Based on the response signal and on the transmission time, one or more response-signal characteristics can be determined. Based on the one or more response-signal characteristics, it can be determined that the antenna or that another antenna of the electronic device is at least partly blocked from emitting or receiving signals. In response to determining that the antenna is at least partly blocked, a changed type of operation of operation can be identified, and the changed type of operation can be performed.

Abstract: A secure training sequence (STS) is included in wireless packets communicated between electronic devices to assist with channel estimation and wireless ranging. The STS includes multiple STS segments generated based on outputs from a cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generator (CSPRNG), the STS segments being separated by guard intervals and formatted in accordance with an 802.15.4 data symbol format that uses burst position modulation (BPM) and binary phase shift keying (BPSK) to map bits from the CSPRNG to burst positions and pulse polarities for the STS symbols. Both a first electronic device, which generates the STS, and a second electronic device, which estimates a communication channel using the STS, have prior private knowledge of cryptographic keys required to generate a non-repetitive single-use pseudo-random (PR) sequence by the CSPRNG. The STS includes two burst position intervals per STS symbol and two possible burst positions within each burst position interval.

Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for secure time-of-arrivals calculations in an ultra-wideband (UWB) system. Some embodiments include a UWB receiver that can inspect a channel impulse response (CIR) between a first and second electronic device and identify one or more first path candidates (FPCs). For a candidate path, the UWB receiver can identify subsequent paths that create inter-pulse interference (IPI) on the candidate path. Using estimates for the interfering path strengths (e.g., channel coefficients from the CIR) and the known cryptographically sequence of pulse polarities (SPP), the UWB receiver can reduce the IPI from these interfering paths on the FPCs, and then make decisions based at least on the remaining pulse polarities, whether the one or more FPCs comprise a legitimate transmission signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for determining an estimated orientation and/or position of a user's head using worn ear pieces and leveraging the estimated head orientation and/or position to provide information to the user. In one exemplary method, first and second spatial positions of respective first and second ear pieces worn by a user may each be determined. Based at least in part on the first and second spatial positions of the respective first and second ear pieces, an estimated orientation of the user's head may be determined. The method may further include requesting information to be provided to the user based at least in part on the estimated orientation of the user's head and providing contextual information to the user responsive to the request.

Abstract: Methods for a data-less ranging procedure may include initiating a ranging procedure via a polling message transmitted at a first time and receiving response messages at second and third times. The time intervals between the first and second time and the second and third times may be pre-defined. A time of flight may be calculated based on the pre-defined time intervals and the first, second, and third times.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a two-point calibration of a VCO in a PLL is disclosed. The method includes determining a first steady state tuning voltage of the VCO with no modulation voltage applied. Thereafter, an iterative process may be performed wherein a modulation voltage is applied to the VCO (along with the tuning voltage) and a modified divisor is applied to the divider circuit in the feedback loop. During each iteration, after the PLL is settled, the tuning voltage is measured and a difference between the current value and the first value is determined. If the current and first values of the turning voltage are not equal, another iteration may be performed, modifying at least one of the modulation voltage and the divisor, and determining the difference between the current and first values of the tuning voltage.

Abstract: Some embodiments include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for secure time-of-arrivals calculations in an ultra-wideband (UWB) system. Some embodiments include a UWB receiver that can inspect a channel impulse response (CIR) between a first and second electronic device and identify one or more first path candidates (FPCs). For a candidate path, the UWB receiver can identify subsequent paths that create inter-pulse interference (IPI) on the candidate path. Using estimates for the interfering path strengths (e.g., channel coefficients from the CIR) and the known cryptographically sequence of pulse polarities (SPP), the UWB receiver can reduce the IPI from these interfering paths on the FPCs, and then make decisions based at least on the remaining pulse polarities, whether the one or more FPCs comprise a legitimate transmission signal.

Abstract: An electronic device that communicates with a second electronic device using adaptive frequency hopping across different spectral bands is described. An integrated circuit in the electronic device includes processing logic that determines an adaptive spectral map that specifies channels across multiple spectral bands. During communication with a second electronic device that includes a second integrated circuit using a communication protocol (such as Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy), the integrated circuit selects channels in the adaptive spectral map, where selection can be based on a predefined frequency-hopping sequence.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a system and method for enabling communicating Ultra Wideband (UWB) devices to collaborate by exchanging pulse shape information. The UWB devices use the pulse shape information to improve ranging accuracy. The improved ranging accuracy can be used in complex multipath environments where advanced estimation schemes are used to extract an arriving path for time-of-flight estimation. To determine the pulse shape information to be shared, some embodiments include determining location information of a UWB device and selecting the pulse shape information that satisfies regional aspects. The pulse shape information includes a time-zero index specific to a ranging signal that is used by UWB receivers to establish timestamps time-of-flight calculations. Some embodiments include measuring performance characteristics and selecting different pulse shape information based on the performance characteristics for improved accuracy.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for determining an estimated orientation and/or position of a user's head using worn ear pieces and leveraging the estimated head orientation and/or position to provide information to the user. In one exemplary method, first and second spatial positions of respective first and second ear pieces worn by a user may each be determined. Based at least in part on the first and second spatial positions of the respective first and second ear pieces, an estimated orientation of the user's head may be determined. The method may further include requesting information to be provided to the user based at least in part on the estimated orientation of the user's head and providing contextual information to the user responsive to the request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a two-point calibration of a VCO in a PLL is disclosed. The method includes determining a first steady state tuning voltage of the VCO with no modulation voltage applied. Thereafter, an iterative process may be performed wherein a modulation voltage is applied to the VCO (along with the tuning voltage) and a modified divisor is applied to the divider circuit in the feedback loop. During each iteration, after the PLL is settled, the tuning voltage is measured and a difference between the current value and the first value is determined. If the current and first values of the turning voltage are not equal, another iteration may be performed, modifying at least one of the modulation voltage and the divisor, and determining the difference between the current and first values of the tuning voltage.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for determining an estimated orientation and/or position of a user's head using worn ear pieces and leveraging the estimated head orientation and/or position to provide information to the user. In one exemplary method, first and second spatial positions of respective first and second ear pieces worn by a user may each be determined. Based at least in part on the first and second spatial positions of the respective first and second ear pieces, an estimated orientation of the user's head may be determined. The method may further include requesting information to be provided to the user based at least in part on the estimated orientation of the user's head and providing contextual information to the user responsive to the request.

Abstract: Methods for a data-less ranging procedure may include initiating a ranging procedure via a polling message transmitted at a first time and receiving response messages at second and third times. The time intervals between the first and second time and the second and third times may be pre-defined. A time of flight may be calculated based on the pre-defined time intervals and the first, second, and third times.

Abstract: Embodiments enable communicating Ultra Wideband (UWB) devices to collaborate by exchanging pulse shape information. The UWB devices use the pulse shape information to improve ranging accuracy. The improved ranging accuracy can be used in complex multipath environments where advanced estimation schemes are used to extract an arriving path for time-of-flight estimation. To determine the pulse shape information to be shared, some embodiments include determining location information of a UWB device and selecting the pulse shape information that satisfies regional aspects. The pulse shape information includes a time-zero index specific to a ranging signal that is used by UWB receivers to establish timestamps time-of-flight calculations. Some embodiments include measuring performance characteristics and selecting different pulse shape information based on the performance characteristics for improved accuracy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are presented to generate, and verify reception of, ultra wideband (UWB) communications, e.g., to perform secure UWB ranging. Verifier and prover messages may be encoded on top of random cryptographically secure training sequence (STS) of pulses, organized in blocks such that a given block corresponds to a given message bit. In some scenarios, a first STS may be encoded using a verifier message not known to a recipient device. A second STS may be received from the recipient device, encoded with an unknown prover message. A third STS may also be received, encoded with an authentication message generated using the verifier message and the authentication message. Verification of the authentication message can therefore confirm that the recipient device received the first STS, and that the recipient device is the authentic source of the second STS. Thus, the second STS may be relied upon, e.g., for ranging calculations.

Abstract: A secure training sequence (STS) is included in wireless packets communicated between electronic devices to assist with channel estimation and wireless ranging. The STS includes multiple STS segments generated based on outputs from a cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generator (CSPRNG), the STS segments being separated by guard intervals and formatted in accordance with an 802.15.4 data symbol format that uses burst position modulation (BPM) and binary phase shift keying (BPSK) to map bits from the CSPRNG to burst positions and pulse polarities for the STS symbols. Both a first electronic device, which generates the STS, and a second electronic device, which estimates a communication channel using the STS, have prior private knowledge of cryptographic keys required to generate a non-repetitive single-use pseudo-random (PR) sequence by the CSPRNG. The STS includes two burst position intervals per STS symbol and two possible burst positions within each burst position interval.

Abstract: Embodiments enable communicating Ultra Wideband (UWB) devices to collaborate by exchanging pulse shape information. The UWB devices use the pulse shape information to improve ranging accuracy. The improved ranging accuracy can be used in complex multipath environments where advanced estimation schemes are used to extract an arriving path for time-of-flight estimation. To determine the pulse shape information to be shared, some embodiments include determining location information of a UWB device and selecting the pulse shape information that satisfies regional aspects. The pulse shape information includes a time-zero index specific to a ranging signal that is used by UWB receivers to establish timestamps time-of-flight calculations. Some embodiments include measuring performance characteristics and selecting different pulse shape information based on the performance characteristics for improved accuracy.

Abstract: An electronic device such as a wireless earbud may have antenna structures that are configured to form one or more antenna portions or antennas for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. The device may include control circuitry that is configured to selectively activate one or more antennas or antenna portions to transmit and receive wireless signals for the device. The device may include sensor circuitry that provide sensor data to the control circuitry. The control circuitry may use the sensor data to select and activate an optimal antenna based on the orientation of the earbud or the environment of the device. The antennas may be formed on opposing sides of a housing for the device. By providing configurable antenna structures, the device may be configured to adapt to the current environment and efficiently perform communications operations.

Abstract: Embodiments enable communicating Ultra Wideband (UWB) devices to collaborate by exchanging pulse shape information. The UWB devices use the pulse shape information to improve ranging accuracy. The improved ranging accuracy can be used in complex multipath environments where advanced estimation schemes are used to extract an arriving path for time-of-flight estimation. To determine the pulse shape information to be shared, some embodiments include determining location information of a UWB device and selecting the pulse shape information that satisfies regional aspects. The pulse shape information includes a time-zero index specific to a ranging signal that is used by UWB receivers to establish timestamps time-of-flight calculations. Some embodiments include measuring performance characteristics and selecting different pulse shape information based on the performance characteristics for improved accuracy.