Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that perform gesture-based control using active acoustic sensing. By transmitting and receiving acoustic signals, a hearable can recognize changes in an acoustic circuit to perform gesture recognition. Gesture recognition involves recognizing a muscle-based gesture and/or an object-based gesture. With gesture recognition, the hearable can support a voice-free and/or hands-free user interface that enables the user to control an operation of the hearable or a computing device that is coupled to the hearable. This voice-free and/or hands-free user interface can provide a discreet and socially acceptable means of controlling an electronic device in a variety of different environments. It can also provide additional accessibility for people with various disabilities or physical restrictions.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems for radar-based gesture-recognition with context-sensitive gating and other context-sensitive controls. Sensor data from a proximity sensor and/or a movement sensor produces a context of a user equipment. The techniques and systems enable the user equipment to recognize contexts when a radar system can be unreliable and should not be used for gesture-recognition, enabling the user equipment to automatically disable or “gate” the output from the radar system according to context. The user equipment prevents the radar system from transitioning to a high-power state to perform gesture-recognition in contexts where radar data detected by the radar system is likely due to unintentional input. By so doing, the techniques conserve power, improve accuracy, or reduce latency relative to many common techniques and systems for radar-based gesture-recognition.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement hand-grip location detection using ultrasound. In particular, an ultrasonic sensor determines a location that a user's hand grips a user device. While gripping the user device, the hand creates an additional aperture area, which amplifies ultrasonic signals that are received by one or more transducers of the ultrasonic sensor that are proximate to the user's hand. By analyzing the amplitude (or power) of received ultrasonic signals, the ultrasonic sensor can detect if the user's hand is proximate to a particular transducer. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor utilizes speakers and/or microphones that are present within the user device. In this way, the ultrasonic sensor can have a relatively small footprint and fit within space-constrained devices.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement a distributed radar system. The distributed radar system includes two or more radar front-end circuits and at least one processor. The radar front-end circuits are distributed within a device at different positions. By partitioning antennas and transceivers across multiple radar front-end circuits instead of consolidating into a single integrated circuit, individual radar front-end circuits can have a smaller footprint than the single integrated circuit. This smaller footprint enables the radar front-end circuits to be integrated within space-constrained devices. The smaller footprint also provides additional flexibility in positioning the radar front-end circuits away from other components within the device that can cause interference. This can reduce the amount of interference seen by the distributed radar system.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement face authentication anti-spoofing using interferometry-based coherence. In particular, a face-authentication system uses ultrasound to distinguish between a real human face and a presentation attack that uses instruments to present a version of a human face. The face-authentication system includes or communicates with an ultrasonic sensor, which can detect a presentation attack and notify the face-authentication system. In general, the ultrasonic sensor uses interferometry to evaluate an amount of coherence (or similarity) between reflections observed by two or more transducers. In this way, the ultrasonic sensor can prevent unauthorized actors from using the presentation attack to gain access to a user's account or information.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that perform audioplethysmography and motion-sensing data fusion. Fusing motion-sensing data with audioplethysmography expands the situations in which audioplethysmography can operate. In one aspect, audioplethysmography and motion-sensing data fusion can be used for motion-artifact filtering. With motion-artifact filtering, noise caused by motion of a user can be attenuated to improve sensitivity and accuracy for audioplethysmography. This performance improvement expands the ability of audioplethysmography to support use cases during situations in which the user engages in an activity. In another aspect, audioplethysmography and motion-sensing data fusion can expand a functionality of a hearable to include activity detection and/or activity classification.

Abstract: This document describes techniques for radio frequency (RF) based micro-motion tracking. These techniques enable even millimeter-scale hand motions to be tracked. To do so, radar signals are used from radar systems that, with conventional techniques, would only permit resolutions of a centimeter or more.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement pattern recognition for face-authentication anti-spoofing. In particular, a face-authentication system distinguishes between a real human face and a presentation attack that uses a display to present a virtual human face. Operational settings of a camera system of the face-authentication system are tailored to enable detection of a pattern associated with an operation of the display. A spoofing detector of the face-authentication system analyzes one or more images captured by the camera system and determines whether or not the pattern is present within the image(s). If the pattern is present, the face-authentication system does not provide face authentication. Alternatively, if the pattern is not present, the face-authentication system can provide face authentication if facial recognition is successful.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement face authentication anti-spoofing using ultrasound. In particular, a face-authentication system uses ultrasound to distinguish between a real human face and a presentation attack that uses instruments to present a version of a human face. The face-authentication system includes or communicates with an ultrasonic sensor, which can detect a presentation attack and notify the face-authentication system. In general, the ultrasonic sensor analyzes characteristics of a presented object and determines whether the object represents a human face or a presentation attack instrument. In this way, the ultrasonic sensor can prevent unauthorized actors from using the presentation attack to gain access to a user's account or information.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that enable advanced gaming and virtual reality control using radar. These techniques enable small motions and displacements to be tracked, even in the millimeter or submillimeter scale, for user control actions even when those actions are optically occluded or obscured.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems for radar-based gesture-recognition with context-sensitive gating and other context-sensitive controls. Sensor data from a proximity sensor and/or a movement sensor produces a context of a user equipment. The techniques and systems enable the user equipment to recognize contexts when a radar system can be unreliable and should not be used for gesture-recognition, enabling the user equipment to automatically disable or “gate” the output from the radar system according to context. The user equipment prevents the radar system from transitioning to a high-power state to perform gesture-recognition in contexts where radar data detected by the radar system is likely due to unintentional input. By so doing, the techniques conserve power, improve accuracy, or reduce latency relative to many common techniques and systems for radar-based gesture-recognition.

Abstract: This document describes apparatuses and techniques for radar-enabled sensor fusion. In some aspects, a radar field is provided and reflection signals that correspond to a target in the radar field are received. The reflection signals are transformed to provide radar data, from which a radar feature indicating a physical characteristic of the target is extracted. Based on the radar features, a sensor is activated to provide supplemental sensor data associated with the physical characteristic. The radar feature is then augmented with the supplemental sensor data to enhance the radar feature, such as by increasing an accuracy or resolution of the radar feature. By so doing, performance of sensor-based applications, which rely on the enhanced radar features, can be improved.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement a multi-radar system within a device and optimize operation of the multi-radar system. The multi-radar system includes two or more radar circuits located at different positions on the device. The multi-radar system also includes an optimization controller, which controls operational states of the radar circuits. In particular, the optimization controller determines respective operational states of the radar circuits to optimize performance of the multi-radar system under certain constraints. For example, the optimization controller can alter the respective operational states for different radar circuits responsive to detecting various trigger events. In this way, the optimization controller can selectively alter the operational states of the radar circuits for various situations.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems that enable a smartphone-based radar system for determining user intention in a lower-power mode. The techniques and systems use a radar field to enable the smartphone to accurately determine the presence or absence of a user and further determine the intention of the user to interact with the smartphone. Using these techniques, the smartphone can account for the user's nonverbal communication cues to determine and maintain an awareness of users in its environment, and only respond to direct interactions once a user has demonstrated an intention to interact, which preserves battery power. The smartphone may determine the user's intention by recognizing various cues from the user, such as a change in position relative to the smartphone, a change in posture, or by an explicit action, such as a gesture.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems for radar-based gesture-recognition with context-sensitive gating and other context-sensitive controls. Sensor data from a proximity sensor and/or a movement sensor produces a context of a user equipment. The techniques and systems enable the user equipment to recognize contexts when a radar system can be unreliable and should not be used for gesture-recognition, enabling the user equipment to automatically disable or “gate” the output from the radar system according to context. The user equipment prevents the radar system from transitioning to a high-power state to perform gesture-recognition in contexts where radar data detected by the radar system is likely due to unintentional input. By so doing, the techniques conserve power, improve accuracy, or reduce latency relative to many common techniques and systems for radar-based gesture-recognition.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that enable advanced gaming and virtual reality control using radar. These techniques enable small motions and displacements to be tracked, even in the millimeter or submillimeter scale, for user control actions even when those actions are optically occluded or obscured.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement a multi-radar system within a device and optimize operation of the multi-radar system. The multi-radar system includes two or more radar circuits located at different positions on the device. The multi-radar system also includes an optimization controller, which controls operational states of the radar circuits. In particular, the optimization controller determines respective operational states of the radar circuits to optimize performance of the multi-radar system under certain constraints. For example, the optimization controller can alter the respective operational states for different radar circuits responsive to detecting various trigger events. In this way, the optimization controller can selectively alter the operational states of the radar circuits for various situations.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement pattern recognition for face-authentication anti-spoofing. In particular, a face-authentication system distinguishes between a real human face and a presentation attack that uses a display to present a virtual human face. Operational settings of a camera system of the face-authentication system are tailored to enable detection of a pattern associated with an operation of the display. A spoofing detector of the face-authentication system analyzes one or more images captured by the camera system and determines whether or not the pattern is present within the image(s). If the pattern is present, the face-authentication system does not provide face authentication. Alternatively, if the pattern is not present, the face-authentication system can provide face authentication if facial recognition is successful.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that enable low-power radar. The described techniques enable a radar system to reduce overall power consumption, thereby facilitating incorporation and utilization of the radar system within power-limited devices. Power consumption is reduced through customization of the transmission or processing of radar signals within the radar system. During transmission, different duty cycles, transmit powers, or framing structures can be utilized to collect appropriate data based on detected activity in an external environment. During processing, different hardware or different radar pipelines can be utilized to appropriately analyze the radar data. Instead of disabling the radar system, the described techniques enable the radar system to continuously monitor a dynamic environment and maintain responsiveness while conserving power.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that implement hand-grip location detection using ultrasound. In particular, an ultrasonic sensor determines a location that a user's hand grips a user device. While gripping the user device, the hand creates an additional aperture area, which amplifies ultrasonic signals that are received by one or more transducers of the ultrasonic sensor that are proximate to the user's hand. By analyzing the amplitude (or power) of received ultrasonic signals, the ultrasonic sensor can detect if the user's hand is proximate to a particular transducer. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor utilizes speakers and/or microphones that are present within the user device. In this way, the ultrasonic sensor can have a relatively small footprint and fit within space-constrained devices.