Patents by Inventor Zohar Agon

Zohar Agon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11946996
    Abstract: Accuracy for detecting and tracking one or more objects of interest can be improved using radar-based tracking systems. In some examples, multiple radars implemented in a device can be used to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, the one or more objects of interest. To disambiguate an object of interest from undesired objects such as the hand of a user, the object of interest can include a transponder that applies a delay element to a signal received from a radar, and thereafter transmits a delayed return signal back to the radar. The delay produced by the delay element can separate the return signal from undesired reflections and enable disambiguation of those signals. Clear identification of the desired return signal can lead to more accurate object distance determinations, more accurate triangulation, and improved position detection and tracking accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, John Zhonghua Wu, Michael Delishansky, Zohar Agon, Shachar Shayovitz, Michael Ney, Shay I. Freundlich
  • Patent number: 11619732
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to motion detection and recognition using segmented data from reflections of transmitted signals. An apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The processor may cause the transmitter to transmit pulses of an RF signal, the reflections of which are received by a receiver. For each of a number of consecutive segments, the transmitter may transmit N pulses of the RF signal, followed by quiet period. The processor may determine amplitude and phase data for reflections received by the receiver. Over a number of consecutive segments, the processor may detect and classify the amplitude and phase data change over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ney, Zohar Agon
  • Publication number: 20230003867
    Abstract: An electronic device may include wireless circuitry with sensing circuitry that transmits radio-frequency sensing signals and receives reflected radio-frequency sensing signals. A mixer may generate a series of beat signals based on the sensing signals and the reflected sensing signals. The sensing circuitry may generate a beat phase based on an average of the series of beat signals, a set of phase values based on the series of beat signals, and a phase velocity based on the set of phase values. The sensing circuitry may resolve a phase ambiguity in the beat phase based on the phase velocity to identify a range between the electronic device and an external object. This way may allow the sensing circuitry to generate accurate ranges even in a low signal-to-noise ratio regime, such as when the external object is moving relative to the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Avihay Yehezkel, Michael Kerner, Michael Delishansky, Michael Ney, Shachar Shayovitz, Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 11536823
    Abstract: A transceiver circuit included in a computer system may include multiple antennas, a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit. The transmitter circuit may store an identifier number and generate multiple numbers using the stored identifier number. The transmitter circuit may also generate a transmit signal that include multiple pulses, where a. given pulse may include multiple chirps encoded with the multiple numbers. The receiver circuit may receive a reflected version of the transmit signal and generate an output signal using the reflected version of the transmit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 11307299
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to perform sensing applications using communication signals. The first wireless device may determine to perform a sensing application and to perform the sensing application using a communication signal to be transmitted to a second device. In other words, the first wireless device may use a transmission that is scheduled for communication purposes to additionally perform sensing of one or more types. Example sensing or radar-like applications include estimating distance, motion, and/or angle to one or more objects or structures in the vicinity of the first wireless device. After transmitting the communication signal to the second wireless device, the first wireless device may receive a reflection of the communication signal. The first wireless device may use the reflection to perform the sensing application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Patent number: 11237247
    Abstract: A transceiver having quantization noise compensation is disclosed. The transceiver includes transmitter and receiver circuits. The transmitter is configured to receive and quantize a digital signal to generate a quantized signal. The quantized signal is then converted into an analog transmit signal and transmitted as a wireless signal. The receiver circuit is configured to receive a reflected version of the wireless signal and generate an analog receive signal based thereon. The analog receive signal is converted into a digital receive signal. Thereafter, the receiver cancels quantization noise from the digital receive signal to produce a digital output signal that can be utilized for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Publication number: 20210405174
    Abstract: Accuracy for detecting and tracking one or more objects of interest can be improved using radar-based tracking systems. In some examples, multiple radars implemented in a device can be used to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, the one or more objects of interest. To disambiguate an object of interest from undesired objects such as the hand of a user, the object of interest can include a transponder that applies a delay element to a signal received from a radar, and thereafter transmits a delayed return signal back to the radar. The delay produced by the delay element can separate the return signal from undesired reflections and enable disambiguation of those signals. Clear identification of the desired return signal can lead to more accurate object distance determinations, more accurate triangulation, and improved position detection and tracking accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Michael KERNER, John Zhonghua WU, Michael DELISHANSKY, Zohar AGON, Shachar SHAYOVITZ, Michael NEY, Shay I. FREUNDLICH
  • Publication number: 20210382163
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to motion detection and recognition using segmented data from reflections of transmitted signals. An apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The processor may cause the transmitter to transmit pulses of an RF signal, the reflections of which are received by a receiver. For each of a number of consecutive segments, the transmitter may transmit N pulses of the RF signal, followed by quiet period. The processor may determine amplitude and phase data for reflections received by the receiver. Over a number of consecutive segments, the processor may detect and classify the amplitude and phase data change over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Ney, Zohar Agon
  • Publication number: 20210382138
    Abstract: A transceiver having quantization noise compensation is disclosed. The transceiver includes transmitter and receiver circuits. The transmitter is configured to receive and quantize a digital signal to generate a quantized signal. The quantized signal is then converted into an analog transmit signal and transmitted as a wireless signal. The receiver circuit is configured to receive a reflected version of the wireless signal and generate an analog receive signal based thereon. The analog receive signal is converted into a digital receive signal. Thereafter, the receiver cancels quantization noise from the digital receive signal to produce a digital output signal that can be utilized for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Patent number: 11056784
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to calibrate a phased antenna array. The wireless device may begin a calibration process with a second wireless device. The first wireless device may receive a calibration signal from the second wireless device and may calibrate a subset (e.g., all but one) of the antennas of the array. The first wireless device may receive a subsequent signal and estimate the angle of arrival using the calibrated subset of antennas. Further, the first wireless device may calibrate a complete set of antennas using calibration signals from a plurality of directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Zohar Agon
  • Publication number: 20210181327
    Abstract: A transceiver circuit included in a computer system may include multiple antennas, a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit. The transmitter circuit may store an identifier number and generate multiple numbers using the stored identifier number. The transmitter circuit may also generate a transmit signal that include multiple pulses, where a. given pulse may include multiple chirps encoded with the multiple numbers. The receiver circuit may receive a reflected version of the transmit signal and generate an output signal using the reflected version of the transmit signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 11032167
    Abstract: A precursor rejection filter is disclosed. A digital filter is coupled to receive packets from a data source. The filter may operate in one of a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the filter may receive communications packets. When operating in the second mode, the filter may receive sensing packets. Furthermore, when operating in the second mode, the filter may cause a precursor of the equivalent impulse response of the transmitter to be attenuated without attenuating the main lobe of the equivalent impulse response of the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shachar Shayovitz, Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon
  • Publication number: 20210041549
    Abstract: Embodiments are presented herein of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device to perform sensing applications using communication signals. The first wireless device may determine to perform a sensing application and to perform the sensing application using a communication signal to be transmitted to a second device. In other words, the first wireless device may use a transmission that is scheduled for communication purposes to additionally perform sensing of one or more types. Example sensing or radar-like applications include estimating distance, motion, and/or angle to one or more objects or structures in the vicinity of the first wireless device. After transmitting the communication signal to the second wireless device, the first wireless device may receive a reflection of the communication signal. The first wireless device may use the reflection to perform the sensing application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon, Michael Ney
  • Publication number: 20200396145
    Abstract: A precursor rejection filter is disclosed. A digital filter is coupled to receive packets from a data source. The filter may operate in one of a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the filter may receive communications packets. When operating in the second mode, the filter may receive sensing packets. Furthermore, when operating in the second mode, the filter may cause a precursor of the equivalent impulse response of the transmitter to be attenuated without attenuating the main lobe of the of the equivalent impulse response of the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Shachar Shayovitz, Michael Kerner, Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 10277444
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method, computer program product, and system for utilizing a system for peak cancellation for a received Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol to reduce the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). The system detects M sets of clipping noise samples of the symbol where each set includes one of the M highest clipping noise peaks of the symbol, determines cancellation pulses that correspond to the highest clipping noise peaks of the M sets in the time domain, and subtracts the cancellation pulses from the corresponding highest clipping noise peak samples to reduce the PAPR. The cancellation pulses are determined at least in part from the center-of-mass of each set of the clipping noise samples, the phase of some samples of each set, and the in-band energy limitation associated with the OFDM symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 10084632
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product that receives an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, and utilizes a weighted gradient-based adaptive peak cancellation convergence algorithm to create a peak cancellation signal to reduce a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) as well as induced error rates of the OFDM symbol. Iterations of the weighted gradient-based adaptive peak cancellation convergence algorithm produce a peak cancellation signal that converges to a desired peak cancellation signal that satisfies a targeted PAPR. Some embodiments utilize a priori knowledge of a power spectral density of clipping noise and pre-defined transmission constraints in the frequency domain to create a peak cancellation signal with specific and desired spectral density properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Zohar Agon
  • Publication number: 20180091348
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method, computer program product, and system for utilizing a system for peak cancellation for a received Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol to reduce the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). The system detects M sets of clipping noise samples of the symbol where each set includes one of the M highest clipping noise peaks of the symbol, determines cancellation pulses that correspond to the highest clipping noise peaks of the M sets in the time domain, and subtracts the cancellation pulses from the corresponding highest clipping noise peak samples to reduce the PAPR. The cancellation pulses are determined at least in part from the center-of-mass of each set of the clipping noise samples, the phase of some samples of each set, and the in-band energy limitation associated with the OFDM symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Zohar AGON
  • Publication number: 20180083820
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product that receives an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, and utilizes a weighted gradient-based adaptive peak cancellation convergence algorithm to create a peak cancellation signal to reduce a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) as well as induced error rates of the OFDM symbol. Iterations of the weighted gradient-based adaptive peak cancellation convergence algorithm produce a peak cancellation signal that converges to a desired peak cancellation signal that satisfies a targeted PAPR. Some embodiments utilize a priori knowledge of a power spectral density of clipping noise and pre-defined transmission constraints in the frequency domain to create a peak cancellation signal with specific and desired spectral density properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Zohar AGON
  • Patent number: 9473340
    Abstract: Devices and methods for reducing and/or substantially preventing nonlinearities and discontinuities during the translation stage from an I/Q signal into a polar coordinate OFDM signal are provided. By way of example, a method includes receiving an incoming data signal via a processor of a transmitter. The method further includes computing one or more roots of a first function representing a phase component of the data signal, computing a second function representing the phase component, and deriving one or more characteristics of the phase component based on the second function. The method further includes adjusting one of the one or more characteristics in a second domain to establish a substantially finite bandwidth of the phase component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Zohar Agon
  • Publication number: 20160173314
    Abstract: Devices and methods for reducing and/or substantially preventing nonlinearities and discontinuities during the translation stage from an I/Q signal into a polar coordinate OFDM signal are provided. By way of example, a method includes receiving an incoming data signal via a processor of a transmitter. The method further includes computing one or more roots of a first function representing a phase component of the data signal, computing a second function representing the phase component, and deriving one or more characteristics of the phase component based on the second function. The method further includes adjusting one of the one or more characteristics in a second domain to establish a substantially finite bandwidth of the phase component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Zohar Agon