Granted Patent B2

US 12,463,692 · App. 17/930,312 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Inventors: Hyojin Lee (San Diego, CA); Weimin Duan (San Diego, CA); Yu Zhang (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated

H04B7/0617H04B7/086H04B7/0891

Abstract

Claims (115)

1 . A method, performed by a base station (BS), of reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted sensing, the method comprising:

configuring one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs for sensing, wherein each of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs comprises a downlink (DL) beam having a DL angle of departure (DL AoD) from a RIS controlled by a first set of control voltages and an uplink (UL) beam having an UL AoD from the RIS controlled by a second set of control voltages;

sending, to the RIS, information identifying the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs; and

performing monostatic sensing using at least one of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, wherein performing monostatic sensing comprises:

sending, to the RIS, a sensing signal; and

receiving, from the RIS, a reflection of the sensing signal from a target.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the information identifying the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs comprises sending information mapping sensing slots to reciprocal RIS beam pairs.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein sending the information identifying the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs comprises sending information mapping sensing slots to reciprocal RIS beam pairs in a semi-static or dynamic manner.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, the first set of control voltages for the DL beam and the second set of control voltages for the UL beam are the same.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, the first set of control voltages are used by a first panel of the RIS for reflecting the DL beam and wherein the second set of control voltages are used by a second panel of the RIS for reflecting the UL beam.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing monostatic sensing further comprises:

determining a distance from the RIS to the target based on the sensing signal, the reflection of the sensing signal, and a position of the RIS relative to the BS.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining a position of the target based on the distance from the RIS to the target and the DL AoD from the RIS.

8 . A method, performed by a base station (BS), of reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted sensing, the method comprising:

sending, to a RIS, configuration information to configure when the RIS is in an active state and when the RIS is in an inactive state;

sending a first sensing signal;

receiving a reflection of the first sensing signal from a target;

sending, to a RIS, a second sensing signal;

receiving, from the RIS, a reflection of the second sensing signal from the target; and

performing monostatic sensing using the first sensing signal, the reflection of the first sensing signal, the second sensing signal, and the reflection of the second sensing signal,

wherein sending the first sensing signal and receiving the reflection of the first sensing signal are performed while the RIS is in the inactive state.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein sending the second sensing signal and receiving the reflection of the second sensing signal is performed while the RIS is in the active state.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein performing monostatic sensing using the first sensing signal, the reflection of the first sensing signal, the second sensing signal, and the reflection of the second sensing signal comprises:

determining a first distance from the BS to the target based on a timing of the first sensing signal and the reflection of the first sensing signal;

determining a second distance from the BS to the target based on a timing of the second sensing signal and the reflection of the second sensing signal; and

determining a position of the target based on a distance from the BS to the RIS, the first distance from the BS to the target, and the second distance from the BS to the target.

11 . A method of reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted sensing, the method comprising:

receiving, at a base station (BS), a first signal comprising a reflection of a sensing signal from a second BS off of a RIS;

receiving, at the BS, a second signal comprising a reflection of the sensing signal from the second BS off of the RIS and off of a target; and

performing bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal, wherein receiving the first signal is performed while the RIS is in an inactive state.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal comprises:

determining a distance from the target to the BS based on a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an angle of arrival (AoA) of the first signal, and an AoA of the second signal.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining a position of the target based on the distance from the target to the BS and the AoA of the second signal.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal comprises:

sending, to the second BS, information indicating a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, and an AoA of the second signal; and

receiving, from the second BS, information indicating a position of the target.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal comprises:

sending, to the second BS, information indicating a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an angle of arrival (AoA) of the first signal, and an AoA of the second signal; and

receiving, from the second BS, information indicating a position of the target.

16 . A method of reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted sensing, the method comprising:

sending, to the RIS, configuration information that configures when the RIS is in an active state and when the RIS is in an inactive state;

receiving, at a base station (BS), a first signal comprising a first sensing signal from a second BS;

receiving, at the BS, a second signal comprising a reflection of the first sensing signal off of a target;

receiving, at the BS, a third signal comprising a reflection of a second sensing signal from the second BS off of a RIS;

receiving, at the BS, a fourth signal comprising a reflection of the second sensing signal off of the RIS and off of the target; and

performing bi-static sensing using the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal, wherein receiving the first signal and receiving the second signal occur while the RIS is in the inactive state.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving the third signal and receiving the fourth signal occurs while the RIS is in the active state.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein performing bi-static sensing using the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal comprises determining a distance from the BS to the target based on:

a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an angle of arrival (AoA) of the first signal, and an AoA of the second signal;

a timing of the third signal, a timing of the fourth signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an AoA of the third signal, and an AoA of the fourth signal; or

a combination thereof.

19 . A base station (BS), comprising:

a memory;

at least one transceiver; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:

configure one or more reciprocal reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) beam pairs for sensing, wherein each of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs comprises a downlink (DL) beam having a DL angle of departure (DL AoD) from a RIS controlled by a first set of control voltages and an uplink (UL) beam having an UL AoD from the RIS controlled by a second set of control voltages;

send, to the RIS via the at least one transceiver, information identifying the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs; and

perform monostatic sensing using at least one of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, wherein, to perform monostatic sensing, the at least one processor is configured to:

send, to the RIS via the at least one transceiver, a sensing signal; and

receive, from the RIS via the at least one transceiver, a reflection of the sensing signal from a target.

20 . The BS of claim 19 , wherein, to send the information identifying the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, the at least one processor is configured to send information mapping sensing slots to reciprocal RIS beam pairs.

21 . The BS of claim 20 , wherein, to send the information identifying the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, the at least one processor is configured to send information mapping sensing slots to reciprocal RIS beam pairs in a semi-static or dynamic manner.

22 . The BS of claim 19 , wherein, for each of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, the first set of control voltages for the DL beam and the second set of control voltages for the UL beam are the same.

23 . The BS of claim 19 , wherein, for each of the one or more reciprocal RIS beam pairs, the first set of control voltages are used by a first panel of the RIS for reflecting the DL beam and wherein the second set of control voltages are used by a second panel of the RIS for reflecting the UL beam.

24 . The BS of claim 19 , wherein, to perform monostatic sensing, the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a distance from the RIS to the target based on the sensing signal, the reflection of the sensing signal, and a position of the RIS relative to the BS.

25 . The BS of claim 24 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a position of the target based on the distance from the RIS to the target and the DL AoD from the RIS.

26 . A base station (BS), comprising:

a memory;

at least one transceiver; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:

send, to a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) via the at least one transceiver, configuration information to configure when the RIS is in an active state and when the RIS is in an inactive state,

send, via the at least one transceiver, a first sensing signal;

receive, via the at least one transceiver, a reflection of the first sensing signal from a target;

send, to the RIS via the at least one transceiver, a second sensing signal;

receive, from the RIS via the at least one transceiver, a reflection of the second sensing signal from the target; and

perform monostatic sensing using the first sensing signal, the reflection of the first sensing signal, the second sensing signal, and the reflection of the second sensing signal,

wherein sending the first sensing signal and receiving the reflection of the first sensing signal is performed while the RIS is in the inactive state.

27 . The BS of claim 26 , wherein sending the second sensing signal and receiving the reflection of the second sensing signal is performed while the RIS is in the active state.

28 . The BS of claim 26 , wherein, to perform monostatic sensing using the first sensing signal, the reflection of the first sensing signal, the second sensing signal, and the reflection of the second sensing signal, the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a first distance from the BS to the target based on a timing of the first sensing signal and the reflection of the first sensing signal;

determine a second distance from the BS to the target based on a timing of the second sensing signal and the reflection of the second sensing signal; and

determine a position of the target based on a distance from the BS to the RIS, the first distance from the BS to the target, and the second distance from the BS to the target.

29 . A base station (BS), comprising:

a memory;

at least one transceiver; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:

receive, via the at least one transceiver, a first signal comprising a reflection of a sensing signal from a second BS off of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS);

receive, via the at least one transceiver, a second signal comprising a reflection of the sensing signal from the second BS off of the RIS and off of a target; and

perform bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal,

wherein receiving the first signal is performed while the RIS is in an inactive state.

30 . The BS of claim 29 , wherein, to perform bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal, the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a distance from the target to the BS based on a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an angle of arrival (AoA) of the first signal, and an AoA of the second signal.

31 . The BS of claim 30 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a position of the target based on the distance from the target to the BS and the AoA of the second signal.

32 . The BS of claim 29 , wherein, to perform bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal, the at least one processor is configured to:

send, to the second BS via the at least one transceiver, information indicating a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, and an AoA of the second signal; and

receive, from the second BS via the at least one transceiver, information indicating a position of the target.

33 . The BS of claim 29 , wherein, to perform bi-static sensing using the first signal and the second signal, the at least one processor is configured to:

send, to the second BS via the at least one transceiver, information indicating a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an angle of arrival (AoA) of the first signal, and an AoA of the second signal; and

receive, from the second BS via the at least one transceiver, information indicating a position of the target.

34 . A base station (BS), comprising:

a memory;

at least one transceiver; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:

receive, via the at least one transceiver, a first signal comprising a first sensing signal from a second BS;

receive, via the at least one transceiver, a second signal comprising a reflection of the first sensing signal off of a target;

receive, via the at least one transceiver, a third signal comprising a reflection of a second sensing signal from the second BS off of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS);

receive, via the at least one transceiver, a fourth signal comprising a reflection of the second sensing signal off of the RIS and off of the target; and

perform bi-static sensing using the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send, to the RIS via the at least one transceiver, configuration information that configures when the RIS is in an active state and when the RIS is in an inactive state,

wherein receiving the first signal and receiving the second signal occurs while the RIS is in the inactive state.

35 . The BS of claim 34 , wherein receiving the third signal and receiving the fourth signal occurs while the RIS is in the active state.

36 . The BS of claim 34 , wherein, to perform bi-static sensing using the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal, the at least one processor is configured to determine a distance from the BS to the target based on:

a timing of the first signal, a timing of the second signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an angle of arrival (AoA) of the first signal, and an AoA of the second signal;

a timing of the third signal, a timing of the fourth signal, a distance from the RIS to the BS, an AoA of the third signal, and an AoA of the fourth signal; or

a combination thereof.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (14)