What is the magic of this micro-radar for real-time motion tracking?
Editor’s note: This article is from WeChat public account “Semiconductor Industry Watch” (ID:icbank), translated from “pocket-lint”.
Google announced Project Soli during its 2015 I/O Developer Conference.
Since then, Google’s ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) division has been developing the technology for use in wearables, mobile phones, computers, automobiles and IoT devices.
Recently, it is said that Google will use this chip in a new generation of pixel mobile phones, but do you really know this chip?
What is Google’s Soli chip?
Google’s Soli is a dedicated chip that uses micro-radars for real-time motion tracking by hand, tracking your movements on a microscopic scale, and tracking sub-millimeter motion at high speed with extreme precision.
The Soli chip integrates the sensor and antenna array into one device, which means it can even be used in the smallest wearable devices. The number shows that it is only 8mm x 10mm.
It also has no moving parts, so it consumes very little energy and is not affected by lighting conditions.
After working through most materials experiments, Soli became a very exciting technology.
With the chip, Google ATAP is developing a language that uses gestures to interact with the device.
This way, devices with Soli chips can use a common gesture set, which is what Google calls virtual tool gestures, which involve pressing an invisible button between the thumb and forefinger or by tying the thumb and index finger together. Turn the dial and other actions.
How does Google’s Soli chip work?
Ready to understand some scientific principles?
The Google Soli chip works by emitting electromagnetic waves.
According to Google ATAP, object information within the beam is reflected back to the radar antenna based on the path of the light.
The information collected by the reflected signal, such as time delay or frequency change, provides the device with information about the interaction.
Soli can feel the subtle changes in the received signal over time.
By dealing with these… Soli can distinguish between complex finger movements and hand shapes in the field.
Gesture control can be achieved thanks to a variety of techniques including raw radar data, machine learning, possible gestures and predefined interactions And data can be integrated.
In short, the Google Soli chip works in a very complicated way, but it has great potential for future device and gesture control.
How will Soli change the way we use our devices?
Soli has the potential to change the way we use all devices, from mobile phones to wearables and everything in between.
Wearables are probably the most obvious and natural place to apply this technology, because these types of devices typically have such a small display (but need more rich, more practical input options).
ExampleSuch as Apple watch, if you have the support of Soli chip, then the design of this smart watch will have a new experience, because you can wave your finger to complete the task, such as imitating the low volume adjuster to reduce the volume or simulate pressing the button to open Or something off.
Google has announced that the unannounced Google Pixel 4 smartphone, which will be released in October 2019, will be the first device to use the Soli chip.
Soli chips will allow gesture control, such as users simply waving their hands to skip songs, snooze alarms, and mute calls.
These features are said to expand over time.
Google ATAP is looking for developers to develop, test, and build Soli applications.
Because only the upcoming Pixel 4 can fully utilize the Soli chip.
*Disclaimer: This article was originally created by the author. The content of the article is the author’s personal point of view. The semiconductor industry observation reprint is only to convey a different point of view. It does not mean that the semiconductor industry observes the endorsement or support of this view. If there is any objection, please contact the semiconductor industry for observation.