Dynamic antenna power control for multi-context device

• US 10,013,038 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mercer, Sean Russell, Khawand, Charbel, Harper, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): YANCHUS III, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US14/987,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20170192478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/142 using Hall-effect devices measuring magnetic variables using Hall-effect or other galvanomagnetic devices G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/26 characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range

Abstract

An electronic device disclosed herein includes one or more sensors for collecting data relating to a product context that an electronic device is currently placed or used in. A product context detector of the electronic device analyzes the collected data to identify the current product context, and a power controller of the electronic device alters transmission power of at least one antenna of the electronic device based on the identified product context to ensure compliance with an applicable specific absorption rate (SAR) standard.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a change from a first product context of an electronic device to a second product context of the electronic device based on data collected from one or more product context sensors, the first product context corresponding to a first applicable specific absorption rate (SAR) standard and the second product context corresponding to a second applicable SAR standard; and

based at least on the identification, adjusting a transmission power of the electronic device to ensure compliance with the second SAR standard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second product context is a selectable configuration of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second product context is identified based on a placement of the electronic device relative to surroundings in an external environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the data further comprises:

sensing an engagement status of a mechanical interconnect of the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the data further comprises:

sensing transmission of light through a mechanical interconnect with an optical sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the data further comprises:

sensing a position of the electronic device with a hall effect sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the change from the first product context to the second product context is based on data from multiple different sensors.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

turning on one or more proximity sensors responsive to the identification of the change from the first product context to the second product context.

9. An electronic device comprising:

at least one product context sensor;

at least one memory device;

at least one processing device;

a product context detector stored in the at least one memory device and executable by the at least one processing device, the product context detector configured to analyze data from the at least one product context sensor to identify a change from a first product context to a second product context, the first product context corresponding to a first applicable specific absorption rate (SAR) standard and the second product context corresponding to a second applicable SAR standard; and

a power controller that alters antenna transmission power of the electronic device responsive to the identified change from the first product context to the second product context to ensure compliance with the second SAR standard.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the second product context is a selectable mechanical configuration of the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the power controller is further configured to turn on one or more proximity sensors responsive to the identified change from the first product context to the second product context.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one product context sensor is configured to sense an engagement status of a mechanical interconnect of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one product context sensor is an optical sensor configured to sense transmission of light through a mechanical interconnect.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one product context sensor is a hall effect sensor.

15. One or more tangible computer-readable storage media encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on a computer system a computer process, the computer process comprising:

identifying a change from a first product context of an electronic device to a second product context of the electronic device based on data collected from one or more product context sensors, the first product context corresponding to a first applicable specific absorption rate (SAR) standard and the second product context corresponding to a second applicable SAR standard; and

based at least on the identification, adjusting a transmission power of the electronic device to ensure compliance with the second SAR standard.

16. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the second product context is a selectable mechanical configuration of the device.

17. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 15 wherein the computer process further comprises:

turning on one or more proximity sensors responsive to the identification of the change from the first product context to the second product context.

18. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein collecting the data further comprises:

sensing an engagement status of a mechanical interconnect of the device.

19. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein collecting the data further comprises:

sensing transmission of light through a mechanical interconnect with an optical sensor.

20. The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein collecting the data further comprises:

sensing a position of the electronic device with a hall effect sensor.