Electronic device and transmission power controlling method

• US 10,397,877 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Jae Woong, Park, Dong Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan H
• Application Number:
  US15/933,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20180288707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 455 69, 455522, 455574, 4551611, 455103, 455502, 4554352, 455 411, 455 412, 370252, 370328, 375295, 375373
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/346 distributing total power among users or channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations

Abstract

An electronic device includes at least one antenna, a Wi-Fi module including a plurality of processing circuits performing communication using the at least one antenna, and a processor configured to determine whether the Wi-Fi module is simultaneously operating in a plurality of frequency bands, to obtain a number of processing circuits that are operating in the Wi-Fi module if the Wi-Fi module is simultaneously operating in the plurality of frequency bands, and to reduce a transmission power level of the Wi-Fi module based on the number of processing circuits that are operating.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a wireless communication module comprising a plurality of processing circuits performing communication using the at least one antenna based on a Wi-Fi protocol; and

one or more processors,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

determine whether the wireless communication module is simultaneously operating in a plurality of frequency bands;

obtain a number of processing circuits that are operating in the wireless communication module if the wireless communication module is simultaneously operating in the plurality of frequency bands; and

reduce a transmission power level of the wireless communication module based on the number of processing circuits that are operating.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are disposed outside the wireless communication module, and/or

wherein at least one of the one or more processors is disposed inside the wireless communication module.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

reduce the transmission power level of the wireless communication module if the number of processing circuits that are operating exceeds a specified number.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

increase a decrement of the transmission power level as the number of processing circuits that are operating increases.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module further includes a cellular module comprising cellular communication circuitry, and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

verify an operating state of the cellular module;

reduce the transmission power level to a first level if the cellular module is not in operation; and

reduce the transmission power level to a second level lower than the first level if the cellular module is in operation.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module further includes a Bluetooth module comprising Bluetooth circuitry, and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

verify an operating state of the Bluetooth module;

reduce the transmission power level to a first level if the Bluetooth module is not in operation; and

reduce the transmission power level to a third level lower than the first level if the Bluetooth module is in operation.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver; and

a proximity sensor,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

verify at least one of an operating state of the receiver or the proximity sensor;

reduce the transmission power level to a first level if the receiver is not in operation and/or an object is not sensed by the proximity sensor within a specified distance; and

reduce the transmission power level to a fourth level if the receiver is in operation and the object is sensed by the proximity sensor within the specified distance.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a grip sensor,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

verify an operating state of the grip sensor;

reduce the transmission power level to a first level if the electronic device is not gripped by a user; and

reduce the transmission power level to a fifth level if the electronic device is gripped by the user.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store transmission power level information according to the number of processing circuits that are operating,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

verify the transmission power level information corresponding to the number of processing circuits; and

reduce the transmission power level based on the verified transmission power level information.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the power level information includes:

pieces of transmission power level information respectively corresponding to the plurality of processing circuits included in the wireless communication module.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

determine that the wireless communication module is simultaneously operating in the plurality of frequency bands if a specified application is running.

12. A transmission power level controlling method of an electronic device, the method comprising:

determining whether a wireless communication module is simultaneously operating in a plurality of frequency bands, wherein the wireless communication module comprises a plurality of processing circuits performing communication using at least one antenna based on a Wi-Fi protocol;

obtaining a number of processing circuits that are operating in the wireless communication module if the wireless communication module is simultaneously operating in the plurality of frequency bands; and

reducing a transmission power level of the wireless communication module based on the number of processing circuits.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reducing of the transmission power level includes:

increasing a decrement of the transmission power level as the number of processing circuits that are operating increases.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

verifying an operating state of a cellular module included in the wireless communication module,

wherein the reducing of the transmission power level includes;

reducing the transmission power level to a first level if the cellular module is not in operation; and

reducing the transmission power level to a second level lower than the first level if the cellular module is in operation.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

verifying an operating state of a Bluetooth module included in the wireless communication module,

wherein the reducing of the transmission power level includes;

reducing the transmission power level to a first level if the Bluetooth module is not in operation; and

reducing the transmission power level to a third level lower than the first level if the Bluetooth module is in operation.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

verifying operating states of a receiver and a proximity sensor,

wherein the reducing of the transmission power level includes;

reducing the transmission power level to a first level if the receiver is not in operation and/or an object is not sensed by the proximity sensor within a specified distance; and

reducing the transmission power level to a fourth level if the receiver is in operation and the object is sensed by the proximity sensor within the specified distance.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

verifying an operating state of a grip sensor,

wherein the reducing of the transmission power level includes;

reducing the transmission power level to a first level if the electronic device is not gripped by a user; and

reducing the transmission power level to a fifth level if the electronic device is gripped by the user.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the reducing of the transmission power level includes:

verifying transmission power level information stored in a memory and corresponding to the number of processing circuits; and

reducing the transmission power level based on the verified transmission power level information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the transmission power level information includes:

pieces of transmission power level information respectively corresponding to the plurality of processing circuits included in the wireless communication module.

20. An electronic device comprising:

one or more antennas;

a wireless communication module comprising a plurality of processing circuits configured to communicate based on a Wi-Fi protocol; and

one or more processors,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

determine whether the wireless communication module outputs first transmission power through a first frequency band and outputs second transmission power through a second frequency band using at least part of the one or more antennas;

obtain a number of processing circuits, which are operating, from among the plurality of processing circuits if the wireless communication module outputs the first transmission power and the second transmission power;

determine a first power level corresponding to the first transmission power and determine a second power level corresponding to the second transmission power, from among a plurality of transmission power levels associated with the wireless communication module based on the number of the processing circuits; and

change a power level of the first transmission power to the first power level and change a power level of the second transmission power to the second power level.