Transmit power allocation in wireless communication devices

• US 20070111681A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Welnick, William, Alberth, William
• Application Number:
  US11/273,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.100
• 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: H04B 2001/0416 having gain or transmission power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range

Abstract

A portable multimode wireless communication device (100) including first and second transmitters (110, 120) coupled to corresponding antennas or to a common antenna. The portable device controls (130) an output power of one or both of the first and second transmitters so that a characteristic, for example, the combined specific absorption rate, of the transmitters of the portable multimode wireless communication device does not exceed a specified limit.

Claims

1. A method in a portable wireless communication device having first and second transmitters, the method comprising:

operating the first and second transmitters;

adjusting an output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters to limit a total amount of power emitted by the portable wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1,

determining a specific absorption rate associated with the first transmitter, determining a specific absorption rate associated with the second transmitter,

adjusting the output power includes adjusting the output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a combined specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed a specified limit.

3. The method of claim 1, operating the first and second transmitters simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 2,

operating the first and second transmitters virtually simultaneously,

adjusting the output power includes adjusting the output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed a specified limit.

5. The method of claim 1, carrying a voice call with the first transmitter and carrying a non-voice call with the second transmitter, adjusting the output power includes controlling the output power of the second transmitter within a specific absorption rate limit of the portable wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, carrying a data call with the first transmitter and carrying a communication channel with the second transmitter, adjusting the output power includes controlling the output power of the second transmitter to within a specific absorption rate limit of the portable wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, carrying a higher priority communications call with the first transmitter and carrying a lower priority communication channel with the second transmitter, adjusting the output power includes controlling the output power of the second transmitter to within a specific absorption rate limit of the portable wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 1,

the first transmitter configured for a data call and the second transmitter configured for a communication channel,

the controller configured to reduce an output power of the second transmitter so that a combined specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed the specified limit.

15. The method of claim 1,

the first transmitter configured for a higher priority communications call and the second transmitter configured for a lower priority communication channel,

the controller configured to reduce an output power of the second transmitter so that a combined specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed the specified limit.

8. A portable multimode wireless communication device, comprising:

a first transmitter coupled to an antenna;

a second transmitter coupled to an antenna,

the portable multimode wireless communication device controlling an output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a characteristic of the transmitter of the portable multimode wireless communication device does not exceed a specified limit.

9. The device of claim 8, where the transmitter characteristic is specific absorption.

10. The device of claim 9,

a controller communicable coupled to the first and second transmitters,

the controller providing a signal for controlling the output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a combined specific absorption rate of the portable multimode wireless communication device does not exceed the specified limit.

11. The device of claim 9,

the controller determining a specific absorption rate associated with the first transmitter and a specific absorption rate associated with the second transmitter,

the controller adjusting the output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a combined specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed a specified limit.

12. The device of claim 9,

the first and second transmitters configured to operate virtually simultaneously,

the controller providing a signal for controlling the output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a time averaged specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed the specified limit.

13. The device of claim 9,

the first transmitter configured for a first communication channel at a first power level, the second transmitter configured for a second communication channel,

the controller configured to reduce an output power of the second transmitter so that a combined specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed the specified limit.

16. A portable multimode wireless communication device, comprising:

a first transmitter coupled to a first antenna;

a second transmitter coupled to a second antenna,

a controller communicably coupled to the first and second transmitter,

the controller including a power control module for controlling an output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a combined specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed a specified limit.

17. The method of claim 16, the power control module for controlling the output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters so that a combined time averaged specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed a specified limit.

18. The method of claim 16, the first transmitter configured for a first transmit channel, the power control module adjusts a maximum output of the second transmitter such that a combined specific absorption rate of the first and second transmitters does not exceed a specified limit.

19. The method of claim 16, the controller including a notification module for notifying a user of a change in communication associated with one of the first and second transmitters due to a change in the output power of at least one of the first and second transmitters.