Versatile system for adaptive mobile station antenna

• US 20070238496A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cleveland, Joseph, Chung, Yong
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.700
• 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 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils

Abstract

A system for providing an adaptive antenna system in a mobile communications device is disclosed. An array of antenna elements is provided. A sensing component is disposed along a surface of the mobile communications device, proximal to the array of antenna elements. A processor component is communicatively coupled to the sensing component. An implementation element is communicatively coupled to the processor component, and to the array of antenna elements. The sensor component generates data characterizing the proximity of a foreign object to the array of antenna elements; which the processing component uses to determine a configuration for the array of antenna elements. The implementation element modifies the array of antenna elements, responsive to the configuration determined by the processor component.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

an array of antenna elements;

a sensing component, disposed along a surface of the mobile communications device proximal to the array of antenna elements, adapted to sense proximity of a foreign object to the array of antenna elements;

a processor component, communicatively coupled to the sensing component, adapted to receive data characterizing the foreign object'"'"'s proximity from the sensing component, and to determine a configuration for the array of antenna elements based upon that data; and

an implementation element, communicatively coupled to the processor component and to the array of antenna elements, adapted to modify the array of antenna elements responsive to the configuration determined by the processor component.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device provides mobile phone functionality.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing component comprises a capacitive proximity sensor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing component comprises an optical proximity sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing component comprises a thermal proximity sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the array of antenna elements comprises an external antenna element.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the array of antenna elements comprises a conformal antenna element.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the array of antenna elements comprises an array of discrete wireline segments.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the array of antenna elements comprises an array of patch antenna elements.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor component comprises a digital signal processor.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor component is adapted to receive qualitative data from the sensing component.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor component is adapted to receive quantitative data from the sensing component.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor component is adapted to adapted to determine a configuration for the array of antenna elements using a look-up table.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor component is adapted to adapted to determine a configuration for the array of antenna elements using a mathematical formula.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the implementation element is integrated with the processor component.

16. A method of providing an adaptive antenna system in a mobile communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an array of antenna elements;

providing a sensing component, disposed along a surface of the mobile communications device proximal to the array of antenna elements;

providing a processor component, communicatively coupled to the sensing component;

providing an implementation element, communicatively coupled to the processor component and to the array of antenna elements;

utilizing the sensor component to generate data characterizing proximity of a foreign object to the array of antenna elements;

utilizing the processing component to determine a configuration for the array of antenna elements based upon that data; and

utilizing the implementation element to modify the array of antenna elements responsive to the configuration determined by the processor component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of utilizing the processing component to determine a configuration comprises utilizing a look-up table.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of utilizing the processing component to determine a configuration comprises utilizing an algorithm.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing a sensing component comprises providing a capacitive proximity sensor.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing a sensing component comprises providing an optical sensor.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of utilizing the sensor component to generate data further comprises utilizing the sensor component to generate data characterizing voltage standing wave ratio for an antenna element.

22. An adaptive antenna system, for use in a mobile station, comprising:

an external antenna component;

an internal array of antenna elements coupled to the external antenna component;

a proximity sensing component, disposed along a surface of the mobile station proximal to the external antenna component;

a processor component, communicatively coupled to the sensing component; and

an implementation element, communicatively coupled to the processor component and to the array of antenna elements;

wherein a configuration of the array of antenna elements is modified responsive to data from the proximity sensing component, as processed by the processor component.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the proximity sensing component determines voltage standing wave ratio for an antenna element.

24. A method of adapting a mobile communications device antenna system responsive to proximity of a foreign object, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an array of antenna elements;

providing a sensing component, disposed along a surface of the mobile communications device and adapted to determine voltage standing wave ratio for an antenna element;

providing a processor component, communicatively coupled to the sensing component;

providing an implementation element, communicatively coupled to the processor component and to the array of antenna elements;

utilizing the sensor component to generate data characterizing changes in voltage standing wave ratio due to proximity of a foreign object to the antenna element;

utilizing the processing component to determine a configuration for the array of antenna elements based upon that data; and

utilizing the implementation element to modify the array of antenna elements responsive to the configuration determined by the processor component.