ADJUSTABLE WIRELESS CIRCUITRY WITH ANTENNA-BASED PROXIMITY DETECTOR
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- an antenna with which the electronic device transmits radio-frequency signals;
phase and magnitude detector circuitry that is coupled to the antenna and that makes radio-frequency signal phase and magnitude measurements; and
storage and processing circuitry that determines whether an external object is adjacent to the antenna by processing the radio-frequency signal phase and magnitude measurements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device such as a portable electronic device has wireless communications circuitry. Antennas in the electronic device may be used in transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals. A coupler and antenna signal phase and magnitude measurement circuitry may be used to determine when external objects are in the vicinity of the antenna by making antenna impedance measurements. In-band and out-of-band phase and magnitude signal measurements may be made in determining whether external objects are present. Additional sensors such as motion sensors, light and heat sensors, acoustic and electrical sensors may produce data that can be combined with the proximity data gathered using the antenna-based proximity sensor. In response to detecting that an external object such as a user'"'"'s body is within a given distance of the antenna, the electronic device may reduce transmit powers, switch antennas, steer a phased antenna array, switch communications protocols, or take other actions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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an antenna with which the electronic device transmits radio-frequency signals; phase and magnitude detector circuitry that is coupled to the antenna and that makes radio-frequency signal phase and magnitude measurements; and storage and processing circuitry that determines whether an external object is adjacent to the antenna by processing the radio-frequency signal phase and magnitude measurements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of using an electronic device, comprising:
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transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals through an antenna in the electronic device at a transmit power; with phase and magnitude detector circuitry that is coupled to the antenna in the electronic device, making radio-frequency antenna signal phase and magnitude measurements to determine whether an external object is adjacent to the antenna; and in response to determining that the external object is within a given distance of the antenna using the phase and magnitude detector circuitry, adjusting the transmit power. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A portable electronic device comprising:
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at least one antenna having an antenna impedance; and circuitry that determines whether an external object is adjacent to the antenna by making phase and magnitude measurements on radio-frequency antenna signals associated with the antenna to monitor the antenna impedance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification