Radiation Power Level Control System and Method for a Wireless Communication Device Having Tunable Elements

• US 20130122827A1
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Ali, Shirook M., Wilson, Kelce Steven, Warden, James Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,995,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/77
• 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

A radiation power level compliance and control scheme for a wireless user equipment (UE) device including one or more tunable elements. The wireless UE device comprises a component configured to detect one or more changes with respect to at least one operational parameter associated with the wireless UE device. A component is provided for determining that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of the tunable elements. Upon defining one or more tunable element settings, a component is configured to determine a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value, which is compared against an acceptable limit. If the SAR is within the limit, appropriate tuning control signals are provided to the tunable elements according to the defined tunable element settings. If the SAR is not within the limit or is about to exceed the limit, then the tunable element settings may be changed and retested.

Claims

1. A radiation power level control method for a wireless user equipment (UE) device including one or more tunable elements, said method comprising:

determining that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of said tunable elements of said wireless UE device;

defining one or more tunable element settings;

determining a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value based on said defined tunable element settings;

determining that said SAR value is within a first acceptable limit; and

responsive to determining that said SAR value is within said first acceptable limit, generating one or more tuning control signals to configure said one or more tunable elements according to said defined tunable element settings.

2. The radiation power level control method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that said SAR value is not within said first acceptable limit;

redefining said one or more tunable element settings;

re-determining said SAR value; and

performing said actions of determining said SAR value is not within said first acceptable limit, redefining said one or more tunable element settings, and re-determining said SAR value, until said SAR value is determined to be within said first acceptable limit.

4. The radiation power level control method of claim 1 wherein said SAR value is determined by querying a lookup table.

14. The radiation power level control method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting an extrapolation time window (T);

responsive to determining that said SAR value is within said first acceptable limit, extrapolating said SAR value over said extrapolation time window to obtain an extrapolated SAR value; and

determining that said extrapolated SAR value is within a second acceptable limit.

15. The radiation power level control method of claim 14 further comprising:

if said extrapolated SAR value is not within said second acceptable limit, iteratively redefining said one or more tunable element settings, varying said extrapolation time window, or both, and re-determining said SAR value and re-extrapolating said SAR value until said re-extrapolated SAR value is within said second acceptable limit.

23. The wireless UE device of claim 15 wherein said at least one operational parameter associated with said wireless UE device comprises at least one of a device usage mode, a transmission event mode, a radio channel condition, and an indication of presence or absence of a conductive element that can change an electromagnetic condition around said wireless UE device.

24. The wireless UE device of claim 23 wherein said device usage mode comprises at least one of a speakerphone mode, a mode of positioning said wireless UE device near a user'"'"'s ear, a mode of placing said wireless UE device in a user'"'"'s holster, and a mode of placing said wireless UE device at a place positioned away from a user'"'"'s body.

25. The wireless UE device of claim 23 wherein said transmission event mode comprises at least one of a voice call mode, a data session mode, and an uplink event mode.

3. The radiation power level control method of claim wherein said SAR value is determined by computing a mathematical formula.

5. The radiation power level control method of claim wherein said lookup table is locally provided on said wireless UE device.

6. The radiation power level control method of claim 5 wherein said lookup table is updated by a network node.

7. The radiation power level control method of claim wherein said lookup table is remotely provided at a network node serving said wireless UE device.

8. The radiation power level control method of claim wherein said determining that a tunable action is required is based on detecting one or more changes with respect to at least one operational parameter associated with said wireless UE device.

9. The radiation power level control method of claim wherein said at least one operational parameter associated with said wireless UE device comprises at least one of a device usage mode, a transmission time duration, a transmission event mode, a radio channel condition, and an indication of presence or absence of a conductive element that can change an electromagnetic condition around said wireless UE device.

10. The radiation power level control method of claim 9 wherein said device usage mode comprises at least one of a speakerphone mode, a mode of positioning said wireless UE device near a user'"'"'s ear, a mode of placing said wireless UE device in a user'"'"'s holster, and a mode of placing said wireless UE device at a place positioned away from a user'"'"'s body.

11. The radiation power level control method of claim 9 wherein said transmission event mode comprises at least one of a voice call mode, a data session mode, and an uplink event mode.

12. The radiation power level control method of claim wherein said conductive element that can change an electromagnetic condition around said wireless UE device comprises at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body, the user'"'"'s jewelry, a power transmission line, a conductive structural member of a building where said wireless UE device is disposed and an outdoor or indoor conductive member.

13. The radiation power level control method of claim further comprising adjusting a transmission power level of said wireless UE device based on said settings of said configured tunable elements.

16. A wireless user equipment (US) device comprising:

a plurality of tunable elements;

a component configured to determine that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of said tunable elements;

a component configured to define one or more tunable element settings;

a component configured to determine a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value based on said defined tunable element settings;

a component configured to determine that said SAR value is within a first acceptable limit; and

a component configured, responsive to determining that said SAR value is within said first acceptable limit, to generate one or more tuning control signals to configure said one or more tunable elements according to said defined tunable element settings.

17. The wireless UE device of claim 16 further comprising:

a component configured to redefine said one or more tunable element settings responsive to determining that said SAR value is not within said first acceptable limit;

a component configured to re-determine said SAR value; and

a component configured to perform said actions of determining said SAR value is not within said first acceptable limit, redefining said one or more tunable element settings, and re-determining said SAR value, until said SAR value is determined to be within said first acceptable limit.

18. The wireless UE device of claim 16 wherein said component configured to determine said SAR value is further configured to compute said SAR value by using a mathematical formula.

19. The wireless UE device of claim 16 wherein said component configured to determine said SAR value is further configured to query a lookup table for determination of said SAR value.

20. The wireless UE device of claim 19 wherein said lookup table is locally provided on said wireless UE device.

21. The wireless UE device of claim 19 wherein said lookup table is remotely provided at a network node serving said wireless UE device.

22. The wireless UE device of claim 16 wherein said component configured to determine that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of said tunable elements is operable responsive to detecting one or more changes with respect to at least one operational parameter associated with said wireless UE device.

26. The wireless UE device of claim 16 further comprising a component configured to adjust a transmission power level of said wireless UE device based on said settings of said configured tunable elements.

27. The wireless UE device of claim 16 wherein said plurality of tunable elements comprises one or more of filters, antennas, amplifiers, capacitors, inductors, and impedance matching circuits.

28. The wireless UE device of claim 16 further comprising:

a component configured for setting an extrapolation time window (T);

a component, responsive to determining that said SAR value is within said first acceptable limit, configured to extrapolate said SAR value over said extrapolation time window to obtain an extrapolated SAR value; and

a component configured to determine that said extrapolated SAR value is within a second acceptable limit.

29. The wireless UE device of claim 28 further comprising a component, responsive to determining that said extrapolated SAR value is not within said second acceptable limit, configured to iteratively redefine said one or more tunable element settings, vary said extrapolation time window, or both, and re-determine said SAR value and re-extrapolate said SAR value until said re-extrapolated SAR value is within said second acceptable limit.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon, the program instructions when executed by a processor of a wireless user equipment (UE) device, are configured to effectuate a radiation power level control, said program instructions comprising:

a code portion for determining that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of a plurality of tunable elements of said wireless UE device;

a code portion for defining one or more tunable element settings;

a code portion for determining a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value based on said defined tunable element settings;

a code portion for determining that said SAR value is within a first acceptable limit; and

a code portion, responsive to determining that said SAR value is within said first acceptable limit, configured for facilitating generation of one or more tuning control signals to configure said one or more tunable elements according to said defined tunable element settings.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 further comprising:

a code portion for determining that said SAR value is not within said first acceptable limit;

a code portion for redefining said one or more tunable element settings and for re-determining said SAR value; and

a code portion for performing said actions of determining said SAR value is not within said first acceptable limit, redefining said one or more tunable element settings, and re-determining said SAR value, until said SAR value is determined to be within said first acceptable limit.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein said code portion configured for determining said SAR value is further configured to compute said SAR value by executing a mathematical formula.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein said code portion configured for determining said SAR value is further configured to query a lookup table for determination of said SAR value.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 further comprising a code portion configured to adjust a transmission power level of said wireless UE device based on said settings of said configured tunable elements.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 further comprising:

a code portion for setting an extrapolation time window (T);

a code portion, responsive to determining that said SAR value is within said first acceptable limit, or extrapolating said SAR value over said extrapolation time window to obtain an extrapolated SAR value; and

a code portion for determining that said extrapolated SAR value is within a second acceptable limit.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35 further comprising a code portion, responsive to determining that said extrapolated SAR value is not within said second acceptable limit, configured to iteratively redefine said one or more tunable element settings, vary said extrapolation time window, or both, and re-determine said SAR value and re-extrapolate said SAR value until said re-extrapolated SAR value is within said second acceptable limit.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein said code portion for determining that a tunable action is required with respect to at least one of a plurality of tunable elements of said wireless UE device is operable responsive to detecting one or more changes with respect to at least one operational parameter associated with said wireless UE device.