Radio-Frequency Device and Wireless Communication Device

• US 20130130633A1
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation (Wistron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation (Wistron Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Hsiao-Yi, Wang, Chih-Ming, Ke, Jhih-Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure

Abstract

A radio-frequency (RF) device and a wireless communication device include a capacitive sensing unit capable of using a radiating element of an antenna to sensing an environment capacitance within a specified range, such that an RF signal processing device is capable of adjusting power of an RF signal accordingly, to prevent affecting a user. When the radiating element of the antenna includes a direct-current signal route to a ground terminal, the RF device and the wireless communication device further includes at least a capacitor for cutting off the direct-current signal route.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency (RF) device for a wireless communication system, the RF device comprising:

a grounding unit, for providing grounding;

an antenna, comprising;

a radiating element;

a signal feed-in unit, coupled to the radiating element, for transmitting an RF signal to the radiating element, to emit the RF signal via the radiating element; and

a ground terminal, coupled to the grounding unit;

a capacitive sensing unit, electrically connected to the radiating element of the antenna, for sensing an environment capacitance within a specified range via the radiating element; and

at least a capacitor, coupled between the ground terminal of the antenna and the grounding unit, for cutting off a direct-current signal route from the ground terminal to the grounding unit.

2. The RF device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a planer inverted F antenna, a dipole antenna, a folded dipole antenna or a slot antenna.

3. The RF device of claim 1, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by coupling connection.

4. The RF device of claim 1, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by electrical connection.

5. The RF device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensing unit is further utilized for transmitting a sensing result corresponding to the environment capacitance to an RF signal processing device of the wireless communication device, and the RF signal processing device adjusts power of the RF signal according to the sensing result.

6. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a radio-frequency (RF) signal processing device, for generating an RF signal, and adjusting power of the RF signal according to a sensing result; and

an RF device, comprising;

a grounding unit, for providing grounding;

an antenna, comprising;

a radiating element;

a signal feed-in unit, coupled to the radiating element, for transmitting the RF signal to the radiating element, to emit the RF signal via the radiating element; and

a ground terminal, coupled to the grounding unit;

a capacitive sensing unit, electrically connected to the radiating element of the antenna, for sensing an environment capacitance within a specified range via the radiating element; and

at least a capacitor, coupled between the ground terminal of the antenna and the grounding unit, for cutting off a direct-current signal route from the ground terminal to the grounding unit.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the antenna is a monopole antenna, a loop antenna or a patch antenna.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by coupling connection.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by electrical connection.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the RF signal processing device comprises:

a signal generating module, for generating the RF signal;

a decay module for decaying signal power; and

a switching module, coupled to the signal feed-in unit, the capacitive sensing unit, the signal generating module and the decay module, for connecting the decay module to a position between the signal generating module and the signal feed-in unit when the sensing result of the capacitive sensing unit indicates the environment capacitance within the specified range is greater than a default value, such that the RF signal is transmitted to the signal feed-in unit after power of the RF signal is decayed by the decay module.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the RF signal processing device comprises:

a signal generating module, coupled to the signal feed-in unit, for generating the RF signal;

a resistor, coupled between the signal generating module and the signal feed-in unit; and

a switching module, coupled to the capacitive sensing unit, the resistor and a ground terminal, for conducting a connection between the resistor and the ground terminal when the sensing result of the capacitive sensing unit indicates that the environment capacitance within the specified range is greater than a default value, to drain a part of the RF signal into the ground terminal.

12. A radio-frequency (RF) device for a wireless communication device, the RF device comprising:

an antenna, comprising;

a radiating element; and

a signal feed-in unit, for transmitting an RF signal to the radiating element, to emit the RF signal via the radiating element; and

a capacitive sensing unit, electrically connected to the radiating element of the antenna, for sensing an environment capacitance within a specific range via the radiating element;

wherein the signal feed-in unit or the capacitive sensing unit cuts off a direct-current signal route from the radiating element to a ground terminal.

13. The RF device of claim 12, wherein the antenna is a monopole antenna, a loop antenna or a patch antenna.

14. The RF device of claim 12, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by coupling connection.

15. The RF device of claim 12, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by electrical connection.

16. The RF device of claim 12, wherein the capacitive sensing unit is further utilized for transmitting a sensing result corresponding to the environment capacitance to an RF signal processing device of the wireless communication system, and the RF signal processing device adjusts power of the RF signal according the sensing result.

17. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a radio-frequency (RF) signal processing device, for generating an RF signal and adjusting power of the RF signal according to a sensing result; and

an RF device, comprising;

an antenna, comprising;

a radiating element; and

a signal feed-in unit, for transmitting the RF signal to the radiating element, to emit the RF signal via the radiating element; and

a capacitive sensing unit, electrically connected to the radiating element of the antenna, for sensing an environment capacitance within a specific range via the radiating element to generate the sensing result;

wherein the signal feed-in unit or the capacitive sensing unit cuts off a direct-current signal route from the radiating element to a ground terminal.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the antenna is a monopole antenna, a loop antenna or a patch antenna.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by coupling connection.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the signal feed-in unit is coupled to the radiating element by electrical connection.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the RF signal processing device comprises:

a signal generating module, for generating the RF signal;

a decay module, for decaying signal power; and

a switching module, coupled to the signal feed-in unit, the capacitive sensing unit, the signal generating module and the decay module, for connecting the decay module to a position between the signal generating module and the signal feed-in unit when the sensing result of the capacitive sensing unit indicates that the environment capacitance within the specified range is greater than a default value, such that the RF signal is transmitted to the signal feed-in unit after power of the RF signal is decayed by the decay module.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 17, wherein the RF signal processing device comprises:

a signal generating module, coupled to the signal feed-in unit, for generating the RF signal;

a resistor, coupled between the signal generating module and the signal feed-in unit; and

a switching module, coupled to the capacitive sensing unit, the resistor and a ground terminal, for conducting a connection between the resistor and the ground terminal when the sensing result of the capacitive sensing unit indicates that the environment capacitance within the specified range is greater than a default value, to drain a part of the RF signal into the ground terminal.