Capacitive Sensor Device And Radio Transceiver With A Capacitive Sensor Device And A Method For Adjusting A Transmission Power Of A Handheld Radio Transceiver

• US 20140155000A1
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Erkens, Holger
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• 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 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range

Abstract

A capacitive sensor device for a handheld radio transceiver for estimating a specific absorption rate (SAR) can be coupled with at least one first electrode, wherein during the operation of the handheld radio transceiver the first electrode is at the same time a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device and an antenna of the handheld radio transceiver. Moreover a handheld radio transceiver with such a capacitive sensor device can be provided. Moreover, a method can be provided for adjusting a transmission power of a handheld radio transceiver, wherein an approach of an object to the handheld radio transceiver is detected and wherein depending on the detected approach the transmission power of the handheld radio transceiver is increased or reduced.

Claims

1. Capacitive sensor device for a handheld radio transceiver connected with an antenna element, for estimating a specific absorption rate (SAR) of the handheld radio transceiver, wherein the sensor device is coupled with the antenna element, and wherein during the operation of the handheld radio transceiver the antenna element is at the same time a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device and an antenna of the handheld radio transceiver.

2. Capacitive sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna element

is coupled via a highpass filter with a transceiver circuit of the handheld radio transceiver, and

is coupled via a lowpass filter with the sensor device.

3. Capacitive sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device further comprises a second electrode, which can be brought into a capacitive coupling with the antenna element, wherein one of the antenna element and the second electrode is operable as transmitting electrode and the respective other one as receiver electrode, and wherein the transmitting electrode can be fed with an electric alternating signal.

4. Capacitive sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna element is operated as a transmitting electrode, and wherein the antenna element receives an electric alternating signal via a lowpass filter.

5. Capacitive sensor device according to claim 3, wherein the sensor device further comprises a third electrode, which is arranged substantially between the antenna element and the second electrode and which is fed with an electric alternating signal which is substantially inverse to the electric alternating signal fed to the transmitting electrode.

6. Capacitive sensor device according to one claim 2, wherein the lowpass filter comprises a microstrip line.

7. Capacitive sensor device according to claim 1, wherein an evaluation circuit of the sensor device is configured to detect an approach of an object to the electrodes of the sensor device and/or a distance of an object from the electrodes of the sensor device.

8. Capacitive sensor device according to claim 1, comprising a detection means for detecting the HF transmission power irradiated at the antenna element, wherein the detected HF transmission power together with the detected approach to the electrodes of the sensor device is included in the estimate of the SAR of the handheld radio transceiver.

9. Handheld radio transceiver, comprising a capacitive sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna element of the handheld radio transceiver is coupled with the capacitive sensor device and in which during the operation of the handheld radio transceiver (10) the antenna element can be operated at the same time as sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device and as HF antenna of the handheld radio transceiver.

10. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 9, which is at least one of the group two-way radio, mobile phone, cordless telephone, WLAN device, minicomputer, and tablet PC.

16. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 9,

wherein the antenna element

is coupled via a highpass filter with a transceiver circuit of the handheld radio transceiver, and

is coupled via a lowpass filter with the sensor device.

17. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 9, wherein the sensor device further comprises a second electrode, which can be brought into a capacitive coupling with the antenna element, wherein one of the antenna element and the second electrode is operable as transmitting electrode and the respective other one as receiver electrode, and wherein the transmitting electrode can be fed with an electric alternating signal.

18. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 9, wherein the antenna element is operated as a transmitting electrode, and wherein the antenna element receives an electric alternating signal via a lowpass filter.

19. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 18, wherein the sensor device further comprises a third electrode, which is arranged substantially between the antenna element and the second electrode and which is fed with an electric alternating signal which is substantially inverse to the electric alternating signal fed to the transmitting electrode.

20. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 17, wherein the lowpass filter comprises a microstrip line.

21. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 9, wherein an evaluation circuit of the sensor device is configured to detect an approach of an object to the electrodes of the sensor device and/or a distance of an object from the electrodes of the sensor device.

22. Handheld radio transceiver according to claim 9, comprising a detector for detecting the HF transmission power irradiated at the antenna, wherein the detected HF transmission power together with the detected approach to the electrodes of the sensor device is included in the estimate of the SAR of the handheld radio transceiver.

11. Method for operating a handheld radio transceiver comprising a capacitive sensor device for a handheld radio transceiver connected with an antenna element, wherein the sensor device is coupled with the antenna element and configured to operate as a sensor electrode of the capacitive sensor device and an antenna of the handheld radio transceiver, the method comprising the steps:

using the antenna element of the handheld radio transceiver as a capacitive sensor to determine a capacitive value,

estimating a specific absorption rate (SAR) of the handheld radio transceiver from the capacitive value, and

increasing or decreasing the transmission power of the handheld radio transceiver depending on the estimate.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein for detecting the capacitive value, an alternating signal is fed to the antenna element through a low pass filter or transmission line.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein the HF transmission power irradiated by the antenna is detected and the detected HF transmission power is included in the estimate of the SAR.

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein the capacitive load of the alternating signal is detected as the capacitive value, the capacitive load being a measure for the approach and/or for the distance.

15. Method according to claim 11, wherein a second electrode (EL2) of the capacitive sensor device is brought into a capacitive coupling with the antenna of the handheld radio transceiver, and wherein either the second electrode (EL2) or the antenna element (A/EL1) is operated as a transmitting electrode and the other one as a receiving electrode and wherein the transmitting electrode is fed with an electric alternating signal of the capacitive sensor device, wherein the capacitive coupling between the antenna element (A/EL1) and the second electrode (EL2) is dependent on the proximity of an object and is detected as the capacitive value, and wherein the detected capacitive coupling is a measure for the approach and/or for the distance.