WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE, WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD AND PROGRAM

• US 20190312361A1
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
• Inventors: NAKANISHI, Katsuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,819,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable 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

Abstract

To realize a wireless communication device enabling efficient mounting of a proximity sensor, the present invention is provided with: a first antenna; a second antenna which serves also as an electrode for detecting approach of an object; a wireless communicator for performing wireless communication with a connection destination, which uses the second antenna as an auxiliary in the communication, while being capable of performing the communication using the first antenna only; a detector for detecting approach of an object to the second antenna; a switch which couples the second antenna with either of the wireless communicator and the detector; and a controller for setting maximum transmission output of the wireless communicator at a predetermined value, on the basis of approach information on the object which is obtained by coupling of the second antenna with the detector performed by the switch, at a predetermined time interval.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a first antenna;

a second antenna configured to serve also as an electrode for detecting approach of an object;

a wireless communicator configured to perform wireless communication with a connection destination, the wireless communicator performing the wireless communication using the second antenna as an auxiliary in the communication, while being capable of performing the communication even using the first antenna only;

a detector configured to detect approach of an object to the second antenna;

a switch configured to couple the second antenna with either of the wireless communicator and the detector; and

a controller configured to set maximum transmission output of the wireless communicator at a predetermined value, on the basis of approach information on the object which is obtained by coupling of the second antenna with the detector performed by the switch and by detection performed by the detector, at a predetermined time interval.

2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1,

wherein the approach information is whether being closer than a predetermined distance, and

wherein the predetermined value is determined to be a predetermined normal value when not being closer than the predetermined distance, and to be a predetermined reduced value smaller than the normal value when being closer than the predetermined distance.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein detector is a detection circuit of a capacitive proximity sensor.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1,

wherein the approach information is a distance of closeness, and

wherein magnitude of the predetermined value is set at a value varying stepwise or continuously, on the basis of length of the distance of closeness.

5. A wireless communication method comprising:

performing wireless communication using a first antenna constantly coupled with a wireless communicator;

changing coupling of a second antenna coupled with the wireless communicator and thereby operating as an auxiliary to the first antenna, into coupling with a detector at a predetermined time interval; and

performing communication by setting maximum transmission output of the wireless communicator at a predetermined value, on the basis of approach information on an object detected by the detector.

6. The wireless communication method according to claim 5,

wherein the approach information is whether being closer than a predetermined distance, and

wherein the predetermined value is determined to be a predetermined normal value when not being closer than the predetermined distance, and to be a predetermined reduced value smaller than the normal value when being closer than the predetermined distance.

7. The wireless communication method according to claim 5,

wherein the approach information is a distance of closeness, and

wherein magnitude of the predetermined value is set at a value varying stepwise or continuously, on the basis of length of the distance of closeness.

8. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute:

performing wireless communication using a first antenna constantly coupled with a wireless communicator;

changing coupling of a second antenna coupled with the wireless communicator and thereby operating as an auxiliary to the first antenna, into coupling with a detector at a predetermined time interval; and

performing communication by setting maximum transmission output of the wireless communicator at a predetermined value, on the basis of approach information on an object detected by the detector.

9. The recording medium storing a program according to claim 8,

wherein the approach information is whether being closer than a predetermined distance, and

wherein the predetermined value is determined to be a predetermined normal value when not being closer than the predetermined distance, and to be a predetermined reduced value smaller than the normal value when being closer than the predetermined distance.

10. The recording medium storing a program according to claim 8,

wherein the approach information is a distance of closeness, and

wherein magnitude of the predetermined value is set at a value varying stepwise or continuously, on the basis of length of the distance of closeness.