Method and apparatus for reducing power in radio transmitters
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a device temperature in a mobile radio device, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring temperature of the mobile radio device; and
if the temperature of the mobile radio device exceeds a first threshold, when the mobile radio device is to transmit information, reducing the transmission power of the mobile radio device as a consequence of the temperature of the mobile radio device exceeding a threshold by detecting that a host computer is in a receive mode and reducing a transmission duty cycle of a SAT signal so as to transmit said SAT signal with intermittent interruptions, thereby reducing the amount of heat generated within the mobile radio device and allowing the temperature of the mobile radio device to decrease.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism is provided for substantially reducing heat buildup within a mobile radio device having a radio transmitter. The invention is particularly applicable to PC Card wireless modems. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, device temperature in a mobile radio device is controlled by monitoring the temperature of the mobile radio device; if the temperature of the mobile radio device exceeds a threshold then, when the mobile radio device is to transmit information, transmission power of the mobile radio device is reduced, thereby reducing the amount of heat generated within the mobile radio device and allowing the temperature of the mobile radio device to decrease. Transmission power is reduced sufficiently to allow the temperature of the mobile radio to decrease but not so much as to affect the reliability of transmission in the typical case. Transmission power may also be reduced by, instead of reducing the power level, inserting brief pauses at intervals during the transmission, the transmit amplifier being turned off during such pauses and, in particular, inserting brief pauses into the inaudible SAT signal when a host computer coupled to the mobile radio device is receiving data from the mobile radio device. The pauses are made sufficiently short in duration that the radio connection is not lost.
54 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a device temperature in a mobile radio device, comprising the steps of:
-
monitoring temperature of the mobile radio device; and
if the temperature of the mobile radio device exceeds a first threshold, when the mobile radio device is to transmit information, reducing the transmission power of the mobile radio device as a consequence of the temperature of the mobile radio device exceeding a threshold by detecting that a host computer is in a receive mode and reducing a transmission duty cycle of a SAT signal so as to transmit said SAT signal with intermittent interruptions, thereby reducing the amount of heat generated within the mobile radio device and allowing the temperature of the mobile radio device to decrease. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A mobile radio device comprising:
-
a power amplifier;
a temperature-sensitive component;
a microprocessor/microcontroller coupled to the power amplifier and the temperature-sensitive component; and
a memory coupled to the microprocessor/microcontroller containing instructions for monitoring temperature of the mobile radio device; and
if the temperature of the mobile radio device exceeds a first threshold, when the mobile radio device is to transmit information, reducing the transmission power of the mobile radio device as a consequence of the temperature of the mobile radio device exceeding a threshold by detecting that a host computer is in a receive mode and reducing a transmission duty cycle of a SAT signal so as to transmit said SAT signal with intermittent interruptions, whereby the amount of heat generated within the mobile radio device is reduced, allowing the temperature of the mobile radio device to decrease.- View Dependent Claims (10)
-
-
11. A system comprising:
-
a mobile radio device having a power amplifier, a microprocessor/microcontroller coupled to the power amplifier and wherein said mobile radio device transmits a SAT signal during a wireless transmission/reception connection;
a host computer having associated data modes including a first mode in which said host computer is receiving data from said mobile radio device and including a second mode in which said host computer is transmitting data through said mobile radio device;
a means for monitoring said data modes of said host computer and, if said data mode is in said first receive mode, said microprocessor/microcontroller mobile radio device causes said SAT signal to be intermittently interrupted while ensuring said wireless connection is maintained so as to reduce transmission power of said mobile radio device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification