Cellular telephone handset with increased reception sensitivity and reduced transmit power levels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a handset, the method comprising:
- determining if an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected;
determining a 3D position of the handset after an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected;
determining whether a direction from the 3D position of the handset to a strongest signal from a source is stored in a memory;
electrically steering an antenna pattern over a search area to collect signal strength information when a direction to the strongest signal from the source is not stored in the memory;
determining the direction to the strongest signal from the source after signal strength information from the search area has been collected; and
storing the 3D position of the handset and the direction to the strongest signal from the source in the memory after the direction to the strongest signal from the source has been determined.
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Abstract
A cellular telephone handset utilizes an electrically-steered directional antenna to increase the received signal strength when the handset is in a poor signal environment. As a result, the handset reduces the need for an end user to tilt and twirl their head to try and find the direction of the strongest signal strength.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating a handset, the method comprising:
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determining if an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected; determining a 3D position of the handset after an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected; determining whether a direction from the 3D position of the handset to a strongest signal from a source is stored in a memory; electrically steering an antenna pattern over a search area to collect signal strength information when a direction to the strongest signal from the source is not stored in the memory; determining the direction to the strongest signal from the source after signal strength information from the search area has been collected; and storing the 3D position of the handset and the direction to the strongest signal from the source in the memory after the direction to the strongest signal from the source has been determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A handset comprising:
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a first antenna; a second antenna; a beam steering circuit connected to the first antenna and the second antenna; and a cell phone unit connected to the beam steering circuit, the cell phone unit to; determine if an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected; determine a 3D position of the handset after an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected; determine whether a direction from the 3D position of the handset to a strongest signal from a source is stored in a memory; command the beam steering circuit to electrically steer an antenna pattern over a search area to collect signal strength information when a direction to the strongest signal from the source is not stored in the memory; determine the direction to the strongest signal from the source after signal strength information from the search area has been collected; and stores the 3D position of the handset and the direction to the strongest signal from the source in the memory after the direction to the strongest signal from the source has been determined. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a handset, the method comprising:
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determining if an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected; determining a 3D position of the handset after an incoming call message or an outgoing call message has been detected; determining whether a direction from a location to a strongest signal from a source is stored in a memory, the location lying within a predetermined distance from the 3D position of the handset; electrically steering an antenna pattern over a search area to collect signal strength information when the direction from the location to the strongest signal from the source is not stored in the memory; determining a direction from the 3D position of the handset to the strongest signal from the source after signal strength information from the search area has been collected; and storing the 3D position of the handset and the direction from the 3D position of the handset to the strongest signal from the source in the memory after the direction from the 3D position of the handset to the strongest signal from the source has been determined. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification