Portable cell phone and a proximity regulation system for use with a portable cell phone

• US 8,140,128 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bell Northern Research, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mooney, Philip D., McDowell, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US12/367,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20090143113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/41.2, 455/522, 455/575.5, 455/115.1, 455/550.1, 455/300, 455/301, 455/100, 455/575.6, 324/644
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• 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 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets

Abstract

Proximity regulation systems for use with a portable cell phone and portable cell phones are disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable cell phone includes a proximity regulation system having a location sensing subsystem configured to determine a location of a portable cell phone proximate a user by determining a mode of operation of the portable cell phone. A power governing subsystem is coupled to the location sensing subsystem and configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the location.

Claims

1. A portable cell phone, comprising:

a proximity regulation system, including;

a location sensing subsystem configured to determine a location of said portable cell phone proximate a user by determining a mode of operation of said portable cell phone; and

a power governing subsystem, coupled to said location sensing subsystem, configured to determine a proximity transmit power level of said portable cell phone based on said location.

2. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity transmit power level is reduced when said location is within a vicinity of a user'"'"'s head.

3. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity transmit power level is limited to a predetermined maximum level.

4. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said proximity transmit power level is maximum when said portable cell phone is operating in a headset operation mode or a data transfer operation mode.

5. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said portable cell phone is held in a clip associated with said user.

6. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said location sensing subsystem or said power governing subsystem is embodied in an integrated circuit.

7. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said location sensing subsystem or said power governing subsystem is embodied in a sequence of operating instructions.

8. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 1 wherein said location sensing subsystem is further configured to determine said location by employing a sensor of said portable cell phone.

9. The portable cell phone as recited in claim 8 wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a designated sensor employing changes in a surrounding magnetic field,

a contact sensor,

a clip sensor, and

a cradle sensor.