Mobile wireless communications device with proximity based transmitted power control and related methods

• US 8,326,385 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Brogle, Richard James, Ho, Tommy Chun Wah, Gautier, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US13/080,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20120258772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.5, 455/575.7, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455/522
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2405 by varying dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• 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: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one antenna carried by the portable housing, and at least one capacitive proximity sensor carried by the portable housing and configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a wireless transmitter carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one antenna, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter and the at least one capacitive proximity sensor. The controller may be configured to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from the at least one antenna based upon the at least one capacitive proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a plurality of antennas carried by said portable housing;

a respective capacitive proximity sensor coupled to each of said plurality of antennas, carried by said portable housing and configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto;

a wireless transmitter carried by said portable housing and coupled to said at least one antenna; and

a controller carried by said portable housing and coupled to said wireless transmitter and said capacitive proximity sensors, and configured to

cooperate with said wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output at each of said plurality of antennas based upon the respective capacitive proximity sensor, and

adjust the transmitted power output at each of said plurality of antennas to a reduced power level based upon sensing the human user immediately adjacent at least one of said capacitive proximity sensors.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a display carried by said portable housing and coupled to said controller;

and wherein at least one of said capacitive proximity sensors comprises capacitive proximity sensor on said display.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to adjust the transmitted power output to a full power level based upon sensing the human user spaced apart from at least one of said capacitive proximity sensors.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate carrying said plurality of antennas and said capacitive proximity sensors.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a cellular transmitter.

6. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a portable housing;

a display carried by said portable housing;

a plurality of antennas carried by said portable housing;

a plurality of capacitive proximity sensors adjacent corresponding ones of said plurality of antennas and carried by said portable housing, and each configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto, at least one of said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors on said display;

a wireless transmitter carried by said portable housing and coupled to said plurality of antennas; and

a controller carried by said portable housing and coupled to said wireless transmitter, said display, and said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors, and configured to cooperate with said wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from said plurality of antennas based upon said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors.

7. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 6, wherein said controller is configured to adjust the transmitted power output to below a reduced power level based upon sensing the human user immediately adjacent at least one of said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors.

8. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 6, wherein said controller is configured to adjust the transmitted power output to a full power level based upon sensing the human user spaced apart from at least one of said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors.

9. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 6, wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a cellular transmitter.

10. A method of adjusting transmitted power output from a plurality of antennas of a mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing carrying the plurality of antennas, a respective capacitive proximity sensor coupled to each of the plurality of antennas, a wireless transmitter coupled to the plurality of antennas, and a controller coupled to the wireless transmitter and the capacitive proximity sensors, the method comprising:

using the capacitive proximity sensors to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto; and

using the controller to

cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output at each of the plurality of antennas based upon its respective capacitive proximity sensor, and

adjust the transmitted power output at each of the plurality of antennas to a reduced power level based upon sensing the human user immediately adjacent at least one of the capacitive proximity sensors.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile wireless communications device further comprises a display carried by the portable housing and coupled to the controller;

and wherein at least one of the capacitive proximity sensors comprises at least one capacitive proximity sensor on the display.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller further adjusts the transmitted power output to a full power level based upon sensing the human user spaced apart from at least one of the capacitive proximity sensors.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of antennas and its respective capacitive proximity sensor are adjacent one another.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a cellular transmitter.