Handheld electronic devices with antenna power monitoring
First Claim
1. A handheld electronic device comprising:
- an antenna;
a radio-frequency coupler that is coupled to the antenna;
transceiver circuitry that transmits and receives radio-frequency signals through the coupler and the antenna; and
monitoring and control circuitry that monitors how much transmitted signal power is reflected back from the antenna when the transceiver circuitry is transmitting the radio-frequency signals, wherein the monitoring and control circuitry includes processing circuitry that analyzes the monitored reflected transmitted signal power and that alerts a user of the handheld electronic device when the monitored reflected transmitted signal power indicates that operation of the antenna is being disrupted due to proximity effects.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include an antenna. A radio-frequency coupler may be coupled to the antenna. Transceiver circuitry may be used to transmit and receive radio-frequency signals through the coupler and the antenna. A reflected power detection circuit may be connected to the coupler. When the transceiver circuitry transmits radio-frequency signals, some of the signals are reflected back from the antenna into the coupler. The coupler directs the reflected antenna signals into the reflected power detection circuit. Processing circuitry may analyze a reflected power signal from the reflected power detection circuit to determine whether operation of the antenna is being disrupted by the placement of a user'"'"'s hand over the antenna or other proximity effects. If antenna operation is being disrupted, the user may be alerted or other suitable actions may be taken.
26 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A handheld electronic device comprising:
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an antenna; a radio-frequency coupler that is coupled to the antenna; transceiver circuitry that transmits and receives radio-frequency signals through the coupler and the antenna; and monitoring and control circuitry that monitors how much transmitted signal power is reflected back from the antenna when the transceiver circuitry is transmitting the radio-frequency signals, wherein the monitoring and control circuitry includes processing circuitry that analyzes the monitored reflected transmitted signal power and that alerts a user of the handheld electronic device when the monitored reflected transmitted signal power indicates that operation of the antenna is being disrupted due to proximity effects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Wireless communications circuitry in a handheld electronic device comprising:
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an antenna; a coupler that is coupled to the antenna; transceiver circuitry that transmits radio-frequency signals through the coupler and the antenna; a reflected power detection circuit that is connected to the coupler, wherein during data transmission by the transceiver circuitry, radio-frequency signals are reflected back into coupler from the antenna and are directed by the coupler to the reflected power detection circuit; and processing circuitry that processes reflected antenna power measurements from the reflected power detection circuit and that provides an alert to a user of the handheld electronic device when the reflected antenna power measurements indicate that operation of the antenna has been disrupted due to proximity effects. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of operating a handheld electronic device having an antenna, transceiver circuitry, and monitoring and control circuitry, comprising:
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transmitting radio-frequency signals through the antenna from the transceiver circuitry; with the monitoring and control circuitry, monitoring how much transmitted signal power is reflected back from the antenna when the transceiver circuitry is transmitting the radio-frequency signals to determine whether operation of the antenna is being disrupted due to proximity effects; and providing a blocked antenna indicator for a user of the handheld electronic device that informs the user that an object is covering the antenna when the monitoring and control circuitry determines that operation of the antenna is being disrupted due to proximity effects. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification