Using sensors to trigger transmit power management

• US 9,307,499 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zehr, Gregg, Narasimhan, Subram, Gopalakrishnan, Varadarajan, Buuck, David C., Depew, John, Hyun, In Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US14/567,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20150099558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/228 using past power values or information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range

Abstract

A user device transmits data at a first transmit power level. The user device detects a presence of a human body part within a predetermined distance from an antenna of the user device using one or more sensors disposed at a back side of the user device. In response to the detection of the presence of the human body part, the user device transmits information at a second transmit power level that is less than the first transmit power level.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a user device, first data at a first transmit power level;

transmitting, by the user device, second data at a second transmit power level;

detecting, by the user device, a presence of a human body part within a predetermined distance from an antenna of the user device using one or more sensors;

determining, by the user device, a third transmit power level that is less than the second transmit power level, wherein a difference between the second transmit power level and the third transmit power level is based on a combination of the first transmit power level and the second transmit power level; and

transmitting, by the user device, third data at the third transmit power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are proximity sensors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is approximately 10 mm.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a distance between the detected human body part and the antenna; and

reducing a current transmit power level based at least in part on the determined distance.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

waiting a predetermined time period after detecting the presence of the human body part;

determining that the presence of the human body part is still detected after the predetermined time period; and

reducing a current transmit power level to the third transmit power level.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to transmit information at a specified transmit power level, wherein the third transmit power level is lower than the specified transmit power level.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that the specified transmit power level is higher than a transmit power level threshold; and

reducing a current transmit power level to the third transmit power level after detecting the presence of the human body part, wherein the third transmit power level is below the specified transmit power level.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmit power level threshold is a dynamic transmit power level threshold that changes based on previous transmit power levels.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein reducing the current transmit power level comprises:

maintaining a record of a total power output of at least one of the antenna and an additional antenna over a time period;

determining that the total power output exceeds the transmit power level threshold during the time period; and

reducing the current transmit power level to the third transmit power level.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna functions as one of the one or more proximity sensors.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the third transmit power level comprises:

computing a moving sum of transmit power levels over a moving window that comprises a first transmission at the first transmit power level and a second transmission at the second transmit power level, wherein the moving sum is a summed total of transmit power levels used within the moving window.

12. A user device comprising:

an antenna to transmit data at various power levels;

a sensor to detect a presence of a human body part within a predetermined distance from the antenna; and

a processing device, coupled to the antenna and the sensor, to;

cause the antenna to transmit first data at a first transmit power level;

cause the antenna to transmit second data at a second transmit power level; and

responsive to detection of the presence of the human body part by the sensor, perform the following comprising;

determine a third transmit power level that is less than the second transmit power level, wherein a difference between the second transmit power level and the third transmit power level is based on a combination of the first transmit power level and the second transmit power level; and

cause the antenna to transmit third data at the third transmit power level.

13. The user device of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor that is a predetermined distance from the antenna.

14. The user device of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further to:

determine a distance between the detected human body part and the antenna based on information from the sensor; and

reduce a current transmit power level based at least in part on the determined distance.

15. The user device of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further to:

wait a predetermined time period after the presence of the human body part is detected;

determine that the presence of the human body part is still detected after the predetermined time period; and

reduce a current transmit power level to the third transmit power level.

16. The user device of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further to:

receive a command to transmit information at a specified transmit power level, wherein the third transmit power level is lower than the specified transmit power level;

determine that the specified transmit power level is higher than a transmit power level threshold; and

reduce a current transmit power level to the third transmit power level after detecting the presence of the human body part, wherein the third transmit power level is below the specified transmit power level.

17. The user device of claim 16, wherein the transmit power level threshold is a dynamic transmit power level threshold that changes based on previous transmit power levels.

18. The user device of claim 16, wherein to reduce the transmit power level the processing device is to:

maintain a record of a total power output of at least one of the antenna and an additional antenna over a time period;

determine that the total power output exceeds the transmit power level threshold during the time period; and

reduce the current transmit power level to the third transmit power level.

19. The user device of claim 12, wherein to determine the third transmit power level the processing device is to:

compute a moving sum of transmit power levels over a moving window that comprises a first transmission at the first transmit power level and a second transmission at the second transmit power level, wherein the moving sum is a summed total of transmit power levels used within the moving window.