Antenna tuning in a modular portable communication device

• US 9,531,345 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lombardi, Michael J, Abdul-Gaffoor, Mohammed, Fordham, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US14/625,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160248401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0083 using two or more tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/16 Single control means independently performing two or more functions
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/06 Tuning of antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/047 Automatic frequency control using an auxiliary signal, e.g. low frequency scanning of the locking range or superimposing a special signal on the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A system and method of tuning an antenna of a portable device in a modular device system using a device ID associated with second device to tune one or more antennas of a first device. In an embodiment, the first device resolves the device ID of the second device to a set of tuning parameters which improve tuning of the antenna of the first device in the presence of the second device. In a further embodiment, the first device may also tune an antenna of the second device to improve its performance in the presence of the first device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, the portable electronic device comprising:

a battery, a memory, a display and an interconnect array to electrically connect the portable electronic device to a second device via physical attachment;

a cellular antenna and a WiFi antenna configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals;

at least one radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to send an outgoing RF signal to the cellular antenna and the WiFi antenna and to process an incoming RF signal from the cellular antenna or the WiFi antenna;

at least one RF tuner connecting the at least one RF transceiver to the cellular antenna and the WiFi antenna; and

a controller configured to detect attachment of the second device to the portable electronic device, detect an ID associated with the second device, resolve the detected ID to a set of RF tuning parameters and to configure the at least one RF tuner in accordance with the set of RF tuning parameters for the cellular antenna and the WiFi antenna.

2. The portable electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the at least one RF tuner after configuring the at least one RF tuner in accordance with the set of RF tuning parameters.

3. The portable electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ID associated with the second device identifies a model of the device.

4. The portable electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to allow tuning of the at least one RF tuner by the second device.

5. The portable electronic device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to convey to the second device a device ID corresponding to the first device.

6. The portable electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one antenna of the first device is at least partly obscured by the second device when the second device is mated to the portable electronic device.

7. The portable electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect disconnection of the second device from the first device and, in response, to modify the configuration of the at least one RF tuner.

8. The portable electronic device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to configure a tuner associated with an antenna of the second device based on the ID associated with the second device.

9. A method of tuning at least two antennas of a portable electronic device when a second device is physically attached to the portable electronic device, the at least two antennas having at least one associated tuner and including a cellular antenna and a WiFi antenna, the method comprising:

detecting physical attachment of the second device to the portable electronic device;

detecting an ID associated with the second device;

resolving the detected ID to a set of RF tuning parameters; and

configuring the at least one RF tuner in accordance with the set of RF tuning parameters to configure both the cellular antenna and the WiFi antenna.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising adjusting the at least one RF tuner after configuring the at least one RF tuner in accordance with the set of RF tuning parameters.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the ID associated with the second device identifies a model of the device.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising allowing configuration of the at least one RF tuner by the second device.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising conveying to the second device a device ID corresponding to the first device.

14. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising detecting disconnection of the second device from the first device and, in response, modifying the configuration of the at least one RF tuner.

15. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising configuring a tuner associated with an antenna of the second device based on the ID associated with the second device.

16. A modular portable device system comprising a first portable electronic device and a second portable electronic device, wherein the first portable device includes an interconnect array to electrically connect the first portable electronic device to a second portable electronic device when the second portable electronic device is physically attached to the first portable electronic device, a cellular antenna and a WiFi antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, an RF tuner connecting the at least one RF transceiver to the cellular antenna and the WiFi antenna, and a controller configured to detect physical attachment of the second portable electronic device to the first portable electronic device, detect an ID associated with the second device, resolve the detected ID to a set of RF tuning parameters and to configure the at least one RF tuner in accordance with the set of RF tuning parameters to configure both the cellular antenna and the WiFi antenna.