Antenna apparatus with an integrated proximity sensor and methods
First Claim
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1. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
- an antenna feed element;
a parasitic element capacitively coupled to the antenna feed element, the parasitic element configured to broaden the impedance bandwidth of the antenna feed element;
a capacitor electrically coupled to a ground, the capacitor electrically coupled to the parasitic element; and
a proximity sensor electrically coupled to an ESD/decoupling circuit such that the proximity sensor is coupled in parallel to the parasitic element, the proximity sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance in the parasitic element in the presence of a human body and lower an output power of the antenna feed element in response thereto and to subsequently raise the output power of the antenna feed element in the absence of the human body;
wherein the ESD/decoupling circuit is electrically coupled in parallel to the parasitic element, the ESD/decoupling circuit being configured to block an RF signal from going into the proximity sensor so as to enable detection of a capacitance change.
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Abstract
Wireless wide area network (WWAN) antenna with integrated sensor and methods of using the same. In one embodiment, an antenna subsystem and proximity sensing subsystem share a grounded antenna component/parasitic element. The parasitic element can be used to broaden the operating band of the antenna feeding component and provide an input (via a capacitance change) to a proximity sensor. The parasitic element is, in one embodiment, coupled in parallel to the proximity sensor allowing for a reduction in noise due to increased isolation between the antenna subsystem and the sensing subsystem.
483 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna feed element; a parasitic element capacitively coupled to the antenna feed element, the parasitic element configured to broaden the impedance bandwidth of the antenna feed element; a capacitor electrically coupled to a ground, the capacitor electrically coupled to the parasitic element; and a proximity sensor electrically coupled to an ESD/decoupling circuit such that the proximity sensor is coupled in parallel to the parasitic element, the proximity sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance in the parasitic element in the presence of a human body and lower an output power of the antenna feed element in response thereto and to subsequently raise the output power of the antenna feed element in the absence of the human body; wherein the ESD/decoupling circuit is electrically coupled in parallel to the parasitic element, the ESD/decoupling circuit being configured to block an RF signal from going into the proximity sensor so as to enable detection of a capacitance change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna feed characterized by at least one resonating frequency; a grounded antenna component characterized to broaden impedance bandwidth; a proximity sensing element coupled to the grounded antenna component, the proximity sensing element configured to detect a change in capacitance in the grounded antenna component; a capacitor providing radio frequency (RF) ground for the grounded antenna component but not at specific absorption rate (SAR) frequencies; and an ESD/decoupling circuit electrically coupled in parallel to the grounded antenna component, the ESD/decoupling circuit being configured to block an RF signal from going into the proximity sensing element so as to enable detection of a capacitance change. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating an antenna with an integrated proximity sensor, the method comprising:
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capacitively coupling the antenna with a grounded antenna component to broaden an impedance bandwidth for the antenna; and detecting a change in capacitance at the proximity sensor coupled in parallel to the grounded antenna component, the detecting the change in capacitance further comprising blocking an RF signal from going into the proximity sensor using an ESD/decoupling circuit electrically coupled in parallel to the grounded antenna component so as to enable detection of the change in capacitance; based, at least in part, on the detecting the change in capacitance, sending, at the proximity sensor, a message indicating a presence of a human body; and lowering transmit power of the antenna based, at least in part, on receipt of the message. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification