METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING RADIATION CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSMITTER OF WIRELESS DEVICE IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH TRANSMITTER ORIENTATION

• US 20100279751A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sierra Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Wang, Ying, Lee, Colin, Goodfellow, Kevin Alexander, Smith, Vincent Maddock, Pourseyed, Behrouz
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2275 associated to expansion card or bus, e.g. in PCMCIA, PC cards, Wireless USB
• 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 1/52 Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure absorbing means H01Q17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and a corresponding method for controlling radiation characteristics of a transmitter of a wireless device. The wireless device includes a transmitting portion that includes one or more antennas that are characterized by one or more radiation patterns. The wireless device further comprises a sensor system for determining an orientation of the transmitting portion and a control system that is operatively coupled to the sensor system and configured to control the supply of power to each antenna depending on the orientation of the transmitting portion.

Claims

1. A device for wireless communication comprising:

a. a transmitting portion including one or more antennas characterized by one or more radiation patterns, each radiation pattern defining dependence of intensity of electromagnetic radiation generated by an antenna on direction and distance from the transmitting portion;

b. a sensor system for determining an orientation of the transmitting portion; and

c. a control system operatively coupled to the sensor system and configured to selectively control power supplied to the one or more antennas in correspondence with the orientation of the transmitting portion;

whereby the device provides predetermined control of intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the transmitting portion in predetermined directions.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power supplied to each antenna is controlled to assume one of two or more power levels at a time.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to limit user irradiation caused by the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the transmitting portion.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the user irradiation is characterized by a specific absorption rate.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system is configured to discriminate between a plurality of orientations.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein one or more of the orientations are relative to one or more predetermined axes of the wireless device.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein one or more of the orientations are relative to one or more predetermined axes external to the wireless device.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the sensor system includes one or more switches, the switches configured to provide signals to the control system for discrimination between two or more predetermined orientations.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an articulated joint for adjustment of orientation of the transmitting portion.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the articulated joint provides one or more rotational axes each permitting at least partial angular adjustment.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the articulated joint includes one or more detent mechanisms.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the articulated joint includes one or more joints selected from the group comprising:

friction hinges, ball joints, universal joints, bearing assemblies, and plastically deformable joints.

13. The device according to claim 1 further configured for interconnection with a computer system.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the computer system is configured to provide at least partial control of the device.

15. The device according to claim 13 further configured as a peripheral device for interconnection to a host computer system using an interconnect system.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the host computer system is a mobile computer system.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the interconnect system comprises a universal serial bus interface, PC Card interface, or ExpressCard bus interface.

18. The device according to claim 1, is configured as a wireless network modem, a cellular network modem, a satellite network modem, a wireless local area network modem, or a mobile phone.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to jointly operate two or more antennas as an array to provide predetermined control of intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the array in predetermined directions.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control system is operable in a calibration mode for adjusting characteristics for selective control of power supplied to the one or more antennas in correspondence with the orientation of the transmitting portion.

21. The device according to claim 9, wherein the control system includes a mechanically actuated electrical contact operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more antennas, the mechanically actuated electrical contact mechanically responsive to motion of the articulated joint to operate said contact between an open position and a closed position.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes one or more sensors selected from the group comprising:

MEMS sensors, electrolytic liquid sensors, mercury sensors, rolling ball sensors, pendulum sensors, or potentiometer sensors, proximity sensors, and piezoelectric sensors.

23. A method for controlling a wireless communication device comprising a transmitting portion including one or more antennas characterized by one or more radiation patterns, each radiation pattern defining dependence of intensity of electromagnetic radiation generated by an antenna on direction and distance from the transmitting portion, the method comprising;

a. determining an orientation of the transmitting portion;

b. selectively controlling power supplied to each antenna in correspondence with the orientation of the transmitting portion;

whereby the method provides predetermined control of intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the transmitting portion in predetermined directions.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the power supplied to each antenna is controlled to assume one of two or more power levels at a time.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined control of intensity of electromagnetic radiation limits user irradiation caused by electromagnetic radiation emitted from the transmitting portion.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the orientation of the transmitting portion is relative to a predetermined axis of the wireless device.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the orientation of the transmitting portion is relative to a predetermined axis external to the wireless device.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the wireless communication device comprises an articulated joint for adjustment of orientation of the transmitting portion.

29. The method according to claim 23, wherein the wireless device is configured as a peripheral device for interconnection to a host computer system using an interconnect system.

30. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of jointly operating two or more antennas as an array to provide predetermined control of intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the array in predetermined directions.

31. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of calibrating characteristics for selective control of power supplied to the one or more antennas in correspondence with the orientation of the transmitting portion.