Mobile radio equipment forming antenna pattern to project user from radiation

• US 6,456,856 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellon France SAS
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bruzzone, Raul A., Werling, Thierry B. F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/361,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 455/129, 455/121, 455/125, 455/550, 455/90
• US Class Current: 455/575.5
• 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 3/247 by switching different parts of a primary active element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/28 varying the amplitude
• 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

A radio communication apparatus includes a transceiver coupled to an antenna structure with many directional antennas that form a radiation pattern. The antenna structure gives greater importance to certain directions of transmission. A power regulation device is controlled by a control element for modifying the radiation pattern. The control element includes switches for selectively activating/deactivating the directional antennas to modify the radiation pattern. A proximity detection device measures at least one proximity parameter and feeds the control element with a proximity indication for controlling the power regulation device to reduce the radiation pattern in the direction of the radio communication apparatus user. The proximity detection device includes a humidity and/or a temperature detector.

Claims

1. A radio communication apparatus comprising:

a transceiver coupled to an antenna structure featuring a radiation diagram, said antenna structure giving greater importance to certain directions of transmission;

a power regulation device controlled by a control element for modifying said radiation diagram; and

a proximity detection device for measuring at least one proximity parameter and feeding the control element with a proximity indication for controlling the power regulation device, wherein the proximity detection device comprises a humidity detector.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna structure comprises a plurality of directional antennas which have each a transmit power in a given direction and the power regulation device comprises power control means for regulating the transmit power of the directional antennas.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the power control means comprise a switch for selectively activating/deactivating one or various directional antennas.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximity detection device comprises a temperature detector.

5. Mobile radio equipment suitable for communicating with at least one radio base station of a radio telecommunication system, said equipment comprising:

a radio transceiver coupled to an antenna structure featuring a radiation diagram which antenna structure gives greater importance to certain directions of transmission;

a power regulation device controlled by a control element for modifying said radiation diagram; and

a proximity detection device for measuring at least one proximity parameter and applying to the control element an indication of proximity for controlling the power regulation device, wherein the proximity detection device comprises a humidity detector.

6. A radio base station of a radio telecommunication system suitable for communicating with at least one mobile radio terminal, said radio base station comprising:

a radio transceiver coupled to an antenna structure featuring a radiation diagram which antenna structure gives greater importance to certain directions of transmission;

a power regulation device controlled by a control element for modifying said radiation diagram; and

a proximity detection device for measuring at least one proximity parameter and applying to the control element a proximity indication for controlling the power regulation device, wherein the proximity detection device comprises a humidity detector.

7. A power control method for controlling the power radiated in a given direction by a plurality of directional antennas which have respective transmit powers comprising:

measuring of at least one proximity parameter including a humidity detector for forming a measured result to detect a presence of a human being in the proximity of the apparatus,

comparing said measured result to set values to form a comparison result, and

selecting at least one directional antenna for regulation of its transmit power as a function of the comparison result.

8. A radio communication apparatus comprising:

a transceiver coupled to a plurality of antennas having a radiation pattern;

a control element;

a power regulation device controlled by said control element for modifying said radiation pattern; and

a proximity detector which measures at least one proximity parameter, said proximity detector including a humidity detector and said at least one proximity parameter including a humidity parameter which indicates proximity of a user of said radio communication apparatus in a direction;

wherein said control element controls said power regulation device in response to said humidity parameter so that said radiation pattern is reduced in said direction.

9. The radio communication apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control element includes at least one switch for each one of said plurality of antennas for selectively deactivating at least one of said plurality of antennas that forms said radiation pattern in said direction.

10. The radio communication apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control element includes switches for selectively deactivating at least one of said plurality of antennas that forms said radiation pattern in said direction.

11. The radio communication apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control element includes attenuators for selectively attenuating at least one of said plurality of antennas that forms said radiation pattern in said direction.

12. The radio communication apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of adjustable gain amplifiers coupled to said plurality of antennas;

said control element controlling at least one of said plurality of adjustable gain amplifiers to reduce said radiation pattern in said direction.