Electronic device with proximity-based radio power control

• US 8,417,296 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Caballero, Ruben, Schlub, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Fanghwa
• Application Number:
  US12/207,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20090305742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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 52/246 where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter calculated in said terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

An electronic device such as a portable electronic device may have an antenna and associated wireless communications circuitry. A sensor such as a proximity sensor may be used to detect when the electronic device is in close proximity to a user'"'"'s head. Control circuitry within the electronic device may be used to adjust radio-frequency signal transmit power levels. When it is determined that the electronic device is within a given distance from the user'"'"'s head, the radio-frequency signal transmit power level may be reduced. When it is determined that the electronic device is not within the given distance from the user'"'"'s head, proximity-based limits on the radio-frequency signal transmit power level may be removed. Data may be gathered from a touch sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor and other sources for use in determining how to adjust the transmit power level.

Claims

1. A method of controlling radio-frequency cellular telephone signal transmit power through an antenna in a handheld electronic device that is used by a user having a head, wherein the handheld electronic device includes circuitry that handles radio-frequency wireless transmissions in at least a first wireless communications band and a second wireless communications band, the method comprising:

with a sensor in the handheld electronic device, determining whether the head of the user is present within a given distance of the handheld electronic device,

when it is determined from the sensor that the head of the user is not present within the given distance of the handheld electronic device, establishing a first maximum allowable level for the transmit power with the circuitry;

when it is determined from the sensor that the head of the user is present within the given distance of the handheld electronic device, establishing a second maximum allowable level for the transmit power with the circuitry, wherein the second maximum allowable level for the transmit power is less than the first maximum allowable level for the transmit power; and

with the circuitry, making radio-frequency wireless transmit power adjustments in the first wireless communications band that reduce the transmitted power by the handheld electronic device in the first wireless communications band at least partly in response to an increase in radio-frequency wireless transmit power levels by the handheld electronic device in the second wireless communications band.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein determining whether the head of the user is present within the given distance comprises emitting light with a light source in the handheld electronic device while monitoring how much of the emitted light is reflected back to the handheld electronic device using a photodetector in the handheld electronic device.

3. The method defined in claim 2 further comprising:

receiving commands from a wireless network;

receiving sensor data from a touch screen; and

adjusting the transmit power in response to the commands and the received sensor data from the touch screen.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the transmit power is associated with code division multiple access transmissions and wherein the method further comprises adjusting the transmit power by measuring a tapped radio-frequency signal using a coupler and detector.

5. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

with the circuitry, making radio-frequency wireless transmit power adjustments in the first wireless communications band that increase the transmitted power by the handheld electronic device in the first wireless communications band at least partly in response to a decrease in radio-frequency wireless transmit power levels by the handheld electronic device in the second wireless communications band.