Acoustic Coupling Based Impedance Adjustment for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile wireless communications devices face challenges in integrating wireless communications circuitry with antennas within limited space, leading to inefficient power transfer and increased power consumption due to the need for complex impedance detection and RF tuners, which deteriorate system performance.
Innovation Solution
A mobile wireless communications device with an adjustable impedance matching network, controlled by a processor that determines acoustic coupling and uses sensors to adjust impedance matching, reducing the need for additional circuitry and improving power transfer efficiency by matching impedance between wireless communications circuitry and antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If complex impedance detection and RF tuners are used to match impedance between wireless communications circuitry and antennas, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the impedance matching function from complex RF tuners and impedance detection circuits, implementing it instead through acoustic coupling measurement between the audio input and output transducers. This removes the need for additional RF tuning components while maintaining power transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the audio transducers serve a dual function: their primary audio function and an additional impedance matching function. By measuring acoustic coupling between these transducers, the system determines impedance characteristics without requiring dedicated RF measurement circuits, thus achieving multi-functionality.
2Loss of energy
If additional circuitry for impedance matching is added, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but the available space within the device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the impedance matching function with the existing audio transducers and their acoustic coupling measurement capability. By combining these functions, no additional physical space is required for impedance matching components, as the existing audio pathway is utilized for both audio and impedance measurement purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio transducers are made multi-functional, serving both audio processing and impedance matching determination. This eliminates the need for separate impedance matching circuitry that would consume additional device space.
3Device complexity
If acoustic coupling measurement is used to determine impedance, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses acoustic coupling as an intermediary measurement method to infer impedance characteristics. Instead of directly measuring electrical impedance with complex RF equipment, the system measures acoustic coupling between transducers, which correlates with impedance conditions, providing an indirect but effective measurement approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electrical measurement systems (RF tuners and impedance detection circuits) with an acoustic measurement approach. By substituting the measurement domain from electrical to acoustic, the system achieves impedance determination with simpler hardware while maintaining measurement effectiveness through the correlation between acoustic coupling and impedance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively adjusts impedance to within ±10% of the antenna, enhancing power transfer efficiency and reducing power consumption, while minimizing additional circuitry and space requirements, thus improving overall system performance.
Implementation Method 1
determine an acoustic coupling between an audio input transducer and an audio output transducer carried by the portable housing
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, and an antenna carried by the portable housing. The mobile wireless communications device may further include wireless communications circuitry carried by the portable housing and an adjustable impedance matching network coupled between the wireless communications circuitry and the antenna. An audio input transducer and an audio output transducer may be carried by the portable housing. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a controller carried by the portable housing and configured to determine an acoustic coupling between the audio input transducer and the audio output transducer. The controller may further be configured to adjust the adjustable impedance matching network based upon the determined acoustic coupling.