Wireless Antenna Proximity Alerts for SAR-Limited Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices with antennas placed near user's body parts face issues such as reduced wireless throughput, compliance with Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) regulations, and increased cost and space consumption due to proximity sensors, leading to latency and degraded user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implement user alerts based on proximity sensor data or received signal strength to notify users when their body parts are near antennas, and adjust transmission power or antenna usage to comply with SAR regulations without reducing throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If antennas are placed at the side of the device to design narrow bezel display and increase active area, then display area is improved, but wireless throughput is reduced due to body part blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively detects body proximity to antennas before significant signal degradation occurs and preemptively switches to alternative antennas or adjusts transmit power, preventing throughput reduction rather than reacting after blocking occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors signal quality metrics (RSSI, SINR, throughput) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust antenna selection and transmit power levels, maintaining optimal wireless performance despite body proximity
2Reliability
If proximity sensors are added to detect body proximity for SAR compliance, then SAR compliance is improved, but device cost and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing wireless communication components (antennas, signal quality sensors) to detect body proximity and determine SAR conditions, eliminating the need for dedicated proximity sensors while maintaining SAR compliance capability
Solution Approach 2:
Existing wireless components serve dual purposes: their primary function for communication and their secondary function for SAR detection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated SAR detection hardware
3Reliability
If transmit power is reduced to comply with SAR regulations, then SAR compliance is improved, but wireless throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transmit power based on real-time body proximity detection, using higher power when safe and reducing power only when body parts are detected near antennas, rather than using fixed reduced power levels
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different power levels to different antennas based on their individual proximity to body parts, allowing one antenna to operate at full power while another operates at reduced power, maintaining overall throughput while ensuring compliance
4Productivity
If antenna switching is performed to maintain throughput during SAR events, then wireless performance is improved, but latency increases due to network scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-evaluates alternative antennas and maintains ready-to-use configurations before SAR events occur, allowing immediate switching without performing time-consuming network scans during the actual switching event
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical/network-layer antenna switching process with a software-controlled selection based on pre-collected signal quality data, eliminating the need for time-consuming network scans and protocol handshakes
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
Enhances user awareness of antenna obstruction, reduces latency in switching antennas, and maintains wireless performance while adhering to SAR regulations, thus improving user experience and compliance.
Implementation Method 1
These proximity sensors, however, increase cost and therefore may be omitted from a design
Implementation Method 2
a dedicated body proximity sensor (referred to herein as a 'SAR sensor' or a 'proximity sensor') near the transmitting antenna
Implementation Method 3
the overall rate at which energy is absorbed per unit mass by a human body when exposed to the transmitted radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
Various principles and methods are described herein to improve wireless communication in a user computing device. Certain aspects of the disclosure describe management of wireless transmissions relative to various regulations related to a specific absorption rate. Other aspects of the disclosure relate to detection of user proximity to a transmitting antenna. Other aspects relate to alternative strategies to improve wireless communication, such as selection of alternate antennas or baseband modems, or changes in device orientation.