Antenna System Controller for Dynamic Signal Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
As wireless communication devices decrease in size, antenna radiation performance degrades, leading to inconsistent call quality depending on how the device is held, and industry standards are needed to address this issue.
Innovation Solution
An antenna system controller determines usage states based on sensor data and configures the antenna system accordingly, using pre-identified reference states or default configurations to enhance signal quality, and predicts future usage states for proactive adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the size of wireless communication devices is reduced, then device portability is improved, but antenna radiation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna configuration where the antenna system controller continuously monitors sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensors) to detect usage states and dynamically adjusts antenna parameters including impedance, matching network configuration, and power amplifier settings. This dynamic adaptation allows the antenna system to maintain optimal radiation performance across varying device sizes and usage conditions, resolving the contradiction between reduced device volume and maintained antenna performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple antenna parameters simultaneously based on detected usage states: impedance transformation ratios, matching network component values, power amplifier output power, and frequency tuning. These parameter changes are pre-calculated and stored in lookup tables mapped to specific usage states, enabling rapid adaptation without complex real-time computation, thus maintaining performance despite size reduction.
2Ease of operation
If the device is held in different positions, then user comfort is improved, but call quality becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary characterization of different usage states during device operation by analyzing sensor data patterns. Usage state statistics are generated and stored, allowing the system to predict future usage states and pre-configure antenna parameters before actual usage occurs. This preliminary action ensures call quality consistency by having the optimal configuration ready in advance for each detected usage state.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system controller continuously monitors sensor data from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and proximity sensors to detect current usage states. This feedback loop enables real-time identification of device orientation, hand usage (left/right hand), and proximity to user's head or hand, allowing the system to adapt antenna configuration to maintain consistent call quality regardless of how the device is held.
3Reliability
If antenna configuration is statically optimized for one usage state, then performance in that state is improved, but adaptability to other states deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous space of possible usage states into discrete categories based on sensor data patterns. Usage states are segmented by device orientation (portrait/landscape), hand usage (left/right/both hands), and proximity conditions. For each segmented usage state category, pre-optimized antenna configurations are stored in lookup tables. This segmentation allows the system to maintain specialized optimization for each state while providing comprehensive coverage across all possible usage scenarios through the segmented categorization approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system configures an antenna system to enhance communication signal quality within a wireless communication device. An antenna system controller determines a usage state of the wireless communication device based on received sensor data. In addition, the antenna system controller determines whether the usage state matches a pre-identified reference usage state. If the usage state matches a reference usage state, the antenna system controller configures the antenna system using configuration data mapped to the reference usage state. In addition, the antenna system controller tracks occurrences of usage states to generate usage state statistics and uses the generated usage state statistics to predict a timing of future usage states within the wireless communication device. The antenna system controller configures the wireless communication device for the predicted usage state when an associated trigger event is detected. Additionally, the antenna system controller configures the antenna system based on signal quality feedback.