Antenna Tuner Dynamic Current Drain Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication devices face challenges in efficiently managing antenna tuning across multiple RF bands due to size and battery constraints, leading to excessive current drain when the antenna tuner is kept active even when not necessary, affecting performance of other RF conduction paths.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method to selectively activate the antenna tuner only when beneficial, configuring it to isolate and tune specific portions of the multiple band antenna system, thereby reducing current drain by deactivating the tuner when both RF conduction paths are inactive.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the antenna tuner is kept active to provide antenna radiation efficiency, then antenna tuning performance is improved, but current drain increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna radiation efficiencyVSAvoidcurrent drain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna tuner is implemented as a dynamic component that can switch between active and inactive states based on real-time detection of RF conduction path activity. The system continuously monitors whether RF conduction paths are active and adjusts the tuner state accordingly, transforming a static always-on component into a dynamic adaptive one that optimizes both performance and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs self-service mechanisms where the antenna tuner automatically detects the operational state of RF conduction paths and adjusts its own activation status without external intervention. The detection circuitry monitors RF path activity and triggers appropriate tuner activation or deactivation, enabling the system to self-regulate power consumption while maintaining antenna performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the antenna tuner is activated to tune specific portions of the multiple band antenna system, then antenna performance is improved, but device power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna performanceVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna system is divided into multiple band portions with different tuning requirements. The antenna tuner is configured to selectively tune only the specific portion of the multiple band antenna system that corresponds to active RF conduction paths, rather than continuously tuning all portions. This localized tuning approach maintains antenna performance for active bands while avoiding unnecessary power consumption for inactive bands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuously tuning all antenna bands, the system applies partial action by activating the tuner only for the specific bandwidth or portion needed at any given time. The system detects which RF conduction paths are active and tunes only those corresponding antenna portions, performing exactly the amount of tuning necessary without excess.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the antenna tuner remains active to support multiple RF bands, then communication versatility is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication versatilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna tuner is designed as a universal component capable of supporting multiple RF bands and communication protocols. Rather than having separate dedicated tuners for each band, a single multi-functional tuner can adapt to tune different antenna portions for different RF bands (e.g., WLAN, WWAN, Bluetooth), maintaining communication versatility across all bands while reducing overall power consumption through selective activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10367260B1Dynamic reduction of current drain for antenna tuner of a communication device

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

A communication device, method and computer program product provide improved performance of one radio frequency (RF) conduction path using an antenna tuner of another RF conduction path while dynamically reducing current drain by the antenna tuner. A determination is made that a first RF conduction path is active in using a first portion of a multiple band antenna system for at least one of: (i) transmitting; and (ii) receiving a signal. An antenna tuner of a second RF conduction path that uses a second portion of the multiple band antenna system is activated. The antenna tuner is configured to tune the second portion of the multiple band antenna system to isolate the second portion from the first portion used by the first RF conduction path. The antenna tuner is deactivated in response to determining that both the first and second RF conduction paths are inactive.