Array Antenna Power Backoff via Proximity-Based Element Deactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with array antennas face challenges in efficiently performing power backoff to comply with regulatory exposure limits when in close proximity to a human body, as uniform power reduction can degrade communication functionality.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with an array antenna system that includes a proximity detecting device and a processor to deactivate specific antenna elements based on detected proximity, forming a new beam while maintaining communication, and using a backoff table to determine the number of active antenna elements and transmit power reduction amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If uniform power reduction is applied to all antenna elements, then exposure limits are met, but communication functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The array antenna is segmented into multiple independently controllable antenna elements. When proximity is detected, only specific antenna elements are deactivated rather than uniformly reducing power across all elements. This segmentation allows selective control of radiation sources to meet exposure limits while preserving communication functionality through remaining active elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different antenna elements are controlled with different power levels based on their spatial relationship to the detected object. The system applies local quality by deactivating only those elements that would cause excessive exposure to the nearby object, while maintaining full or reduced power on other elements to preserve communication performance.
2Reliability
If all antenna elements remain active, then communication functionality is maintained, but exposure limits are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of antenna elements based on real-time proximity detection. When an object is detected within a threshold distance, the system transitions from having all elements active to deactivating specific elements, thereby dynamically adapting to changing exposure conditions while maintaining communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity detecting device provides feedback about object distance to the control logic, which then adjusts antenna element activation accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically transition between different operational states (full power, partial deactivation) based on detected proximity, ensuring exposure limits are met while maintaining communication performance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If antenna elements are deactivated to reduce power, then exposure limits are met, but beamforming capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the array antenna into individually controllable elements, the system can selectively deactivate only those elements necessary to meet exposure limits while keeping other elements active. This preserves beamforming capability using the remaining active elements, maintaining adaptability for signal direction and focus without exceeding exposure requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device and a method of performing power backoff for an array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements are provided. The electronic device includes an array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements arranged to perform beamforming, a proximity detecting device configured to detect a proximity of an object, a memory, and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to communicate with an external electronic device through a first beam formed using the plurality of antenna elements and deactivate at least one of the plurality of antenna elements when the proximity of the object is detected by the proximity detecting device during communication with the external electronic device.