Dynamic Antenna Power Control for SAR Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face challenges in maintaining Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) compliance across various product contexts, leading to reduced radio transmission power levels that impair device performance, as stringent SAR standards vary based on device type, size, and usage configurations, necessitating dynamic antenna power adjustments to ensure compliance without degrading performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of product context detection using multiple sensors, such as cameras, hall effect sensors, and proximity sensors, to identify current device configurations and adjust transmission power levels dynamically, ensuring SAR compliance while maximizing performance in different usage scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transmission power is set to comply with the most stringent SAR standards, then SAR compliance is ensured, but radio transmission performance is significantly impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSAR complianceVSAvoidradio transmission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the transmission power level adjustable based on detected product context. The system transitions from a static power setting to a dynamic one where the power controller modifies transmission power in real-time according to sensor inputs about device configuration and usage context, resolving the contradiction between maintaining SAR compliance and ensuring optimal performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of transmission power based on detected product context. By identifying different usage scenarios (e.g., device attached to keyboard vs. used as tablet) and adjusting the corresponding power parameters, the system achieves both SAR compliance and optimal performance for each context without requiring continuous power reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transmission power is reduced to ensure SAR compliance in all configurations, then safety standards are met, but device functionality is compromised in certain contexts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic radiation exposureVSAvoiddevice functionality across contexts
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the usage scenarios into distinct product contexts (e.g., laptop mode, tablet mode, different attachment states) and applies appropriate SAR compliance rules to each segment. This allows the device to optimize performance for each context while ensuring safety requirements are met specifically for contexts where they apply, rather than applying uniform restrictions across all usage scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to continuously monitor device configuration and usage context, providing feedback to the power controller. This feedback loop enables real-time adjustments to transmission power, ensuring SAR compliance when needed while maintaining optimal functionality when device configurations do not require restrictions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This approach allows electronic devices to maintain optimal radio transmission power levels across various product contexts, ensuring compliance with stringent SAR standards without compromising performance, thereby enhancing device functionality and user experience.

Implementation Method 1

hall effect sensors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Implementation Method 2

capacitive sensors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3400627B1Dynamic antenna power control for multi-context device
Publication Date: 2022.01.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3400627B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP3400627B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3400627B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An electronic device disclosed herein includes one or more sensors for collecting data relating to a product context that an electronic device is currently placed or used in. A product context detector of the electronic device analyzes the collected data to identify the current product context, and a power controller of the electronic device alters transmission power of at least one antenna of the electronic device based on the identified product context to ensure compliance with an applicable specific absorption rate (SAR) standard.