Mobile Terminal Grip Sensor for SAR Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile terminals face challenges in minimizing Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) while maintaining communication performance, as they cannot be miniaturized indefinitely and must comply with international SAR safety limits, requiring innovative power control and antenna tuning methods.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal with a grip sensor unit that generates sensing signals to identify grip patterns, allowing for power control and antenna tuning adjustments to reduce SAR and enhance communication performance, ensuring safe and effective operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transmit power is increased to boost communication performance, then communication performance is improved, but SAR increases beyond safety limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidSAR
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power control that adjusts transmit power in real-time based on detected grip patterns. When a gripping state is detected (indicating the device is held close to the body), the system dynamically reduces power to specific antennas to maintain SAR compliance. When no gripping is detected, full power is available for optimal communication performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (transmit power levels) based on the detected state. Different power levels are assigned to different antennas depending on which hand is gripping the device and which antennas are closest to the user's body, thereby adapting the radiation characteristics to minimize SAR while maintaining communication performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If antenna is miniaturized to support mobility, then device portability is improved, but communication performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna sizeVSAvoidcommunication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the antenna system into multiple separate antennas instead of using a single miniaturized antenna. By segmenting the radiation function across multiple antennas with different orientations and positions, the system achieves better overall communication performance while maintaining a compact device form factor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple antennas are configured to serve different communication functions and frequency bands. Each antenna can be independently controlled and optimized for specific purposes, allowing the compact device to maintain versatile communication capabilities across multiple standards and conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple components are added to provide various functions, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcomponent count
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grip sensor system serves multiple functions: it detects user grip state for SAR control, identifies gripping hand (left or right), and triggers different power control strategies. This single sensing mechanism provides versatility without requiring separate complex systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the grip detection function with the power control function into an integrated system. The same sensing mechanism that detects grip presence also informs the power adjustment logic, merging multiple control functions into a unified approach that reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2487967B1Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same in consideration of communication environment
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2487967B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2487967B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2487967B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the same in consideration of communication environment are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes: a grip sensor unit generating sensing signals corresponding to user grip; a control unit identifying a grip pattern on the basis of sensing signals from the grip sensor unit, extracting communication control information associated with the identified grip pattern, and performing at least one of power control and antenna tuning control; and a communication means to which power control and antenna tuning are applied under control of the control unit.