Wireless Power Control via Multi-Sensor Fusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in accurately reducing RF output power to comply with SAR regulations, as sole reliance on proximity sensors can result in false detections and unnecessary power reduction, leading to potential user harm.

Innovation Solution

The use of a combination of sensors, including a first and second proximity sensor with different sensing directions, and a movement sensor, allows a controller to dynamically adjust the output power of a wireless communication component based on multiple inputs, ensuring compliance with SAR limits while minimizing unnecessary power reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single proximity sensor is used to detect user proximity, then the device can reduce RF output power to comply with SAR regulations, but false detections occur leading to unnecessary power reduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of proximity detectionVSAvoidwireless communication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple proximity sensors (first proximity sensor and second proximity sensor with different sensing directions) to detect objects from different orientations. By merging their detection results, the system achieves more reliable proximity detection and reduces false positives, thereby maintaining wireless communication performance while ensuring SAR compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors proximity sensor outputs and movement sensor data, using this feedback to dynamically adjust RF output power. The controller processes real-time sensor feedback to determine whether to reduce power, enabling accurate response to actual user proximity conditions and avoiding unnecessary power reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If RF output power is reduced based on proximity sensor detection, then SAR compliance is achieved, but user harm may still occur due to false detections

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRF energy absorption by userVSAvoidaccuracy of proximity detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data from multiple proximity sensors positioned with different sensing directions and combines it with movement sensor data. This multi-sensor fusion approach significantly reduces false detections, ensuring that RF power is reduced only when a user is truly in close proximity, thereby reliably preventing harmful RF energy absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs proximity sensors with different sensing directions (first proximity sensor and second proximity sensor) to cover different spatial zones. Each sensor monitors its specific direction, and the controller integrates these localized detection results to make accurate proximity determination, ensuring reliable harm prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If multiple sensors are used to improve detection accuracy, then false detections are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of proximity detectionVSAvoidnumber of sensors
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple proximity sensors with different sensing directions and integrates their outputs with movement sensor data through a controller. This merging of sensors provides robust false detection reduction while managing complexity through coordinated processing of sensor inputs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3747132B1Output power adjustments based on sensors
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP
  • EP3747132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3747132B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3747132B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An example electronic device includes a wireless communication component and a controller. The controller is to set an output power of the wireless communication component based on: whether a first external object is in proximity to a first side of the electronic device; whether the electronic device is stationary; and whether a second external object is in proximity to a second side of the electronic device, where the second side is opposite to the first side.