IP Library Granted Patent US 9,020,447
Granted Patent B2
US 9,020,447 · App. 13/480,099 · Granted Apr 28, 2015

Electronic devices, methods, and computer program products for making a change to an antenna element based on a power level of a transmission power amplifier

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,020,447
App. No.
13/480,099
Granted
Apr 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating an electronic device includes providing a plurality of antenna elements, determining that a change is to be made to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements, and scheduling the change to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements during a time interval that a transmission power amplifier has a power level below a threshold. The change to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements may also be made responsive to a reduction to the power level of the transmission power amplifier below the threshold.

Claims (35)

1. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

providing a plurality of antenna elements;

determining that a change is to be made to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements; and

scheduling the change to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements during a time interval that a transmission power amplifier has a power level below a threshold;

wherein determining that a change is to be made comprises determining that a first one of the plurality of antenna elements assigned to a main wireless signal reception path is to be changed to a diversity wireless signal reception path and a second one of the plurality of antenna elements assigned to the diversity wireless signal reception path is to be changed to the main wireless signal reception path.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change comprises determining that the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is to be tuned.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

evaluating a wireless communication performance criterion to obtain a performance evaluation;

wherein determining that the change is to be made to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements comprises determining the change is to be made to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements based on the performance evaluation.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises determining transmission power for signals transmitted through each of the plurality of antenna elements and power associated with signals reflected back through each of the plurality of antenna elements.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises determining Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) data for each of the plurality of antenna elements.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises processing feedback from a wireless basestation, the feedback including signal strength information for signals transmitted from each of the plurality of antenna elements.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises determining proximity information of structure abutting the mobile terminal via at least one sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile terminal.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable program medium, the computer readable program medium comprising computer readable program code configured to carry out the method of claim 1 .

10. An electronic device configured to carry out the method of claim 1 .

11. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:

providing a plurality of antenna elements;

determining that a change is to be made to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements;

reducing a power level of a wireless signal transmission power amplifier below a threshold level; and

performing the change to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements responsive to the power level being reduced below the threshold level;

wherein determining that a change is to be made comprises determining that a first one of the plurality of antenna elements assigned to a main wireless signal reception path is to be changed to a diversity wireless signal reception path and a second one of the plurality of antenna elements assigned to the diversity wireless signal reception path is to be changed to the main wireless signal reception path.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the change comprises determining that the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is to be tuned.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

evaluating a wireless communication performance criterion to obtain a performance evaluation;

wherein determining that the change is to be made to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements comprises determining the change is to be made to the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements based on the performance evaluation.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises determining transmission power for signals transmitted through each of the plurality of antenna elements and power associated with signals reflected back through each of the plurality of antenna elements.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises determining Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) data for each of the plurality of antenna elements.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises processing feedback from a wireless base station, the feedback including signal strength information for signals transmitted from each of the plurality of antenna elements.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein evaluating the wireless communication performance criterion comprises determining proximity information of structure abutting the mobile terminal via at least one sensor.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

increasing the power level of the wireless signal transmission power amplifier above the threshold level responsive to a completion of the change to the at least one of the plurality of antenna element.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile terminal.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable program medium, the computer readable program medium comprising computer readable program code configured to carry out the method of claim 11 .

21. An electronic device configured to carry out the method of claim 11 .

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2017
From: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
To: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 043951/0529 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2017
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 043943/0631 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2015
From: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035261/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2012
From: BENGTSSON, ERIK LENNART; ZANDER, OLOF; VANCE, SCOTT LADELL; HAKANSSON, PAR; LONBLAD, DANIEL
To: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
Reel/Frame 028961/0099 →