Patent Description:
With the development of mobile communication technology, electronic devices having an antenna have been widely used. The electronic device may transmit and/or receive a radio frequency (RF) signal including a speech signal or data (e.g., a message, a photo, a video, a music file, or a game) using an antenna. For example, the electronic device may perform communication using a high frequency (e.g., <NUM> millimeter wave (mmWave)). The electronic device may transmit and/or receive an RF signal using an antenna assembly or an antenna array. <CIT> relates to managing the transmission of uplink beams. A first apparatus may generate a signal for transmission to a second apparatus. Thereafter, the first apparatus may detect a condition associated with transmitting the signal via a first uplink beam at a first transmission power. The condition may include the first uplink beam exceeding a maximum permissible exposure (MPE) limit. Accordingly, the first apparatus may refrain from transmitting the signal via the first uplink beam based on the at least one condition and transmit the signal to the second apparatus using a second uplink beam different from the first uplink beam.

For wireless communications, there is a need to meet certain regulatory requirements. Electromagnetic waves generated in a wireless communication situation may adversely affect a human body and thus, it is necessary to limit the degree to which the human body is exposed to electromagnetic waves when the human body is proximate to an electronic device that transmits a wireless communication signal. For example, the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) value for electromagnetic waves used in wireless communications is determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In addition, many countries regulate to meet the criteria for Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which is an indicator of the absorption rate of electromagnetic waves in the human body.

It is possible to perform power backoff in such a way as to uniformly reduce power for feeding, which is input or transferred to the antenna module to meet the criteria for maximum permissible exposure and/or specific absorption rate for electromagnetic waves radiated from the electronic device.

With the development of wireless communication technology, a portion of an antenna module which radiates an RF signal may be formed as an array including a plurality of elements to use a wireless communication signal of a high frequency band. In the case of using the antenna array, a signal may be transmitted and received through beamforming. When power transferred to the antenna array is uniformly reduced, the radiation performance of the antenna array may be deteriorated. For example, in the case of radiating a signal using only some of elements of an antenna array, it is possible to satisfy the criteria for the maximum permissible exposure and/or a specific absorption rate for electromagnetic waves without performing the power backoff. However, the electronic device may be set to perform power backoff according to a uniformly-set backoff value. In the case of radiating a signal using only some elements, an effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) may be reduced as the power backoff is performed.

Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide an electronic device capable of improving radiation performance of an antenna array by controlling a power backoff value when power backoff is not required because criteria for maximum permissible exposure and/ or a specific absorption rate for electromagnetic waves is met or the degree of power backoff is capable of being reduced.

According to the embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to adjust the degree of the power backoff according to whether the feed polarity of an antenna array is plural or singular by controlling the power backoff value depending on whether the feed polarity of the antenna array for generating a horizontally polarized electric field and/ or a vertically polarized electric field is plural or singular.

According to the embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to adjust the degree of the power backoff according to whether the number of elements included in the antenna array is plural or singular by controlling the power backoff value depending on whether the number of elements included in the antenna array is plural or singular.

In addition, according to the embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to again set a power backoff value according to the number of operating elements to prevent the EIRP from being reduced more than necessary and improve the radiation performance of the antenna array.

In addition, various effects may be provided that are directly or indirectly understood through the disclosure.

The following description with reference to accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> in the network environment <NUM> may communicate with an electronic device <NUM> via a first network <NUM> (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or an electronic device <NUM> or a server <NUM> via a second network <NUM> (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as a single integrated circuit.

A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network <NUM> (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth<IMG>, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network <NUM> (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)). The wireless communication module <NUM> may identify and authenticate the electronic device <NUM> in a communication network, such as the first network <NUM> or the second network <NUM>, using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the SIM <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the antenna module <NUM> may include an antenna including a radiating element composed of a conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB). According to an embodiment, another component (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiating element may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an electronic device for supporting legacy network communication and <NUM> network communication according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a block diagram <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is illustrated. The electronic device <NUM> may include a first communication processor <NUM>, a second communication processor <NUM>, a first RFIC <NUM>, a second RFIC <NUM>, and a third RFIC <NUM>, a fourth RFIC <NUM>, a first RF front end (RFFE) <NUM>, a second RFFE <NUM>, a first antenna module <NUM>, a second antenna module <NUM>, and an antenna <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may further include the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM>. The network <NUM> may include a first network <NUM> and a second network <NUM>. According to another embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may further include at least one of the components shown in <FIG>, and the network <NUM> may further include at least one additional network. According to one embodiment, the first communication processor <NUM>, the second communication processor <NUM>, the first RFIC <NUM>, the second RFIC <NUM>, the fourth RFIC <NUM>, the first RFFE <NUM>, and the second RFFE <NUM> may constitute at least a part of the wireless communication module <NUM>. According to another embodiment, the fourth RFIC <NUM> may be omitted or included as a part of the third RFIC <NUM>.

The first communication processor <NUM> may support the establishment of a communication channel of a band to be used for wireless communication with the first network <NUM>, and legacy network communication through the established communication channel. According to various embodiments, the first network may be a legacy network including a <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or long term evolution (LTE) network. The second communication processor <NUM> may establish a communication channel corresponding to a designated band (e.g., <NUM> to about <NUM>) of bands to be used for wireless communication with the second network <NUM>, and support <NUM> network communication through the established communication channel. According to various embodiments, the second network <NUM> may be a <NUM> network defined in 3GPP. Additionally, according to one embodiment, the first communication processor <NUM> or the second communication processor <NUM> may establish a communication channel corresponding to another designated band (e.g., <NUM> or less) of bands to be used for wireless communication with the second network <NUM> and support <NUM> network communication through the established communication channel. According to one embodiment, the first communication processor <NUM> and the second communication processor <NUM> may be implemented in a single chip or a single package. According to various embodiments, the first communication processor <NUM> or the second communication processor <NUM> may be formed in a single chip or a single package with the processor <NUM>, the auxiliary processor <NUM>, or the communication module <NUM>.

The first RFIC <NUM> may convert a baseband signal generated by the first communication processor <NUM> into a RF signal of about <NUM> to about <NUM> used in the first network <NUM> (e.g., legacy network) in the case of transmission. In the case of reception, the RF signal may be obtained from the first network <NUM> (e.g., legacy network) via an antenna (e.g., the first antenna module <NUM>), and be preprocessed through an RFFE (e.g., the first RFFE <NUM>). The first RFIC <NUM> may convert the preprocessed RF signal into a baseband signal to be processed by the first communication processor <NUM>.

The second RFIC <NUM> may convert the baseband signal generated by the first communication processor <NUM> or the second communication processor <NUM> into an RF signal (hereinafter, referred to as a <NUM> Sub6 RF signal) of the Sub6 band (e.g., about <NUM> or less) used for the second network <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> network) in the case of transmission. In the case of reception, the <NUM> Sub6 RF signal may be obtained from the second network <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> network) via an antenna (e.g., the second antenna module <NUM>), and be preprocessed through an RFFE (e.g., the second RFFE <NUM>). The second RFIC <NUM> may convert the preprocessed <NUM> Sub6 RF signal into a baseband signal so as to be processing by a corresponding communication processor of the first communication processor <NUM> or the second communication processor <NUM>.

The third RFIC <NUM> may convert the baseband signal generated by the second communication processor <NUM> into an RF signal (hereinafter, referred to as a <NUM> Above6 RF signal) of a <NUM> Above6 band (e.g., about <NUM> to about <NUM>) to be used for the second network <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> network). In the case of reception, the <NUM> Above6 RF signal may be obtained from the second network <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> network) via an antenna (e.g., the antenna <NUM>) and preprocessed through a third RFFE <NUM>. The third RFFE may include a phase shifter <NUM> for shifting the phase of various signals. The third RFIC <NUM> may convert the preprocessed <NUM> Above6 RF signal into a baseband signal to be processed by the second communication processor <NUM>. According to one embodiment, the third RFFE <NUM> may be formed as a part of the third RFIC <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include the fourth RFIC <NUM> separately from or at least as a part of the third RFIC <NUM>. In this case, the fourth RFIC <NUM> may convert the baseband signal generated by the second communication processor <NUM> into an intermediate RF (IF) signal in an intermediate frequency band (e.g., about <NUM> to about <NUM>) and transmit the IF signal to the third RFIC <NUM>. The third RFIC <NUM> may convert the IF signal into the <NUM> Above6 RF signal. In the case of reception, the <NUM> Above6 RF signal may be received from the second network <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> network) via an antenna (e.g., the antenna <NUM>) and may be converted into an IF signal by the third RFIC <NUM>. The fourth RFIC <NUM> may convert the IF signal into a baseband signal so as to be processed by the second communication processor <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the first RFIC <NUM> and the second RFIC <NUM> may be implemented as a single chip or at least a part of a single package. According to one embodiment, the first RFFE <NUM> and the second RFFE <NUM> may be implemented as a single chip or at least a part of a single package. According to one embodiment, at least one of the first antenna module <NUM> or the second antenna module <NUM> may be omitted or combined with another antenna module to process RF signals of a corresponding plurality of bands.

According to one embodiment, the third RFIC <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> may be disposed on the same substrate to form a third antenna module <NUM>. For example, the wireless communication module <NUM> or the processor <NUM> may be disposed on a first substrate (e.g., main PCB). In this case, the third RFIC <NUM> may be disposed in a partial area (e.g., bottom) of a second substrate (e.g., sub PCB), which is separate from the first substrate, and the antenna <NUM> may be disposed in another partial area (e.g., top), thereby forming the third antenna module <NUM>. According to one embodiment, the antenna <NUM> may include an antenna array that may be used, for example, for beamforming. By placing the third RFIC <NUM> and the antenna <NUM> on the same substrate, it is possible to reduce the length of a transmission line therebetween. This may reduce, for example, the loss (e.g., attenuation) of signals in a high frequency band (e.g., about <NUM> to about <NUM>) used for <NUM> network communications which is caused due to a transmission line. For this reason, the electronic device <NUM> may improve the quality or speed of communication with the second network <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> network).

The second network <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> network) may be operated independently of the first network <NUM> (e.g., legacy network) (e.g., Stand-Alone (SA)) or may be operated in conjunction with the first network <NUM> (e.g., Non-Stand Alone (NSA). For example, the <NUM> network may have only an access network (e.g., <NUM> radio access network (RAN) or next generation RAN (NG RAN)), but no core network (e.g., next generation core (NGC)). In this case, the electronic device <NUM> may access an external network (e.g., the Internet) under the control of a core network (e.g., an evolved packed core (EPC)) of the legacy network after accessing an access network of the <NUM> network. Protocol information (e.g., LTE protocol information) for communication with the legacy network or protocol information (e.g., New Radio (NR) protocol information) for communication with the <NUM> network may be stored in the memory <NUM> and be accessed by another component (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the first communication processor <NUM>, or the second communication processor <NUM>).

<FIG> is a perspective view of an antenna module viewed from one side according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is a perspective view of an antenna module of <FIG> viewed from one side according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and <FIG> is a perspective view of an antenna module viewed from another side according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of the antenna module of <FIG> according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, an antenna module <NUM> may include a printed circuit board <NUM>, an antenna array <NUM>, a RFIC <NUM>, and a PMIC <NUM>, and a module interface. Optionally, the third antenna module <NUM> may further include a shield member <NUM>. In other embodiments, at least one of the components mentioned above may be omitted, or at least two of the components may be integrally formed.

The printed circuit board <NUM> may include a plurality of conductive layers and a plurality of non-conductive layers stacked alternately with the conductive layers. The printed circuit board <NUM> may provide electrical connections between the printed circuit board <NUM> and/or various electronic components disposed outside by using wires and conductive vias formed in the conductive layer.

The antenna array <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> of <FIG>) may include a plurality of antenna elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> arranged to form a directional beam. The antenna elements may be formed on a first surface of the printed circuit board <NUM> as shown. According to another embodiment, the antenna array <NUM> may be formed in the printed circuit board <NUM>. According to embodiments, the antenna array <NUM> may include a plurality of antenna arrays (e.g., a dipole antenna array, and/or a patch antenna array) of the same shape or type or different shapes or types.

The RFIC <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> of <FIG>) may be arranged in another area of the printed circuit board <NUM> (e.g., the second surface opposite to the first surface), spaced apart from the antenna array. The RFIC is configured to process a signal of a selected frequency band transmitted/received through the antenna array <NUM>. According to one embodiment, the RFIC <NUM> may, upon transmission, convert a baseband signal obtained from a communication processor (not shown) into an RF signal of a specified band. The RFIC <NUM> may convert the RF signal received through the antenna array <NUM> into a baseband signal and transmit the received RF signal to the communication processor upon reception.

According to another embodiment, the RFIC <NUM> may, upon transmission, up-convert an IF signal (e.g., about <NUM> to about <NUM>) obtained from an intermediate frequency integrate circuit (IFIC) (e.g., <NUM> of <FIG>) into an RF signal of a selected band. Upon reception, the RFIC <NUM> may down-convert the RF signal obtained through the antenna array <NUM>, convert the RF signal into an IF signal, and transfer the IF signal to the IFIC.

The PMIC <NUM> may be arranged in another partial area of the printed circuit board <NUM> (e.g., the second surface), spaced apart from the antenna array. The PMIC may receive a voltage from a main PCB (not shown) and provide power required for various components (e.g., RFIC <NUM>) on the antenna module.

The shield member <NUM> may be disposed on a portion (e.g., the second surface) of the printed circuit board <NUM> to electromagnetically shield at least one of the RFIC <NUM> or the PMIC <NUM>. According to one embodiment, the shield member <NUM> may include a shield can.

According to various embodiments, the antenna array <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> of <FIG>) may include a plurality of antenna elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> arranged to form a directional beam. The antenna array <NUM> may transmit and/or receive an RF signal with another external electronic device through beamforming. It is possible to set a feed polarity that is a polarization direction of the signal based on the direction and the intensity of a signal radiated through the antenna array <NUM>. The feed polarity may be for generating a horizontally polarized electric field and/or a vertically polarized electric field, that is, an electric field formed in one direction or two different directions. For example, the RFIC <NUM> may feed the antenna array <NUM> including at least one antenna element with a single horizontal polarization (H-pol), feed the antenna array <NUM> including at least one antenna element with a single vertical polarization (V-pol), or feed the antenna array <NUM> including at least one antenna element with horizontal-vertical dual polarization.

According to various embodiments, each antenna element <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> may include a first antenna element 332a, 334a, 336a, or 338a (e.g., a dipole antenna or a first polarity antenna) and a second antenna element 332b, 334b, 336b, or 338b (e.g., a patch antenna or a second polarity antenna).

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may set the form of a beam radiated from the antenna array <NUM> according to a communication environment. The processor <NUM> may set a feed polarity that is a direction in which the RFIC <NUM>, disposed in the antenna array <NUM>, feeds the antenna array <NUM> and/or the polarization direction of a feed signal to set the form of a beam radiated from the antenna array <NUM>. For example, a modem <NUM> may feed the first antenna element 332a, 334a, 336a, or 338a with single H-pol, feed the second antenna element 332b, 334b, 336b, or 338b with single V-pol, or feed the first antenna element 332a, 334a, 336a, or 338a and the second antenna element 332b, 334b, 336b, or 338b with horizontal-vertical dual polarization in the RFIC <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may perform power backoff for a beam radiated from the antenna array <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may perform a power backoff event based on the number of antenna elements performing beamforming. The processor <NUM> may perform a power backoff event for each of first antenna elements or second antenna elements.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may perform power backoff for a beam radiated from the antenna array <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may perform a power backoff event based on whether the first antenna element 332a, 334a, 336a, or 338a that outputs a single H-pol and the second antenna elements 332b, 334b, 336b, or 338b that outputs a single V-pol operate, and the number of first antenna elements and/ or second antenna elements. The processor <NUM> may perform a power backoff event based on the number of first antenna elements or second antenna elements. Although not shown, in various embodiments, the third antenna module <NUM> may be electrically connected to another printed circuit board (e.g., a main circuit board) through a module interface. The module interface may include a connecting member, for example, a coaxial cable connector, a board to board connector, an interposer, or a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The RFIC <NUM> and/or the PMIC <NUM> of the antenna module may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board through the connecting member.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of the antenna module of <FIG> according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> are cross-sections taken along line C-C' of the antenna module of <FIG> according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> of the illustrated embodiments may include an antenna layer <NUM> and a network layer <NUM>. The antenna layer <NUM> may include at least one dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM> and the antenna element <NUM> and/or a feeder <NUM> formed on or in an outer surface of the dielectric layer. The feeder <NUM> may include a feed point <NUM> and/or a portion <NUM> of a transmission line.

Referring to <FIG>, the antenna element <NUM> may be formed as a patch antenna formed on a surface of the at least one dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>. In another embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, a first antenna element 336a may be formed as a dipole antenna, and a second antenna element 336b may be formed as a patch antenna. When the printed circuit board <NUM> includes a plurality of layers, a pattern may be formed between layers in the printed circuit board <NUM> to form the first antenna element 336a or the second antenna element 336b. For example, the first antenna element 336a may be formed on the surface of one dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM> as shown in <FIG>, or may be disposed between the two dielectric layers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

The network layer <NUM> may include at least one dielectric layer <NUM>-<NUM>, at least one ground layer <NUM> formed on or in an outer surface of the dielectric layer, at least one conductive via <NUM> and/or a transmission line <NUM>.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the third RFIC <NUM> may be electrically connected to the network layer <NUM> through, for example, first and second connections (e.g., solder bumps) <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In other embodiments, various connection structures (e.g., solder or ball grid array (BGA)) may be used instead of the connections. The third RFIC <NUM> may be electrically connected to the antenna element <NUM> through the first connection <NUM>-<NUM>, the transmission line <NUM>, and the feeder <NUM>. The third RFIC <NUM> may also be electrically connected to the ground layer <NUM> through the second connection <NUM>-<NUM> and the conductive via <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a block diagram <NUM> of an electronic device <NUM> is illustrated. In one embodiment, the processor <NUM> may be operationally connected to the memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may store instructions necessary for the operation of the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include a communication processor (CP) (e.g., the second communication processor <NUM> of <FIG>) supporting <NUM> mmWave communication.

In one embodiment, the processor <NUM> may control the operation of the antenna array <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may perform beamforming to control the intensity, direction, and/or radiation form of a beam formed by signals radiated from the antenna array <NUM>. As another example, the processor <NUM> may control the intensity, frequency band, and/or phase of a RF signal transmitted and/or received by the antenna array <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the processor <NUM> may include the modem <NUM>. The modem <NUM> may support <NUM> mmWave communication. The modem <NUM> may be connected to an RFIC (e.g., the third RFIC <NUM> of <FIG>) connected to the antenna array <NUM>. The modem <NUM> may convert an in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) digital signal into an analog signal and transmit the analog signal to the RFIC <NUM> of the antenna array <NUM>. The modem <NUM> may convert a signal received by the antenna array <NUM> into a digital signal and transmit the digital signal to the processor <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the antenna array <NUM> may transmit and/or receive RF signals. The antenna array <NUM> may transmit and/or receive an RF signal through beamforming. The antenna array <NUM> may include first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. With the development of wireless communication technology, a portion of the antenna array <NUM> that radiates an RF signal may be formed of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to use a wireless communication signal of a high frequency band. The first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be patch or dipole antennas.

In one embodiment, the modem <NUM> may set a form of a beam radiated from the antenna array <NUM> according to the communication environment. The modem <NUM> may set a feed polarity, which is a direction in which the RFIC <NUM>, disposed in the antenna array <NUM>, feeds the antenna array <NUM> and/or the polarization direction of a feed signal, to set the form of a beam radiated from the antenna array <NUM>. For example, the modem <NUM> may feed the antenna array <NUM> with a single H-pol, feed the antenna array <NUM> with a single V-pol or feed the antenna array <NUM> with horizontal-vertical dual polarization through a signal from the RFIC <NUM>. In the case of feeding with horizontal-vertical dual polarization, the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) may increase by about <NUM> dB. For example, the EIRP may increase by about <NUM> dB in the case of a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) state using the first antenna element 332a, 334a, 336a, or 338a and the second antenna element 332b, 334b, 336b, or 338b to form an electric field including a first polarity and a second polarity as shown in <FIG>, compared with the case of a single input single output (SISO) state using the antenna element <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> to form an electric field (E-field) including one polarity as shown in <FIG>.

In one embodiment, the modem <NUM> may determine whether a power backoff operation event occurs. The power backoff operation reduces a gain value of a signal transmitted by the antenna array <NUM>. The modem <NUM> may determine the backoff operation event in various ways. For example, the modem <NUM> may receive information related to a human body proximity state as in a state in which a user grips the electronic device <NUM>, from a sensor module (e.g., the sensor module <NUM> of <FIG>) including a proximity sensor. As another example, the modem <NUM> may detect a communication environment such as a call state from a wireless communication circuit <NUM> and receive information related to a communication state. The modem <NUM> may generate a backoff operation event to satisfy the criteria for a specific absorption rate (SAR) indicating an electromagnetic absorption rate of the human body measured in the outside of the electronic device <NUM> based on the information related to the human body proximity state and/or information related to the communication state. Information about the power backoff amount or the output set power may be stored in the memory <NUM> based on the experimental numerical information related to the specific absorption rate. The modem <NUM> may perform a power backoff operation on the antenna array <NUM> when a backoff operation event occurs.

In one embodiment, the memory <NUM> may store a backoff table. The backoff table may define a backoff operation to be performed corresponding to the backoff operation event when the backoff operation event occurs. For example, the backoff table may include an amount of reduction in the intensity of a signal transferred to each of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> included in the antenna array <NUM> in response to the backoff operation event.

In one embodiment, the modem <NUM> may identify the number of elements that perform an operation of transmitting and/or receiving a signal in the antenna array <NUM>. For example, the modem <NUM> may determine to which of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the antenna array <NUM>, the intensity of a beam, the form of a beam, and/or a supplied current is input and identify the number of elements performing an operation of transmitting and/or receiving a signal. At least some of the antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements may be used to transmit and/or receive a signal. For example, the number of elements to be used for transmitting and receiving signals may be classified into a first number in which all elements operate, a second number in half of the first number, and/or a third number in which minimum elements operate. For example, when the antenna array <NUM> includes the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the first number may be four, the second number may be two, and the third number may be one. The number of elements and classification levels are exemplary, and embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating first to fourth elements of an antenna array according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a diagram <NUM> illustrates that an antenna array <NUM> may have first and second surfaces opposing each other. The first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be disposed on and/or in the first surface of the antenna array <NUM>. The wireless communication circuit <NUM> may be disposed on the second surface of the antenna array <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication circuit <NUM> may perform substantially the same function as the third RFIC <NUM> of <FIG>. The wireless communication circuit <NUM> may be connected to the modem <NUM> included in the second communication processor <NUM> via an IFIC. The wireless communication circuit <NUM> may receive an IF signal from the modem <NUM> and convert the IF signal into an RF signal. The wireless communication circuit <NUM> may feed the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> through RF signals.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication circuit <NUM> may feed the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> through signals <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> that are polarized in a specified direction. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, one element <NUM> may be fed through the signals <NUM> and <NUM>, which are polarized in different directions. As another example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first antenna element 332a, 334a, 336a, or 338a that generates a signal polarized in a first direction D1 and the second antenna element 332b, 334b, 336b, or 338b that generates a signal polarized in a second direction D2 may be configured separately. The specified direction may include the first direction D1 and/or the second direction D2. For example, the signal <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> polarized in the first direction D1 may be an H-pol signal polarized in a horizontal direction, and the signal <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> polarized in the second direction D2 may be a V-pol signal polarized in a vertical direction.

In one embodiment, each of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may receive the H-pol signal polarized horizontally in the first direction D1, may receive the V-pol signal polarized vertically in the first direction D1, or may receive horizontal-vertical dual polarized signals in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. For example, the first element <NUM> may receive at least one of a first signal <NUM> and a second signal <NUM>. In the same manner, the second element <NUM> may receive at least one of a third signal <NUM> and a fourth signal <NUM>. In the same manner, the third element <NUM> may receive at least one of a fifth signal <NUM> and a sixth signal <NUM>. In the same manner, the fourth element <NUM> may receive at least one of a seventh signal <NUM> and an eighth signal <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a power backoff control method of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a flowchart <NUM> of a power backoff method is illustrated. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may determine whether a feed polarity of an antenna array is singular or plural. The processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether the feeding for the antenna array <NUM> is performed with a single polarity or a plurality of polarities. The processor <NUM> may determine whether a polarity of a signal applied to the antenna array <NUM> is of a single polarity such as horizontal polarization feeding or vertical polarization feeding or of a plurality of polarities such as horizontal-vertical dual polarization feeding. According to one embodiment, the processor <NUM> may identify feeding using a single polarity or feeding using a plurality of polarities using information (e.g., a beam identifier) of a beam used in the antenna array <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine whether feeding is performed in a single direction or in a plurality of directions using the intensity of a beam-formed beam, the form of the beam, and/or the polarization direction of the beam. As another example, the processor <NUM> may determine whether feeding is performed in a single direction or a plurality of directions by determining which of a plurality of terminals provided in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is fed or which all the plurality of terminals are fed with respect to each of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> constituting the antenna array <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may identify the magnitude of a first backoff value. The processor <NUM> may allow the modem <NUM> to identify the first backoff value. The power density (PD) of frequencies in a specific range may be used to represent an exposure intensity of electromagnetic waves. The power density may be defined as power per unit area. For example, the power density may generally be expressed in watts per square meter (W/m2), milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2), or microwatts per square centimeter (µW/cm2). The modem <NUM> may generate a power backoff event when a power density higher than a reference power density that satisfies criteria for the maximum permissible exposure value for electromagnetic waves and/or a specific absorption rate is generated in a case in which all of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> operate. The modem <NUM> may reduce feed power by the first backoff value when the power backoff event occurs.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may identify the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals. The processor <NUM> may identify the number of elements performing beamforming among the plurality of elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may identify the number of elements performing beamforming by analyzing the intensity, form, and/or phase of the beam. As another example, the processor <NUM> may identify the number of elements which are activated into an operation state based on a state of an established communication channel, a communication environment with a base station, and/or a power state of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, a first backoff value may belong to any one of a plurality of ranges according to whether a power backoff event is required for each of elements performing beamforming. For example, the first backoff value may belong to any one of three ranges based on a first threshold value and a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value. Specifically, when the first backoff value is less than or equal to the first threshold, the first backoff value may belong to a first range, when the first backoff value exceeds the first threshold value or less than the second threshold value, the first backoff value may belong to a second range, and when the first backoff value exceeds the second threshold value, the first backoff value may belong to a third range.

According to one embodiment, the first threshold value and the second threshold value may be values that are references based on which whether the power backoff event is required and is changed when the number of elements performing beamforming changes. For example, the first threshold value may be about <NUM> dB and the second threshold may be about <NUM> dB. In this case, when the first backoff value is <NUM> dB, the first backoff value may be in the first range, when the first back off value is <NUM> dB, the first backoff value may be in the second range, and when the first back off value is <NUM> dB, the first backoff value may be in the third range.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may set a second backoff value and perform a backoff operation. The processor <NUM> may generate a second backoff value by adjusting a first backoff value stored in the memory <NUM> based on the feed polarity of the antenna array <NUM> and the number of elements performing beamforming and perform power backoff according to the second backoff value. The second backoff value may be an amount of input power that is to be reduced to satisfy the reference power density when a power backoff event occurs. The second backoff value may have a magnitude by which the processor <NUM> reduces power transferred to the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> included in the antenna array <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, before setting the second backoff value, the first backoff value may be adjusted based on the number of polarities of signals transferred to the antenna array <NUM>. As the number of polarities of the signals transferred to the antenna array <NUM> decreases, the first backoff value may decrease. For example, the first backoff value may be reduced by about <NUM> dB when the antenna array <NUM> is subjected to horizontal-vertical dual feeding compared to a case when the antenna array <NUM> is fed with a single polarity. When the antenna array <NUM> is subjected to the horizontal-vertical dual feeding, the EIRP of the antenna array <NUM> may increase by about <NUM> dB compared to a case when the antenna array <NUM> is fed with a single polarity. Accordingly, in the case of horizontal-vertical dual feeding, the reference power density may increase by about <NUM> dB than in the case a case when the antenna array <NUM> is fed with a single polarity, and therefore, even though the first backoff value is reduced by <NUM> dB compared to the case when the antenna array <NUM> is fed with a single polarity, it is possible to satisfy the reference power density.

In one embodiment, the second backoff value may decrease as the number of elements performing beamforming decreases. For example, when the number of elements performing beamforming is reduced by half, the EIRP may decrease by about <NUM> dB in the patch array and by about <NUM> dB in the array antenna, resulting in reduction by about <NUM> dB. Accordingly, when the number of elements performing beamforming is reduced by half, power backoff may be performed with reduction by about <NUM> dB. When the number of elements performing beamforming is reduced by half, the second backoff value may be set to a value about <NUM> dB smaller than the first backoff value.

In one embodiment, the second backoff value may be set according to the number of elements performing beamforming and the range of the first backoff value. For example, when the number of elements performing beamforming is a first number, the second backoff value may be the same value as the first backoff value. This is because the first number is the number of elements when the first backoff value is set. As another example, in a case in which the first backoff value is in the first range, when the number of elements performing beamforming is a second number and a third number, the second backoff value may be set to zero. In this case, the power backoff operation may not be performed. As another example, in a case in which the first backoff value is the second range or the third range, when the number of elements performing beamforming is the second number, the second backoff value may be a value obtained by subtracting <NUM> dB from the first backoff value.

Referring to <FIG>, a flowchart <NUM> of another power backoff method is illustrated. In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may determine whether a backoff event occurs. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine a case of capable of setting or changing the backoff value when there occurs an event in which a human body is proximate to the electronic device <NUM> such as a user grips the electronic device <NUM>. As another example, the processor <NUM> may determine a case of capable of setting or changing the backoff value when there occurs an event in which a communication environment, a beamforming state, or a signal transmission and/or reception state of the electronic device <NUM> changes.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may identify the number of elements that transmit and/or receive a signal. The processor <NUM> may identify the number of elements performing beamforming among the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. One element <NUM> may include one patch antenna <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, or may include the dipole antenna 332a and the patch antenna 332b that generate signals having different polarities as shown in <FIG>. In addition, there may be a variety of antenna geometries to create horizontally and/or vertically polarized polarities.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may identify a polarity of a signal transferred to an element that transmits and/or receives a signal. The processor <NUM> may determine whether the polarity of the signal to be transferred is a single polarity or a plurality of polarities. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine whether the signal transferred to the element is a single horizontal polarity, a single vertical polarity, or a horizontal-vertical dual polarity.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may set a backoff power amount based on the number and the polarities of activated elements. The processor <NUM> may calculate a reduction amount of the first backoff value based on the number and polarities of the activated elements.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may determine a backoff power value and perform a power backoff operation according to the backoff power value.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> illustrating a power backoff control method of the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may detect whether a backoff operation event occurs. The processor <NUM> may detect whether a power backoff event has occurred. For example, the processor <NUM> may measure a power density of the electronic device <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may determine whether a backoff operation event has occurred. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine that a power backoff event has occurred when the proximity of a human body or a change in a communication state occurs as described above. The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when a power backoff event occurs (operation <NUM>-Yes). When the power backoff event occurs, the power backoff amount by which the first backoff value is adjusted may be changed according to the condition of an operation event. For example, the power backoff amount may vary depending on a condition such as a hot spot or a user's grip. When the power backoff event does not occur (operation <NUM>-No), the processor <NUM> may return to operation <NUM> while performing feeding with an original magnitude without performing the power backoff.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may determine whether the feed polarity of the antenna array is plural. The processor <NUM> may determine whether the feeding for the antenna array <NUM> is performed with a single polarity or a plurality of polarities. The processor <NUM> may determine whether the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> included in the antenna array <NUM> are fed in a single direction such as horizontal feeding or vertical feeding or is subjected to horizontal-vertical dual feeding. The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when at least one of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is subjected to horizontal-vertical dual feeding (operation <NUM>-Yes). The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when all of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are fed in a single direction (operation <NUM>-No).

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may again set a value obtained by subtracting a specified value from the first backoff value to the first backoff value. The processor <NUM> may reduce the first backoff value by a specified size. When the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are fed with horizontally-vertical dual feeding, the reference power density may increase by about <NUM> dB compared to a case in which feeding is performed in a single direction. The processor <NUM> and/or the second communication processor <NUM> may perform setting such that the first backoff value is reduced by about <NUM> dB when the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are fed with a horizontal-vertical dual feeding.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may determine whether the first backoff value is less than or equal to the first threshold value. The first backoff value may be a value for collectively reducing signals transferred when the number of elements operating when the power backoff event is performed is the maximum. The first threshold value may be a threshold value corresponding to a case in which it is not necessary to perform a power backoff operation when the second or third number of elements perform beamforming and it is necessary to perform a power backoff operation only when the first number of elements perform beamforming. For example, the first threshold value may be about <NUM> dB. The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when the first backoff value is less than or equal to the first threshold value (operation <NUM>-Yes). The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when the first backoff value exceeds the first threshold value (operation <NUM>-No).

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may determine whether the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is less than or equal to the first number. The processor <NUM> may identify the number of elements performing beamforming in consideration of the magnitude, form and/or phase of a beam, or in consideration of the feeding type of the first to fourth elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when the number of elements performing beamforming is a second number or a third number that is less than the first number (operation <NUM>-Yes). The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when the number of elements performing beamforming is the first number (operation <NUM>-No).

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may set the second backoff value to zero and may not perform a backoff operation. For example, when the number of elements performing beamforming is one or two, the processor <NUM> may not need to perform a power backoff operation because the power density does not exceed the reference power density. The processor <NUM> may perform feeding in a state in which an unnecessary power backoff operation is not performed.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may perform a backoff operation with the first backoff value. The processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to the same value as the first backoff value. When the number of elements performing beamforming is four, the processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to the same value as the first backoff value because the processor <NUM> has set the first backoff value based on the case in which the number of elements performing beamforming is four.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device according to an embodiment may determine whether the first backoff value is less than or equal to the second threshold value. The second threshold value may be a threshold value corresponding to a case in which it is necessary to perform a power backoff operation when the first or second number of elements perform beamforming and it is not necessary to perform a power backoff operation only when the third number of elements perform beamforming. For example, the second threshold value may be about <NUM> dB. The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when the first backoff value is less than or equal to the second threshold value (operation <NUM>-Yes). The processor <NUM> may proceed to operation <NUM> when the first backoff value exceeds the second threshold value (operation <NUM>-No).

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the backoff operation with the first backoff value and the second backoff value respectively when the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the first number and the second number, and may not perform the backoff operation when the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the third number. When the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the first number, the processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to the same value as the first backoff value which is set based on the first number to perform the backoff operation. When the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the second number, the processor <NUM> may perform a backoff operation with the second backoff value which is less than the first backoff value. For example, when the second number is half of the first number, the processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to a value about <NUM> dB less than the first backoff value and perform the backoff operation based on the second backoff value. When the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the third number, the processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to zero and perform feeding in a state in which the backoff operation is not performed.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may set the second backoff value according to the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals and perform a backoff operation. When the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the first number, the processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to the same value as the first backoff value which is set based on the first number to perform the backoff operation. When the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the second number, the processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to a value about <NUM> dB less than the first backoff value and then perform the backoff operation based on the second backoff value. When the number of elements that transmit and/or receive signals is the third number, the processor <NUM> may set the second backoff value to a value about <NUM> dB less than the first backoff value and then perform the backoff operation based on the second backoff value.

The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online via an application store (e.g., PlayStore<IMG>), or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
an antenna array (<NUM>) including a plurality of elements (<NUM> ~<NUM>) arranged to perform beamforming, wherein a first number corresponds to a total number of the plurality of elements;
a processor (<NUM>) operatively connected to the antenna array; and
a memory (<NUM>),
wherein the memory (<NUM>) stores instructions that, when executed by the processor (<NUM>), cause the electronic device (<NUM>) to:
identify a second number of the plurality of elements (<NUM> ~<NUM>) that are performing the beamforming, wherein the rest of the plurality of elements are not performing the beamforming, and the second number is less than the first number,
determine a second backoff value based on the second number, and
perform a power backoff operation according to the second backoff value.