Patent Description:
In an ideal world, a device always receives a strong, constant signal. To this point in time the strength of a wireless signal is typically always changing, and the ideal world for a device can only be found in "free space", where the device is suspended in air without movement and without any physical interaction with a human being. Since actual use of a device typically requires physical interaction between the user and the device the ideal free space condition only exists at fabrication facilities and testing facilities. Once in operation and in the hands of the user, the device will experience changes in the signal environment, for example the so-called head/hand effect, caused by the proximity of the user to the device.

The head/hand effect refers to the change in the electrical characteristics of the antenna of the device, typically caused by capacitive loading of the antenna due to the proximity of the user's human tissue. In free space there is no user, but in practical usage there is almost always a user. The moment the user physically interacts with the device or comes close to the device, the electrical characteristics of the antenna change. Hence, the antenna of the device, once in operation, rarely operates with the ideal electrical characteristics that are achieved and measured during production, by means of calibration, typically performed in free space.

When the electrical characteristics of the antenna change due to environmental or head/hand effects, the antenna's ability to properly transmit/receive a wireless signal can be severely impacted, which can lead to dropped connections, missed calls, messages not sending/receiving, and disruptions of data traffic and internet operation. This performance degradation is due both to changes in the antenna's radiated performance as well as changes to the impedance the antenna presents to the transmit/receive signal paths in the device.

Therefore, there is a strong need to maintain the antenna's radiation and impedance characteristics during operation, and compensate for any changes thereof caused by interaction with the user and/or changes in the environment.

<CIT> describes methods for generating a look-up table relating a plurality of complex reflection coefficients to a plurality of matched states for a tunable matching network. Typical steps include measuring a plurality of complex reflection coefficients resulting from a plurality of impedance loads while the tunable matching network is in a predetermined state, determining a plurality of matched states for the plurality of impedance loads, with a matched state determined for each of the plurality of impedance loads and providing the determined matched states as a look-up table. A further step is interpolating the measured complex reflection coefficients and the determined matching states into a set of complex reflection coefficients with predetermined step sizes.

<CIT> describes a method, transceiver integrated circuit (IC), and communications device for generating antenna tuning states derived from a pre-established trajectory of tuning states to adjust a detected signal level towards a preset, given value. A tuning state generation (TSG) controller determines whether a detected signal level matches a given value. If the detected signal level does not match the given value, the TSG controller selects an initial preset tuning state from a pre-established trajectory corresponding to a pre-identified operating condition that best matches a current operating condition. The TSG logic forwards the initial preset tuning state to the antenna tuner to trigger impedance transformation. Following generation of the initial preset tuning state, the controller receives an updated detected signal level. If the updated detected signal level fails to match the given value, the controller generates an incremental tuning state that is interpolated between the initial and a final preset tuning states.

The present invention provides methods as set out in the attached claims.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

The present disclosure generally relates to any device capable of wireless communication, such as a mobile telephone or wearable device, having one or more antennas. After measuring reflection coefficients at three different DVC states, the reflection coefficient for all other DVC states can be calculated. Thus, based solely upon three measurements, the antenna can be tuned to adjust for any changes in impedance at the antenna.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a device <NUM> in free space, where the device has one or more antennas. The device <NUM> has at least one antenna <NUM> that may be external to the device body. It is to be understood that the antenna <NUM> is not limited to being external. Rather, the antenna <NUM> may be disposed inside the device body. The device <NUM> may be used to send/receive emails, voice calls, text messages, and data such as internet webpages and apps through any wireless connection, such as but not limited to a cellular service that utilizes the various frequency bands allocated for <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> LTE (long term evolution), etc, and/or WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC to name a few other wireless connection types. As shown in <FIG>, the device <NUM> is in free space where no other objects, such as a human being, is disposed at a location to interfere with the device <NUM> operation. As the human being interacts with the device <NUM>, however, the head/hand effect appears and the electrical characteristics of the antenna <NUM> changes.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a device <NUM> with a hand <NUM> nearby. Hand <NUM> exemplifies one of many possible forms of environmental interactions device <NUM> is exposed to during operation, which can have an effect on the electrical characteristics of the antenna <NUM>. As the hand <NUM> moves closer to the device <NUM> as shown by arrow "A", the electrical environment of the antenna <NUM> changes. Specifically, the hand <NUM> typically adds a capacitive load that shifts the resonant frequency of the antenna <NUM>, but the electrical characteristics can change in other ways such as a reduction in the capacitive load or changes in the antenna's inductive load. A similar effect occurs when the device <NUM> nears the user's head (not shown), is placed on a physical object or in proximity to moving objects, all of which can disturb the electrical characteristics of the antenna <NUM>. As the hand <NUM> moves away from the device <NUM> as shown by arrow "B", the electrical characteristics of the antenna <NUM> change yet again. Specifically, the removal of the hand typically removes a capacitive load that again shifts the resonant frequency of the antenna <NUM>, but other changes in the reactive loading of the antenna are also possible. In actuality, moving the hand <NUM> away from the device <NUM> returns the electrical characteristics of the antenna <NUM> back close to the original condition, where the resonant frequency returns to the state that existed prior to the disturbance of its electrical characteristics. Depending on the specifics of the environment and its changes, and the user's head/hand interaction with device <NUM> during operation, the changes in the electrical environment of device <NUM> can represent a change in the inductance of antenna <NUM>, although the majority of cases the changes will result in a change in capacitance. <FIG> is a schematic illustration of a device <NUM>, in this example a cellular telephone, with a DVC <NUM> and antenna <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) based DVC <NUM>, according to one embodiment. The MEMS DVC includes a plurality of cavities <NUM> that each have an RF electrode <NUM> that is coupled to a common RF bump <NUM>. Each cavity has one or more pull-in or pull-down electrodes <NUM> and one or more ground electrodes <NUM>. A switching element <NUM> moves from a position far away from the RF electrode <NUM> and a position close to the RF electrode <NUM> to change the capacitance in the MEMS DVC <NUM>. The MEMS DVC <NUM> has numerous switching elements <NUM> and therefore has a large variable capacitance range that can be applied/removed from the antenna aperture in order to maintain a constant resonant frequency and compensate for changes in the electrical characteristics of an antenna that is under the influence of environmental changes or head/hand effect. The MEMS DVC <NUM> is, in essence, a collection of multiple individually controlled MEMS elements.

<FIG> are schematic cross-sectional illustrations of a single MEMS element <NUM> that can create the plurality of switching elements <NUM> in the plurality of cavities <NUM> in MEMS DVC <NUM>, according to one embodiment. The MEMS element <NUM> includes an RF electrode <NUM>, pull-down electrodes <NUM>, a pull-up electrode <NUM>, a first dielectric layer <NUM> overlying the RF electrode <NUM> and pull-down electrode <NUM>, a second dielectric layer <NUM> overlying the pull-up electrode <NUM>, and a switching element <NUM> that is movable between the first dielectric layer <NUM> and the second dielectric layer <NUM>. The switching element <NUM> is coupled to grounding electrodes <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the MEMS element <NUM> is in the maximum capacitance position when the switching device <NUM> is closest to the RF electrode <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the MEMS element <NUM> is in the minimum capacitance position when the switching device <NUM> is furthest away from the RF electrode <NUM>. Thus MEMS element <NUM> creates a variable capacitor with two different capacitance stages, and integrating a plurality of such MEMS element <NUM> into a single MEMS DVC <NUM> is able to create a DVC with great granularity and capacitance range to effect the reactive aperture tuning that is required to maintain a constant resonant frequency, and compensate for changes in the electrical characteristics of an antenna that is under the influence of environmental changes or head/hand effect.

By adjusting the capacitance of an individual MEMS element <NUM>, the capacitance of the DVC <NUM> can be changed which, hence, leads to changing the capacitance of the device <NUM> to tune the antenna <NUM>. For a given antenna, only complex measurements (i.e., magnitude and phase) of the reflection coefficient at three different DVC states are needed to obtain a model. The measured antenna reflection coefficient is a complex number: <MAT>.

By microwave circuit theory, we have: <MAT> <MAT>.

There are three unknown variables in Equation <NUM>: e00, e11 and e12 (i.e., e12 = e00e11 - e01e10). Complex measurements are needed to solve the equations for the reflection coefficients of the three DVC states. The reflection coefficients are: <MAT> <MAT> <MAT>.

Equations <NUM>-<NUM> solve as follows: <MAT> <MAT> <MAT>.

The solution of Equations <NUM>-<NUM> are: <MAT> <MAT><MAT>.

The denominators for Equations <NUM>-<NUM> are the same which can reduce the calculation cost. For all other DVC states, the calculation is: <MAT> <MAT> <MAT>.

Consider the situation where there are <NUM> states of tunable PIFA with 417R, <NUM> to <NUM> are measured. Assuming C_DVC = C0 + n*C_step, states <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be used for the calculation. Using a datasheet value, C0=<NUM> pF, C_step = <NUM> fF, C16 = C0 + 37fF*<NUM> and C31 = C0 + <NUM> fF *<NUM>. The other <NUM> states measurements can be used to verify the modelling method.

<FIG> show that the measurements and modeling match very well. To extrapolate the data, the calculation assumes a perfectly linear DVC. The extrapolation shows some noise at the resonant frequency, which is easy to identify (See <FIG>).

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> illustrating a process for tuning an antenna with only three data points. The principle of the tuning is to measure three DVC states that are as separated as possible. Then, calculate reflection coefficients of any other DVC states. The first DVC state is picked by the free space antenna measurement. The second DVC state is only one step away from the first DVC state so as to avoid any unexpected over jumps. It is to be understood that the tuning step size is variable and not limited to only one step. Rather, a small step size is preferable, and a single step size is simply one example. If a slope look-up table is available, then the third DVC state is from a look-up table based on the two reflection coefficient measurements. The third DVC state should base far away from the first DVC state as possible. If there is no look-up table available, then the third DVC state to measure is only one step away from the second DVC state. It is to be understood that the tuning step size is variable and not limited to only one step. Rather, a small step size is preferable, and a single step size is simply one example.

The tuning algorithm starts at block <NUM> where the initial or first DVC state, S0, and the initial reflection coefficient, RC0, are measured and stored. Thereafter, at block <NUM>, a determination is made as to whether head/hand loading or head/hand releasing over time has been detected.

If there is no loading or release detected, at block <NUM> the second DVC state, S1 is measured as is the second reflection coefficient RC1. The second DVC state S1 is one step away from the first DVC state S0. Specifically, the second DVC state S1 is one step below the first DVC state S0. In other words, S1 = S0-<NUM>. Next, in block <NUM>, a determination is made as to whether a slope look-up table is present.

If there is no slope look-up table available, then at block <NUM>, the magnitude of the second reflection coefficient RC1 is compared to the magnitude of the first reflection coefficient RC0. If the magnitude of RC1 is lower than the magnitude of RC0, then the DVC capacitance measured state is reduced another step to S2, which equals S0-<NUM> in block <NUM>. If, however, the magnitude of RC1 is higher than the magnitude of RC0, then the DVC capacitance measured state is increased a step from S0 to S2, which equals S0+<NUM> in block <NUM>. Thereafter, the reflection coefficients RCx for all unmeasured DVC states Sx are calculated in block <NUM> and the optimized DVC state is chosen for tuning the antenna in block <NUM>.

If there is a slope look-up table at block <NUM>, then the slope look-up table is consulted to obtain the third DVC state S2 that is to be measured in block <NUM>. Thereafter, the third DVC state S2 is measured in block <NUM>, the reflection coefficients RCx for all unmeasured DVC states Sx are calculated in block <NUM> and the optimized DVC state is chosen for tuning the antenna in block <NUM>.

Looking back at block <NUM>, if there is a loading or releasing detected, then a determination is made in block <NUM> of whether in fact loading or releasing is detected. If a release is loading is detected, then the DVC measured state is reduced to the second DVC state S1, which equals S0-<NUM> at block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, a determination is made as to whether a slope look-up table is available.

If there is no slope look-up table available at block <NUM>, the DVC measured state is reduced another step to S2, which equals S0-<NUM> in block <NUM>. Thereafter, the reflection coefficients RCx for all unmeasured DVC states Sx are calculated in block <NUM> and the optimized DVC state is chosen for tuning the antenna in block <NUM>.

If a release is loading is detected at block <NUM>, then the DVC measured state is increased to the second DVC state S1, which equals S0+<NUM> at block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, a determination is made as to whether a slope look-up table is available.

If there is no slope look-up table available at block <NUM>, the DVC measured state is increased another step to S2, which equals S0+<NUM> in block <NUM>. Thereafter, the reflection coefficients RCx for all unmeasured DVC states Sx are calculated in block <NUM> and the optimized DVC state is chosen for tuning the antenna in block <NUM>.

The tuning algorithm accuracy discussed in regards to <FIG> improves if the data points are taken at widely spaced capacitance intervals. However, a large change in capacitance can detune the antenna to a point where the communication between the device, such as a cellular telephone, and network is disrupted. The slope look-up table is used to maximize the capacitance interval between S1 and S2 without disrupting communication between device and network. The slope look-up table is also used to determine if an increase or decrease capacitance is needed to improve overall system performance.

The value of the slope between S0 and S1 indicates if the reflection coefficient is changing slowly or quickly as a function of capacitance. A large slope indicates a large change in reflection coefficient with capacitance, which in turn indicates only a small change in capacitance can be made for the next step, S2, to avoid communication problems. If the slope is small, then a larger change in capacitance can be made between S1 and S2 with limited risk of disrupting the communication channel. In addition, the sign of the slope, either positive or negative, indicates if an increase or decrease in capacitance is needed to improve antenna performance. Typically, the presence of the user's hand and head in contact with or near the device will add capacitive loading to the antenna. Reducing the capacitance state will improve the overall performance by adjusting the antenna system resonant frequency closer to the frequency of interest.

The slope look-up table is determined during the phone design stage and is dependent on the antenna design for a particular device model, such as a phone model. Once the slope look-up table is determined, the slope look-up table remains the same for all devices, such as cellular telephones, of the same model and does not need to be recalibrated for each individual phone. By using the three data points, the antenna can be accurately and easily tuned in situ.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a device for wireless communication for compensating changes in an environment of an antenna, the method comprising:
measuring the reflection coefficient of the device at a first digital variable capacitor, DVC, capacitance state (<NUM>), wherein the device comprises one or more antennas and a micro electro mechanical system, MEMS, based DVC;
measuring the reflection coefficient of the device at a second DVC capacitance state (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
changing the second DVC capacitance state (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to a third DVC capacitance state (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
measuring the reflection coefficient of the device at the third DVC capacitance state (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
calculating reflection coefficients for all unmeasured DVC capacitance states (<NUM>) based on the measured reflection coefficients of the first, second, and third DVC capacitance states; and
selecting an operating DVC capacitance state (<NUM>) based on impedance changes at the one or more antennas.