Patent Description:
Electronic devices may transmit radio frequency (RF) signals through an antenna in order to communicate with other devices. Electromagnetic waves of RF signals transmitted through an antenna may have a harmful effect on the human body. In order to reduce the harmful effects of such electromagnetic waves, authorized organizations regulate a total exposure ratio (TER) value measured when an electronic device transmits an RF signal. Therefore, when an electronic device transmits an RF signal, the TER value regulation condition must be satisfied.

At this time, in order for the electronic device to satisfy the TER value regulation condition, transmit power of the RF signal must be reduced. Such a decrease in transmit power may cause a decrease in communication performance of the electronic device. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a method capable of satisfying TER value regulation conditions while minimizing a decrease in communication performance of an electronic device.

The inventive step provides a wireless device capable of providing optimal communication performance while satisfying total exposure ratio (TER) value regulation conditions.

According to an aspect of the inventive concept, a wireless device includes a transmitter including a plurality of antennas, and a communication processor configured to calculate a total exposure ratio (TER) value of each of the plurality of antennas. The communication processor includes an antenna index buffer configured to store a used antenna index, which is an index of one or more used antennas from among the plurality of antennas used in each window of a plurality of windows in a TER measurement interval, a used power buffer configured to store used power of an antenna corresponding to the used antenna index, and a controller configured to calculate the TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, and an influence matrix, wherein the influence matrix includes a plurality of influence coefficients R (i, j), each of which represents a degree of influence of exposure caused by a radio frequency (RF) signal transmission of an ith antenna on a jth antenna, and wherein i and j are integer numbers equal to a number of the plurality of antennas. In other words, i and j are integer numbers representing a number assigned to each of the plurality of antennas. If there are M antennas, i and j represent the numbers <NUM> to M assigned to each of the <NUM> to M antennas.

According to an embodiment of the inventive concept, a method of operating a wireless device, which includes a transmitter including a plurality of antennas, and a communication processor for calculating a total exposure ratio (TER) value of each of the plurality of antennas, includes, storing a used antenna index, which is an index of one or more used antennas from among the plurality of antennas used in each window of a plurality of windows in a TER measurement interval, storing used power of an antenna corresponding to the used antenna index, calculating the TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, and an influence matrix, wherein the influence matrix includes a plurality of influence coefficients R (i, j), each of which represents a degree of influence of exposure caused by an RF signal transmission of an ith antenna on a jth antenna, and wherein i and j are integer numbers equal to a number of the plurality of antennas, calculating transmit power limit of the one or more used antennas to be used in a setting target window after the TER measurement interval based on the TER value, and setting transmit power of the one or more used antennas based on the transmit power limit of the one or more used antennas.

According to an embodiment of the inventive concept, an wireless device includes a transmitter including a plurality of antennas, and a communication processor configured to calculate a total exposure ratio (TER) value of each of the plurality of antennas and set transmit power of one or more used antennas from among the plurality of antennas. The communication processor includes an antenna index buffer configured to store a used antenna index, which is an index of the one or more used antennas used in each window, a used power buffer configured to store used power of an antenna corresponding to the used antenna index, and a controller configured to calculate the TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, an influence matrix, and the number of the one or more used antennas, wherein the influence matrix includes a plurality of influence coefficients R (i, j), each of which represents a degree of influence of exposure caused by an RF signal transmission of an ith antenna on a jth antenna, and wherein i and j are integer numbers equal to a number of the plurality of antennas, calculate transmit power limit of the one or more used antenna to be used in a setting target window based on the TER value, and set transmit power of the one or more used antennas based on the transmit power limit of the one or more used antennas.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the inventive concept are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication system including an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the wireless communication system may include a base station <NUM> and an electronic device <NUM>. The base station <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> may communicate with each other through a downlink channel <NUM> and an uplink channel <NUM>.

The base station <NUM> may generally refer to a fixed station communicating with the electronic device <NUM> and other base stations and may exchange data and control information with other base stations by communicating with the electronic device <NUM> and other base stations. The base station <NUM> may also be referred to as a node B, an evolved-Node B (eNB), a base transceiver system (BTS), or an access point (AP).

The electronic device <NUM> is a device capable of performing wireless communication, may be fixed or mobile, and may be any one of various devices capable of transmitting and receiving data and control information to and from the base station <NUM> by communicating with the base station <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may also be referred to as terminal equipment, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), a user terminal (UT), a subscriber station (SS), a wireless device, a handheld device, or the like.

A wireless communication network between the base station <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> may support communication of a plurality of users by sharing available network resources. For example, in a wireless communication network, information may be delivered in various ways, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA).

The electronic device <NUM> includes a transmitter <NUM> and a communication processor <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> may transmit an RF signal to the base station <NUM> through the uplink channel <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> may receive an RF signal from the base station <NUM> through the downlink channel <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> includes a plurality of antennas. The transmitter <NUM> may transmit and receive an RF signal by using at least one of the plurality of antennas. The transmitter <NUM> may output transmit power to at least one antenna so that an RF signal is transmitted through the at least one antenna.

The communication processor <NUM> may adjust transmit power of the transmitter <NUM>. In other words, the communication processor <NUM> may adjust the transmit power of the transmitter <NUM> so that a desired RF signal is finally output through one or more antennas. In an embodiment, the communication processor <NUM> may directly adjust the transmit power of the transmitter <NUM>, and in another embodiment, the communication processor <NUM> may adjust the transmit power of the transmitter <NUM> through a separate power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The communication processor <NUM> may be implemented through a processor, a numeric processing unit (NPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or the like.

The communication processor <NUM> may set transmit limit power (i.e., transmit power limit) of the transmitter <NUM>. The communication processor <NUM> may control the transmitter <NUM> to transmit an RF signal with transmit power equal to or less than the transmit limit power.

Transmit power of the transmitter <NUM> may be adjusted by an uplink transmit power control (TPC) command transmitted from the base station <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM> through the downlink channel <NUM>. For example, in order to maintain a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) of an RF signal received from the electronic device <NUM> at a target level, the base station <NUM> may transmit the TPC command to the electronic device <NUM> based on an estimated SIR. The electronic device <NUM> may adjust transmit power of RF signals transmitted to the base station <NUM> through the uplink channel <NUM> based on the TPC command received through the communication processor <NUM>.

Transmit power of the transmitter <NUM> may be related to energy radiated from the electronic device <NUM>. In other words, strong electromagnetic waves may be generated in the electronic device <NUM> by RF signals generated with high transmit power, and the electromagnetic waves may have a harmful effect on users. A harmful effect of such electromagnetic waves on a user may be measured through a specific absorption rate (SAR) value or a power density (PD) value. In addition, the SAR value and the PD value measured when the electronic device transmits the RF signal may be limited through a regulation condition for a total exposure ratio (TER) value, and the TER value regulation condition may be as shown in Mathematical Formula <NUM> below.

In Mathematical Formula <NUM>, SARlimit may indicate a limit of the SAR value determined by an accredited institution, SARavr,n may indicate an average value of SAR values in a nth measurement interval, PDlimit may indicate a limit of PD values determined by the accredited institution, and PDavr,m may indicate an average value of PD values in an mth measurement interval.

The SAR value and the PD value may be calculated through commonly known formulas. In this case, the SAR value and the PD value may be proportional to the transmit power of the electronic device <NUM>. Because the TER value is calculated as the sum of the SAR value and the PD value, the TER value may be proportional to the transmit power of the electronic device <NUM>. Therefore, by increasing or decreasing the transmit power of the electronic device <NUM>, the TER value measured when the electronic device <NUM> transmits an RF signal may be increased or decreased.

In order to satisfy the TER value regulation condition as in the mathematical formula described above, the communication processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may calculate a TER value of each of a plurality of antennas and set power of one or more used antennas from among the plurality of antennas. In more detail, the communication processor <NUM> stores a used antenna index, which is an index of one or more used antennas from among a plurality of antennas used in each window, store used power of an antenna corresponding to the used antenna index, and calculate a TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, and an influence matrix. Furthermore, the communication processor <NUM> may calculate a transmit limiting power of one or more used antennas in a setting target window based on the TER value and set transmit power of the one or more used antennas based on the transmit limit power of the one or more used antennas.

A more detailed operation of the communication processor <NUM> is described below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing a TER measurement interval of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

<FIG> is a histogram graph showing a result of measuring used power over time may be identified. In the graph of <FIG>, the horizontal axis may represent time, the vertical axis may represent used power (i.e. power used), and each interval may correspond to one window.

A window may be a unit having a preset length of time, and for example, one window may have a length of time of <NUM> milliseconds. One window may be divided into N slots. A slot may represent a time unit for transmitting a plurality of communication symbols. In an embodiment, the communication processor <NUM> may measure transmit power of the transmitter <NUM> in units of slots and add the measured transmit power in units of slots to obtain transmit power in units of windows.

The TER measurement interval may mean a period in which a TER value is measured to determine whether a TER value regulation condition is satisfied. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the TER measurement interval may include M windows.

The TER measurement interval may be set based on a communication frequency band of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, when the communication frequency band of the electronic device <NUM> is less than <NUM>, the TER measurement interval may be <NUM> seconds and may include <NUM> windows. In addition, when the communication frequency band of the electronic device <NUM> is greater than or equal to about <NUM> and less than about <NUM>, the TER measurement interval may be <NUM> seconds and may include <NUM> windows. In addition, when the communication frequency band of the electronic device <NUM> is <NUM> or higher, the TER measurement interval may be <NUM> seconds and may include <NUM> windows.

In an embodiment, because a TER value is proportional to the transmit power of the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate the TER value during a TER measurement interval based on used power during the TER measurement interval. In addition, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power of a setting target window based on the calculated TER value and set transmit power of the setting target window based on the transmit limit power of the setting target window.

The setting target window is a window for which transmit power is to be set based on a TER value of a TER measurement interval, and may be a window immediately following windows included in the TER measurement interval. In the embodiment of <FIG>, when the TER measurement interval includes a total of M windows from a time point t = m to a time point t = m + M - <NUM>, the setting target window is the window at a time point t = m + M.

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

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include a transmitter <NUM> and a communication processor <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> may include a plurality of antennas <NUM>. The transmitter <NUM> may transmit and receive an RF signal by using at least one of the plurality of antennas <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of antennas <NUM> may transmit an RF signal to the base station <NUM> through the uplink channel <NUM>. Each of the plurality of antennas <NUM> may receive an RF signal from the base station <NUM> through the downlink channel <NUM>.

At least one of the plurality of antennas <NUM> may receive an input of transmit power from the transmitter <NUM> and transmit an RF signal by using the received transmit power.

An example of an arrangement of the plurality of antennas <NUM> within the electronic device <NUM> may be identified with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a plurality of antennas included in an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an example of the arrangement of the plurality of antennas <NUM> included in the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may be identified. <FIG> shows an embodiment in which a total of eight antennas are included in the electronic device. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the number and locations of the plurality of antennas <NUM> may be adjusted depending on the embodiment.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, a first antenna Ant1 may be located on the top side of the electronic device <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, a second antenna Ant2, a third antenna Ant3, and a sixth antenna Ant6 may be located on the left side of the electronic device <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, a fourth antenna Ant4, a fifth antenna Ant5, a seventh antenna Ant7, and an eighth antenna Ant8 may be located on the right side of the electronic device <NUM>.

At this time, the TER value regulation condition, such as Mathematical Formula <NUM>, must be satisfied for each of the antennas. When determining whether the TER value regulation condition is satisfied based on the first antenna Ant1, it is necessary to determine whether the TER value regulation condition is satisfied by considering both a TER value due to exposure caused by RF signal transmission of the first antenna Ant1 and a TER value considering a degree of influence of exposure caused by RF signal transmission of the second to eighth antennas Ant2 to Ant8. At this time, a degree of influence of exposure caused by RF signal transmission of an ith antenna Anti on a jth antenna Antj may be expressed by an influence coefficient, such as R(i, j) (where i and j are different natural numbers less than or equal to <NUM> and greater than <NUM>). For example, a degree of influence of exposure caused by RF signal transmission of the first antenna Ant1 on the second antenna Ant2 may be expressed by an influence coefficient, such as R(<NUM>, <NUM>).

At this time, a degree of influence of exposure caused by the RF signal transmission of the first antenna Ant1 on the second antenna Ant2 may be equal to a degree of influence of exposure caused by the RF signal transmission of the second antenna Ant2 on the first antenna Ant1. In other words, R(<NUM>, <NUM>) may have the same value as R(<NUM>, <NUM>). Accordingly, R(i, j) may be referred to as an influence coefficient between the ith antenna Anti and the jth antenna Antj.

Although in <FIG> some of the influence coefficients between the plurality of antennas <NUM> are indicated by using dashed arrows, this does not indicate all the influence coefficients and influence coefficients between the plurality of antennas not connected by the dashed arrows may be present. For example there may be a value for R(<NUM>,<NUM>) etc..

Returning to <FIG>, the communication processor <NUM> includes an antenna index buffer <NUM>, a used power buffer <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>.

The antenna index buffer <NUM> stores a used antenna index, which is an index of one or more used antennas from among a plurality of antennas <NUM> used in each window.

A used antenna may refer to an antenna used for transmitting an RF signal. The communication processor <NUM> may store a used antenna index corresponding to each window in the antenna index buffer <NUM>. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of antennas <NUM> may have a unique identifier to be distinguished from other antennas. Such a unique identifier may be referred to as an antenna index.

The used power buffer <NUM> stores used power of an antenna corresponding to the used antenna index. The communication processor <NUM> may store power consumed by the antenna corresponding to the used antenna index stored in the antenna index buffer <NUM>, in the used power buffer <NUM> as the used power. The used power may be obtained by receiving the transmit power of one or more used antennas in the previous window from the controller.

An example of the antenna index buffer <NUM> and the used power buffer <NUM> may be identified with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an antenna index buffer and a used power buffer according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, it may be identified that the used power buffer <NUM> is shown at the top and the antenna index buffer <NUM> is shown at the bottom.

In each region of the antenna index buffer <NUM>, a used antenna index of the corresponding window may be stored. For example, in a region indicated by AntIdx(m), a used antenna index of a window corresponding to a time point t = m may be stored, and in a region indicated by AntIdx(m+M-<NUM>), a used antenna index of a window corresponding to a time point t = m + M - <NUM> may be stored.

When there are a plurality of used antennas in a window of a specific time point, a plurality of used antenna indices may be respectively stored in a plurality of antenna index buffers.

In each region of the used power buffer <NUM>, used power of a used antenna in the corresponding window may be stored. For example, in a region marked Pused(m), used power of the used antenna in the window corresponding to a time point t = m may be stored, and in a region marked Pused(m+M-<NUM>), used power of the used antenna in the window corresponding to a time point t = m + M - <NUM> may be stored.

In this case, the used power stored in regions of the used power buffer <NUM> respectively correspond to the used antenna index stored in the antenna index buffer <NUM>. For example, used power of a used antenna corresponding to the used antenna index stored in an AntIdx(m) region of the antenna index buffer <NUM> may be stored in a Pused(m) region of the used power buffer <NUM>.

When there are a plurality of used antennas in a window of a specific time point, pieces of used power of the plurality of used antennas may be respectively stored in a plurality of used power buffers.

Returning to <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may control the overall operation of the communication processor <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> calculates a TER value based on a used antenna index, used power, and an influence matrix. At this time, the controller <NUM> may read a used antenna index stored in the antenna index buffer <NUM>, and read used power stored in the used power buffer <NUM>, and use the read power to calculate a TER value.

The influence matrix may be a matrix storing the influence coefficient described with reference to <FIG>. At this time, a degree of exposure caused by RF signal transmission of the ith antenna Anti on the jth antenna Antj is equal to a degree of exposure caused by RF signal transmission of the jth antenna Antj on the ith antenna Anti, and thus, the influence matrix may be a symmetric matrix. In some embodiments, diagonal elements of the influence matrix may be zero.

In an embodiment, the influence matrix may be calculated in advance based on at least one of a correlation between the plurality of antennas <NUM>, an electromagnetic wave emission direction of the plurality of antennas <NUM>, an electromagnetic wave emission amount of the plurality of antennas <NUM>, a state of the electronic device <NUM>, and a distance between the plurality of antennas <NUM>. The correlation between the plurality of antennas <NUM> may be a correlation coefficient indicating independence between the plurality of antennas <NUM>. For example, the smaller the correlation between the plurality of antennas <NUM>, the more independent the plurality of antennas <NUM> are of each other.

At this time, the state of the electronic device <NUM> may mean an influence by restrictions on the use of the plurality of antennas <NUM> due to other operations, used power of the electronic device <NUM>, and the like. For example, when the electronic device <NUM> performs another operation, such as using a camera, the use of a plurality of antennas <NUM> may be restricted. In another example, when the power consumption of the electronic device <NUM> increases as the electronic device <NUM> performs other operations, such as processing a large amount of calculations, the use of a plurality of antennas <NUM> may be restricted. When the use of a plurality of antennas <NUM> may be restricted as in the above-mentioned example, the state of the electronic device <NUM> may be such that one or more antennas among the plurality of antennas <NUM> are unusable. At this time, the correlation between the plurality of antennas <NUM>, the electromagnetic wave emission direction of the plurality of antennas <NUM>, the electromagnetic wave emission amount of the plurality of antennas <NUM>, and the distance between the plurality of antennas <NUM> may be determined at the time of manufacture and may not change, but the state of the electronic device <NUM> may continuously change according to an operation of the electronic device <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may store an influence matrix group including a plurality of influence matrices corresponding to states of the electronic device <NUM>. In this case, the controller <NUM> may select one influence matrix from the influence matrix group based on the state of the electronic device <NUM> and calculate a TER value based on the selected influence matrix.

In an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may calculate the TER value based on the ith antenna in the window corresponding to the time point t = m in the following order. First, the controller <NUM> may read a used antenna index of the window corresponding to the time point t = m from the antenna index buffer <NUM>. Second, the controller <NUM> may read used power of a used antenna of the window corresponding to the time point t = m from the used power buffer <NUM>. Third, the controller <NUM> may obtain an influence coefficient between the used antenna of the window corresponding to the time point t = m and the ith antenna in a convergence influence matrix. Finally, the controller <NUM> may calculate a TER value by using a value obtained by multiplying the used power read in the second step by the influence coefficient obtained in the third step.

In an embodiment, when the electronic device <NUM> performs communication using one communication network and a plurality of used antennas are used, the controller <NUM> may calculate a convergence influence matrix based on the plurality of used antennas and an influence matrix.

The communication network is a network for communication between the base station <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>, between base stations <NUM>, or between electronic devices <NUM>, and may be a network using <NUM> (or New Radio (NR)), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A), WiMAX, WiFi, CDMA, global system for mobile communications (GSM), a wireless local area network (WLAN), or any other wireless communication technology.

In other words, when the electronic device <NUM> performs communication through one communication network using two or more antennas from among a plurality of antennas, the controller <NUM> may calculate a convergence influence matrix.

The convergence influence matrix is a matrix generated by simplifying an influence matrix, and may represent a relationship between a plurality of used antennas. At this time, the convergence influence matrix may be calculated as shown in Mathematical Formula <NUM> below.

Here, Rconv(i, j) indicates a component (i.e., an element) of the convergence influence matrix, and i and j may correspond to indices of antennas in use. In addition, R(i, j), R(k, i), and R (k, j) may indicate influence coefficients that are elements of the influence matrix. For example, R (i, j) represents a degree of influence of exposure caused by an RF signal transmission of an ith antenna on a jth antenna, and i and j are integer numbers equal to or less than a number of the plurality of antennas <NUM>. R (k, i) represents a degree of influence of exposure caused by an RF signal transmission of a kth antenna on an ith antenna, and k is an integer number equal to or less than the number of the plurality of antennas <NUM>. R (k, j) represents a degree of influence of exposure caused by an RF signal transmission of the kth antenna on the jth antenna.

The controller <NUM> may calculate TER values of a plurality of used antennas based on the calculated convergence influence matrix. In this case, a method for the controller <NUM> to calculate a TER value of a plurality of used antennas based on a convergence influence matrix may be the same as a method of calculating TER values of a plurality of used antennas based on an influence matrix.

In an embodiment, when the electronic device <NUM> performs communication using a plurality of communication networks and a plurality of antennas are used, the controller <NUM> may calculate a convergence influence matrix based on the plurality of used antennas and the influence matrix. In addition, the controller <NUM> may adjust the convergence influence matrix based on an antenna coefficient of each of the plurality of used antennas. The antenna coefficient may be a coefficient that indicates a degree of influence of exposure caused by RF signal transmission of one of the plurality of used antennas on the other plurality of used antennas. The controller <NUM> may increase values of components (i.e., elements) of the convergence influence matrix based on the antenna coefficient of each of the plurality of used antennas. For example, when the antenna coefficient of a specific used antenna is more than a preset reference value (e.g., <NUM>), the controller <NUM> may increase values of components of the convergence influence matrix associated with the specific used antenna.

The controller <NUM> may calculate TER values of a plurality of used antennas based on the adjusted convergence influence matrix. In this case, a method for the controller <NUM> to calculate a TER value of the plurality of used antennas based on the adjusted convergence influence matrix may be the same as a method of calculating TER values of the plurality of used antennas based on the influence matrix.

The controller <NUM> may calculate TER values of the plurality of used antennas, and then calculate transmit limit power of one or more used antennas in a setting target window based on the TER values.

In more detail, the controller <NUM> may calculate a residual TER value indicating how much less than the TER value is used during a TER measurement interval based on the calculated TER value. The controller <NUM> may calculate an available TER value, which is a limit of TER values usable in a setting target window, based on the residual TER value. The controller <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power of the used antenna based on the available TER value.

In this case, when the electronic device <NUM> has a plurality of used antennas, the controller <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power of the plurality of used antennas in the setting target window based on TER values of the plurality of used antennas. In other words, when there are a plurality of used antennas, the controller <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power of each of the plurality of used antennas.

In an embodiment, when the electronic device <NUM> performs communication using one communication network and has only one used antenna, the controller <NUM> may compare the transmit limit power of the used antenna to maximum required power for transmitting an RF signal in the setting target window. When the transmit limit power of the used antenna is less than the maximum required power in the setting target window, the controller <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power of an unused antenna from among the plurality of antennas. Furthermore, the controller <NUM> may determine a change of the used antenna based on the transmit limit power of the unused antenna and maximum required power (i.e., may determine whether to replace the used antenna with the unused antenna based on the transmit limit power of the unused antenna and maximum required power).

The controller <NUM> may change the unused antenna to a used antenna (i.e., may set the unused antenna as a new used antenna to be used in the setting target window) when the transmit limit power of the unused antenna is equal to or greater than the maximum required power. Conversely, when the transmission limit power of the unused antenna is less than the maximum required power, the used antenna may not be changed (i.e., may be kept for use in the setting target window).

In this way, in a case in which the electronic device <NUM> performs communication using one communication network and has one used antenna, when an RF signal cannot be transmitted with the maximum required power and communication quality deteriorates, the electronic device <NUM> may change the used antenna to improve communication quality, when the signal may be transmitted with the maximum transmit power.

The controller <NUM> may set transmit power of one or more used antennas based on transmit limit power of the one or more used antennas.

In this case, when the electronic device <NUM> has a plurality of used antennas, the controller <NUM> may set transmit power of the plurality of used antennas based on transmit limit power of the plurality of used antennas. In other words, when there are a plurality of used antennas, the controller <NUM> may calculate transmit power of each of the plurality of used antennas.

When the electronic device <NUM> according to the inventive concept as described above is used, by calculating a TER value based on a used antenna index, used power, and an influence matrix, optimal communication performance may be secured while satisfying the TER value regulation condition.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of operating an electronic device, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S610, the electronic device <NUM> may store a used antenna index in the antenna index buffer <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may store, in the antenna index buffer <NUM>, used antenna indices of a plurality of windows included in a TER measurement interval.

In operation S620, the electronic device <NUM> may store used power in the used power buffer <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may store, in the used power buffer <NUM>, used power of used antennas of a plurality of windows included in the TER measurement interval. At this time, the used power stored in the used power buffer <NUM> may correspond to the used antenna index stored in the antenna index buffer <NUM>.

In operation S630, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate a TER value. The electronic device <NUM> calculates the TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, and an influence matrix. A detailed method of calculating the TER value by the electronic device <NUM> may be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of calculating a TER value by an electronic device, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S710, the electronic device <NUM> may select an influence matrix. The electronic device <NUM> may select one influence matrix from an influence matrix group based on a state of the electronic device <NUM> through the controller <NUM>.

In operation S720, the electronic device may determine whether there are a plurality of used antennas. At this time, when there is only one used antenna, the process may proceed directly to operation S760.

When there are a plurality of used antennas, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate a convergence influence matrix, in operation S730.

In operation S740, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether a plurality of communication networks are in use. At this time, when there is only one communication network in use, the method may proceed directly to operation S760.

When a plurality of communication networks are in use, the electronic device <NUM> may adjust the convergence influence matrix, in operation S750.

In operation S760, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate a TER value.

At this time, when the method proceeds from operation S720 to operation S760, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate the TER value based on a used antenna index, used power, and the influence matrix through the controller <NUM>. In addition, when the method proceeds from operation S740 to operation S760, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate the TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, and the convergence influence matrix through the controller <NUM>. Finally, when the method proceeds from operation S750 to operation S760, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate the TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, and the adjusted convergence influence matrix through the controller <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, in operation S640, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power. The electronic device <NUM> may calculate a residual TER value based on the TER value calculated through the controller <NUM>, calculate an available TER value based on the residual TER value, and calculate a transmit limit power of a used antenna based on the available TER value.

In operation S650, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate transmit power. The electronic device <NUM> may calculate the transmit power based on the transmit limit power calculated through the controller <NUM>.

When the method of operating the electronic device <NUM>, according to the inventive concept as described above, is used by calculating a TER value based on a used antenna index, used power, and an influence matrix, optimal communication performance may be secured while satisfying the TER value regulation condition.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of operating an electronic device communicating using one communication network and one used antenna, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a flowchart of an embodiment that may be selectively applied after calculating the transmit limit power of the used antenna, in operation S640 of <FIG>, may be identified.

In operation S810, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether there is one communication network in use.

When there are a plurality of communication networks in use, the electronic device <NUM> may terminate the operation thereof without proceeding with a subsequent operation related to changing a used antenna.

When there is one communication network in use, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether there is one used antenna, in operation S820.

When the number of used antennas is plural, the electronic device <NUM> may terminate the operation thereof without proceeding with a subsequent operation related to changing a used antenna.

When there is one used antenna, in operation S830, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether the transmit limit power of the used antenna is less than the maximum required power.

When the transmit limit power of the used antenna is greater than or equal to the maximum required power, the RF signal may be transmitted with the highest communication quality even without changing the used antenna, and thus, the operation may be terminated without proceeding with an additional operation.

When the transmit limit power of the used antenna is less than the maximum required power, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power of an unused antenna, in operation S840.

In operation S850, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether to change the used antenna. A method for the electronic device <NUM> to determine whether to change the used antenna through the controller <NUM> may be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of determining, when an electronic device performs communication using one communication network and has one used antenna, whether to change the used antenna, according to an embodiment, and a method of setting transmit power accordingly.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S910, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether transmit limit power of an unused antenna is greater than or equal to maximum required power.

When the transmit limit power of the unused antenna is greater than or equal to the maximum required power, the electronic device <NUM> may change the unused antenna to a used antenna, in operation S920. In addition, in operation S930, the electronic device <NUM> may set transmit power based on the maximum required power. In this way, because an antenna newly set as a used antenna may transmit an RF signal by using the maximum required power, the electronic device <NUM> may determine to change the used antenna and set transmit power based on the maximum required power, thereby improving communication quality.

Conversely, when the transmit limit power of the unused antenna is less than the maximum required power, the electronic device <NUM> may determine not to change the used antenna (i.e., may keep the used antenna for use in the setting target window), in operation S940. In addition, in operation S950, the electronic device <NUM> may set transmit power based on the transmit limit power. In other words, because the electronic device <NUM> needs to transmit an RF signal by using an existing antenna, transmit power may be set based on the transmit limit power of the existing antenna.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a transmit limit power calculation method and a transmit power setting method when an electronic device has a plurality of used antenna, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S1010, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether there are a plurality of used antennas.

When there is one used antenna, transmit limit power may be calculated in the same manner as described above and transmit power may be set.

When there are a plurality of used antennas, in operation S1020, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate transmit limit power of the plurality of used antennas in a setting target window based on TER values of the plurality of used antennas. In other words, when there are a plurality of used antennas, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate all transmit limit power of each of the plurality of used antennas through the controller <NUM>.

Next, in operation S1030, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate transmit power of the plurality of used antennas based on the transmit limit power of the plurality of used antennas. In other words, when there are a plurality of used antennas, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate transmit power of each of the plurality of used antennas through the controller <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of wireless communication equipment according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, wireless communication equipment <NUM> may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) <NUM>, an application specific instruction set processor (ASIP) <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a main processor <NUM>, and a main memory <NUM>. Two or more of the ASIC <NUM>, the ASIP <NUM>, and the main processor <NUM> may communicate with each other. In addition, at least two of the ASIC <NUM>, the ASIP <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the main processor <NUM>, and the main memory <NUM> may be embedded in one chip.

The ASIC <NUM> is an integrated circuit customized for a specific purpose, and may include, for example, a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), a modulator, a demodulator, and the like. The ASIP <NUM> may support a dedicated instruction set for a specific application and may execute instructions included in the instruction set. The memory <NUM> may communicate with the ASIP <NUM> and may store, as a non-temporary storage device, a plurality of instructions to be executed by the ASIP <NUM>. For example, the memory <NUM> may include any type of memory accessible by the ASIP <NUM>, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tape, magnetic disks, optical disks, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a combination thereof.

The main processor <NUM> may control a wireless communication equipment <NUM> by executing a plurality of instructions. For example, the main processor <NUM> may control the ASIC <NUM> and the ASIP <NUM>, may process data received through a wireless communication network, or may process a user's input to the wireless communication equipment <NUM>. The main memory <NUM> may communicate with the main processor <NUM> and may store a plurality of instructions executed by the main processor <NUM> as a non-temporary storage device. For example, the main memory <NUM> may include any type of memory accessible by the main processor <NUM>, such as RAM, ROM, tape, magnetic disks, optical disks, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a combination thereof.

The operation of configuring the elements of the electronic device <NUM> or the operating method of the electronic device <NUM>, according to the embodiment described above, may be included in at least one of the elements included in the wireless communication equipment <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> or at least one of the operations of the method of operating the electronic device <NUM> described above may be implemented as a plurality of instructions stored in the memory <NUM>, and the ASIP <NUM> may execute an operation or the at least one operation of the electronic device <NUM> by executing the plurality of instructions stored in the memory <NUM>. As another example, the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> or at least one of the operations of the method of operating the electronic device <NUM> described above may be implemented as a hardware block and included in the ASIC <NUM>. As another example, the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> or at least one of the method of operating the electronic device <NUM> may be implemented as a plurality of instructions stored in the main memory <NUM>, and the main processor <NUM> may perform the electronic device <NUM> or the at least one operation of the method of operating the electronic device <NUM> described above, by executing the plurality of instructions stored in the main memory <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A wireless device comprising:
a transmitter including a plurality of antennas; and
a communication processor configured to calculate a total exposure ratio (TER) value of each of the plurality of antennas,
wherein the communication processor includes:
an antenna index buffer configured to store a used antenna index, which is an index of one or more used antennas from among the plurality of antennas used in each window of a plurality of windows in a TER measurement interval;
a used power buffer configured to store used power of an antenna corresponding to the used antenna index; and
a controller configured to calculate the TER value based on the used antenna index, the used power, and an influence matrix, wherein the influence matrix includes a plurality of influence coefficients R (i, j), each of which represents a degree of influence of exposure caused by a radio frequency (RF) signal transmission of an ith antenna on a jth antenna, and wherein i and j are integer numbers equal to a number of the plurality of antennas.