System and method of controlling transmit power for mobile wireless devices with multi-mode operation of antenna

Abstract

A radio control system in a communication device is disclosed, the radio control system comprising: (a) a sensor capable of detecting a change in use mode of said device; (b) a power controller connected to said sensor to determine a power configuration based on the use mode; and (c) a power regulator connected to said power controller to apply the power configuration to a transmitted signal. A method of controlling a power configuration in a communication device is disclosed, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a use mode; (b) changing the power configuration as a function of the use mode; and (c) communicating at the changed power configuration. A radio control system in a communication device is disclosed, comprising: (a) a sensor capable of detecting a change in use mode of said device; (b) a radio controller connected to said sensor to determine a radio configuration based on the use mode; and (c) a radio configuration module connected to said radio controller to apply the radio configuration to the transmitted signal.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a wireless communication device configured to automatically adjust the power level of its output signal based on whether the wireless telephone is in speakerphone mode.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the power level is adjusted during a call. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the power level is adjusted by setting a maximum output power level. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the power level is adjusted by setting a minimum transmit power level. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication device is further configured to adjust a transmission rate in conjunction with adjusting the power level of the output signal. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication device is further configured to adjust an antenna radiating pattern in conjunction with adjusting the power level of the output signal. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication device is further configured to adjust an antenna gains in conjunction with adjusting the power level of the output signal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication device is further configured to adjust signal encoding in conjunction with adjusting the power level of the output signal. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication device is further configured to adjust a modulation method in conjunction with adjusting the power level of the output signal. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communication device is further configured to adjust a power control attribute in conjunction with adjusting the power level of the output signal. 
     
     
         12 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect, during a call conducted through the communication device, that the communication device has entered a speakerphone mode during the call; and   a power controller configured to:
 use a first transmit power setting upon initiation of the call, and 
 automatically switch, during the call, to a second transmit power setting, different than the first transmit power setting, in response to the sensor detecting that the communication device has entered the speakerphone mode. 
   
     
     
         13 . The communication device of  claim 12  wherein the first transmit power setting is lower than the second transmit power setting. 
     
     
         14 . The communication device of  claim 12  wherein the first transmit power setting is selected to be within a predetermined transmit power limit for when the wireless communication device is near the user's head. 
     
     
         15 . The communication device of  claim 14  wherein the second transmit power setting is above the predetermined transmit power limit. 
     
     
         16 . The communication device of  claim 12  wherein the sensor and the power controller are parts of a cellular telephone.