# US 11,114,749 B2 · Communication apparatus and method, antenna apparatus, and communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,114,749 B2 - Document ID: US11114749B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/072,727 - Filed: 2017-01-27 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-10 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Osamu Kozakai; Takaaki Hashiguchi; Hiroyuki Mita; Yusuke Yoneyama; Seiji Kobayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114749B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/273: {Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals} - G01R 33/07: Hall effect devices - H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)} - H01Q 1/50: Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors - H01Q 5/378: Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements - H03H 7/38: Impedance-matching networks - H04B 1/0458: {Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages (matching circuits in general H03H)} - H04B 1/18: Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) - H04B 1/3827: Portable transceivers - H04B 1/385: {Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H03H: IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS; RESONATORS (waveguides, resonators, lines or other devices of the waveguide type H01P) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A communication apparatus and method, an antenna apparatus, and a communication system that prevent reduced communication characteristics are disclosed. In one example, a coupled antenna element positioned in the vicinity of a communication apparatus is detected, adaptation of impedance is controlled on the basis of the detection result, and wireless communication is performed via the coupled antenna element with the adapted impedance. In addition, an antenna element is excited by a wireless signal from a communication apparatus positioned in the vicinity of the antenna element, and this communication apparatus is notified of being positioned in the vicinity of this antenna element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication apparatus that performs wireless communication via an antenna element, the communication apparatus comprising: detection circuitry configured to detect a coupled antenna element positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus; a controller configured to control adaptation of impedance on the basis of a detection result of the coupled antenna element by the detection circuitry; adaptation circuitry configured to adapt the impedance on the basis of control of the controller; and communication circuitry configured to perform wireless communication via the antenna element whose impedance has been adapted by the adaptation circuitry, wherein the detection circuitry includes a surrounding environment sensor separate from the antenna element, the surrounding environment sensor being configured to wirelessly determine that the coupled antenna element is positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus when a change in a wireless parameter of an environment around the communication apparatus is detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller: controls adaptation of the impedance so as to match impedance of the antenna element of the communication apparatus with impedance of the communication circuitry in a case where the detection circuitry does not detect the coupled antenna element positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus; and controls adaptation of impedance so as to match impedance of the antenna element of the communication apparatus and the coupled antenna element with impedance of the communication circuitry in a case where the detection circuitry detects the coupled antenna element positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adaptation circuitry adjusts an inductor, a capacitor, or both the inductor and the capacitor to adapt the impedance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding environment sensor includes a Hall element that detects, as the change in the wireless parameter, a change in a magnetic field around the communication apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry includes a switch, a connector, or both the switch and the connector that cause an electrical change by the coupled antenna element positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position fixing unit that fixes the communication apparatus at a predetermined position in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the position fixing unit includes a magnetic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the position fixing unit fixes the communication apparatus such that the antenna element of the communication apparatus and an end portion of the coupled antenna element are brought in proximity to each other. ### Claim 9 An antenna apparatus comprising: a coupled antenna element configured to receive a wireless communication via an antenna element of a communication apparatus positioned in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element; and a notification unit that notifies the communication apparatus that the communication apparatus is positioned in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element via a wireless connection with a detection circuitry of the communication apparatus, wherein the detection circuitry includes a surrounding environment sensor separate from the antenna element, the surrounding environment sensor being configured to wirelessly determine that the coupled antenna element is positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus when a change in a wireless parameter of an environment around the communication apparatus is detected, and the wireless communication via the antenna element is performed according to an adapted impedance on the bases of a detection result of the coupled antenna element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The antenna apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the coupled antenna element is excited in a non-contact state with the communication apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The antenna apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an electrical length of the coupled antenna element is approximately one-half of a wavelength of the wireless signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The antenna apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notification unit includes a magnet and is configured to notify, by a change in a magnetic field, that the communication apparatus is positioned in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The antenna apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the notification unit has a physical shape that contacts the communication apparatus to notify the communication apparatus that the communication apparatus is positioned in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The antenna apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an electrical conductor arranged between the coupled antenna element and the communication apparatus, and a human body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The antenna apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a position fixing unit that fixes the communication apparatus at a predetermined position in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The antenna apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the position fixing unit includes a magnet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The antenna apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the position fixing unit fixes the communication apparatus such that the antenna element of the communication apparatus and an end portion of the coupled antenna element are brought in proximity to each other. ### Claim 18 A communication system comprising a communication apparatus and an antenna apparatus, wherein the antenna apparatus includes: a coupled antenna element configured to receive a wireless communication via an antenna element of a communication apparatus positioned in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element; and a notification unit that notifies the communication apparatus that the communication apparatus is positioned in the vicinity of the coupled antenna element, and the communication apparatus includes: detection circuitry configured to detect the coupled antenna element positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus; a controller configured to control adaptation of impedance on the basis of a detection result of the coupled antenna element by the detection circuitry; adaptation circuitry configured to adapt the impedance on the basis of control of the controller; and communication circuitry configured to perform wireless communication via the antenna element whose impedance has been adapted by the adaptation circuitry, wherein the detection circuitry includes a surrounding environment sensor separate from the antenna element, the surrounding environment sensor being configured to wirelessly determine that the coupled antenna element is positioned in the vicinity of the communication apparatus when a change in a wireless parameter of an environment around the communication apparatus is detected.