# US 12,119,544 B2 · Antenna module placement and housing for reduced power density exposure

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- Number: US 12,119,544 B2
- Document ID: US12119544B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/678,950
- Filed: 2022-02-23
- Published: 2022-07-07
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-23
- Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated
- Inventors: Rahul Malik; Mohammad Ali Tassoudji; Jatupum Jenwatanavet; Jong Hyeon Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119544B2

## CPC

- H01Q 1/245: {with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure}
- H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas}
- H01Q 1/42: Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
- H01Q 1/526: {Electromagnetic shields}
- H01Q 9/0407: {Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna (dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40)}
- H01Q 21/061: {Two dimensional planar arrays}
- H01Q 21/08: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)}
- H04B 1/3838: {Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use}
- H04B 7/0408: using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
- H04B 7/06952: {Selecting one or more beams from a plurality of beams, e.g. beam training, management or sweeping}
- H04W 52/18: TPC being performed according to specific parameters
- H04W 52/243: {taking into account interferences}
- H04W 52/367: {Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range}
- H04W 52/42: in systems with time, space, frequency or polarisation diversity
- H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming}
- H04W 88/02: Terminal devices
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, a user equipment (UE) may use transmissions causing power density exposure (PDE) to nearby users. To reduce the PDE of an antenna module (e.g., below a maximum PDE threshold), the UE may implement a shielding strip around the antenna module. For example, the antenna module may include a substrate having a first surface and a set of antenna elements on the first surface. The shielding strip may enclose the set of antenna elements of the antenna module and extend away from the first surface above the antenna elements. The shielding strip may reduce PDE outside a field of view of the antenna module. Additionally, in some cases, the placement of the antenna module in the UE and the materials used for constructing the UE may further reduce PDE.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A user equipment (UE), comprising:
a substrate;
an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements on a surface of the substrate; and
a shielding strip surrounding the plurality of antenna elements, wherein a gap exists between the shielding strip and the substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip is located above the plurality of antenna elements.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip forms a continuous loop.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip is configured as a three-dimensional (3D) metallic or otherwise conducting structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip follows a perimeter of the substrate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip extends below the surface of the substrate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, further comprising shielding enclosing each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the substrate and antenna array are included in an antenna module, and wherein the shielding strip surrounds all antenna elements in the antenna module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The UE of claim 8, wherein the shielding strip begins above the antenna module and extends in a radiating direction of the antenna module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The UE of claim 8, wherein the surface comprises a first surface, and wherein the antenna module further comprises one or more electrical components mounted on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The UE of claim 8, wherein the antenna module comprises a plurality of electrical components, wherein at least one electrical component of the plurality of electrical components is exterior to an area enclosed by the shielding strip.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The UE of claim 8, wherein the shielding strip surrounds the antenna module.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip is formed as part of a housing of the UE or is attached to the housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip is configured to reduce power density exposure outside a field of view of a sensor of the UE.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the shielding strip is configured to reduce power density exposure on a face of the UE from which the antenna array is not configured to radiate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The UE of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are configured to communicate in a millimeter band.

### Claim 17

A device, comprising:
a substrate;
an antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements on a surface of the substrate; and
a shielding strip forming a perimeter around the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the shielding strip is a predetermined distance from the substrate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein a plane is defined by a top of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the shielding strip extends in a radiating direction of the antenna array starting above the plane.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18, wherein the radiating direction is through a top, bottom, or side of the device, and wherein the device further comprises a material on a back surface of the device configured to shield against power density exposure.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the shielding strip surrounds all antenna elements in the antenna array.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprise a patch antenna or dipole antenna.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the shielding strip is electrically coupled to ground.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are linearly arranged.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the antenna array comprises an N×M dimensional array, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and M is a same or different integer greater than one.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of antenna elements includes four or more antenna elements.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the shielding strip is plated onto a housing of the device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, further comprising a sensor configured to identify a power density level, wherein the device is configured to control a transmission property based on the power density level.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The device of claim 27, wherein the transmission property includes a power output from the antenna array, which antenna module to use, or an uplink duty cycle.

### Claim 29 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, further comprising a transmit power controller, wherein the transmit power controller is configured to calculate a transmit power of a signal based on a configuration of the shielding strip and one or more power density limits.

### Claim 30 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are configured to send a millimeter wave signal.

### Claim 31

A device, comprising:
a substrate;
a plurality of antenna elements on a surface of the substrate; and
a shielding strip enclosing the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the shielding strip is external to the substrate.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The device of claim 31, wherein the shielding strip is integrated into a housing of the device.