Method for automatically adjusting a tuning unit, and automatic tuning system using this method

An automatic tuning system having m user ports and n target ports, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the automatic tuning system allowing, at a given frequency, a transfer of power from the user ports to the target ports, the automatic tuning system comprising:

• at least n sensing units, each of the sensing units delivering one or more sensing unit output signals, each of the sensing unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables;
• a signal processing unit, the signal processing unit estimating q real quantities depending on an impedance matrix seen by the target ports, where q is an integer greater than or equal to m, using the sensing unit output signals obtained for m excitations applied to the user ports, one and only one of the excitations being applied to each of the user ports, the signal processing unit delivering a tuning instruction as a function of said q real quantities depending on an impedance matrix seen by the target ports;
• a multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port tuning unit, the multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port tuning unit comprising p adjustable impedance devices, where p is an integer greater than or equal to m, the p adjustable impedance devices being referred to as the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit and being such that, at said given frequency, each of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any one of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit having an influence on an impedance matrix presented by the user ports, the reactance of any one of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being adjustable by electrical means;
• and
• a tuning control unit, the tuning control unit receiving the tuning instruction from the signal processing unit, the tuning control unit delivering tuning control signals to the multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port tuning unit, the tuning control signals being determined as a function of the tuning instruction, the reactance of each of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being mainly determined by one or more of the tuning control signals.