FR3066859A1 - METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING A TUNABLE PASSIVE ANTENNA AND A TUNING UNIT, AND APPARATUS FOR RADIO COMMUNICATION USING THE SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas and a single input access tuning unit and single output access. The invention also relates to an apparatus for radio communication using this method. An apparatus for radio communication according to the invention comprises: a tunable passive antenna (1); a single input access and single output access agreement unit (4) having an input port and an output port; a detection unit (3); an antenna link (2); a transmitting and signal processing unit (8) delivering one or more "antenna setting instructions", applying an excitation to the input port and outputting one or more "unit setting instructions"; agreement "; and a control unit (6) delivering one or more "antenna control signals" to the tunable passive antenna and one or more "tuning control signals" to the input access tuner unit unique and unique output access.

Description

Method for automatically adjusting a tunable passive antenna and a tuning unit, and apparatus for radio communication using this method

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas and a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, for example a tunable passive antenna and a tuning unit. single entry access and single exit access tuning of a radio transmitter. The invention also relates to a device for radio communication using this method, for example a radio transceiver.

PRIOR STATE OF THE ART

A tunable passive antenna comprises at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of said tunable passive antenna, said at least one parameter being adjustable, for example by electrical means. Setting a tunable passive antenna means setting at least one said at least one parameter. Each of said one or more characteristics can for example be an electrical characteristic such as an impedance at a specified frequency, or an electromagnetic characteristic such as a directivity diagram at a specified frequency. A tunable passive antenna can also be called “reconfigurable antenna” (in English: “reconfigurable antenna”). Some authors consider three classes of tunable passive antenna: agile polarized antennas (in English: “polarization-agile antennas”), antennas with reconfigurable diagram (in English: “pattem-reconfigurable antennas”) and frequency agile antennas (in English: “frequency-agile antennas”). The state of the art regarding frequency agile antennas is for example described in the article by A. Petosa entitled "An OverView of Tuning Techniques for Frequency-Agile Antennas", published in IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, vol. 54, No. 5, in October 2012. As explained in this article, many types of antenna control device can be used to control one or more characteristics of a tunable passive antenna. An antenna control device can for example be: - an electrically controlled switch or switch, in which case a parameter of the antenna control device having an effect on one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna can be the state the switch or switch; - an adjustable impedance device, in which case a parameter of the antenna control device having an effect on one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna can be the reactance or the impedance, at a specified frequency, of the impedance device adjustable; or - an actuator arranged to produce a mechanical deformation of the tunable passive antenna, in which case a parameter of the antenna control device having an effect on one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna can be a length of the deformation.

If an antenna control device is an electrically controlled switch or switch, it can for example be an electromechanical relay, or a microelectromechanical switch (in English: “MEMS switch”), or a circuit using one or more PIN diodes or a or several insulated gate field effect transistors (MOSFETs) as switching devices.

An adjustable impedance device is a component comprising two terminals which behave substantially like the terminals of a passive linear bipole, and which are therefore characterized by an impedance which may depend on the frequency, this impedance being adjustable.

An adjustable impedance device having an electrically adjustable reactance may be such that it provides only, at a given frequency, a finite set of reactance values, this characteristic being for example obtained if the adjustable impedance device is: - a network comprising a plurality of capacitors or sections of transmission line in open circuit and one or more electrically controlled switches or switches, such as electromechanical relays, or microelectromechanical switches, or PIN diodes or insulated gate field effect transistors , used to make different capacitors or different sections of transmission line in open circuit of the network to reactance; or - a network comprising a plurality of coils or shortened transmission line sections and one or more electrically controlled switches or switches used to cause different coils or different shorted transmission line sections of the network to contribute reactance.

An adjustable impedance device having an electrically adjustable reactance may be such that it provides, at a given frequency, a continuous set of reactance values, this characteristic can for example be obtained if the adjustable impedance device is based on the 'use of a variable capacity diode; or a variable capacity MOS component (in English: "MOS varactor"); or a microelectromechanical component with variable capacity (in English: "MEMS varactor"); or a ferroelectric component with variable capacity (in English: “ferroelectric varactor”).

Many methods exist for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas. Some of these methods are applicable to a radio transmitter, for example the method disclosed in United States patent number 5,225,847 entitled "Automatic antenna tuning System". Some of these methods are applicable to a radio receiver, for example the method disclosed in United States patent number 7,463,870 entitled "Receiver circuit and control method".

A first example of a method for automatically tuning a tunable passive antenna, applicable to a radio transmitter, is implemented in the automatic antenna system shown in FIG. 1. This automatic antenna system is similar to that which is disclosed in said U.S. Patent No. 5,225,847. The automatic antenna system shown in FIG. 1 has a user access (31), the user access having, at a given frequency, an impedance called “the impedance presented by the user access”, the antenna system automatic comprising: a tunable passive antenna (1), the tunable passive antenna comprising at least one antenna control device, one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna being controlled using said at least one tuning control device antenna, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on said one or more characteristics, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means; a detection unit (3) delivering two “detection unit output signals”, each of the detection unit output signals being determined by an electrical variable sensed (or measured) at user access while a excitation is applied to user access; an antenna link (2) having a first end coupled to a signal access of the tunable passive antenna, the antenna link having a second end coupled to user access, through the detection unit; a signal processing unit (5), the signal processing unit estimating q real quantities dependent on the impedance presented by the user access, where q is an integer greater than or equal to 1, using the output signals detection unit, the signal processing unit delivering an “adjustment instruction” as a function of said q actual quantities dependent on the impedance presented by the user access; and a control unit (6), the control unit receiving the adjustment instruction from the signal processing unit (5), the control unit delivering "control signals", the control signals being determined as a function of the adjustment instruction, each of said parameters being mainly determined by at least one of the control signals.

Unfortunately, it has been discovered that a tunable passive antenna often provides only poor tuning, so that it is often not possible to have the automatic antenna system shown in Figure 1 can sufficiently reduce or cancel any variation in the impedance presented by the user access, caused by a variation in an operating frequency, and / or caused by the famous user interaction.

This problem is solved in a second example of a method for automatically adjusting a tunable passive antenna, applicable to a radio transmitter, which is implemented in the automatic antenna system shown in FIG. 2. This automatic antenna system is similar to that which is disclosed in the ninth embodiment of the French patent application number 14/00666 of March 20, 2014 and of the PCT application number PCT / IB2015 / 051644 of March 6, 2015 (WO 2015/140660). The automatic antenna system shown in FIG. 2 has a user access (31), the user access having, at a given frequency, an impedance called “the impedance presented by the user access”, the antenna system automatic comprising: a tunable passive antenna (1), the tunable passive antenna comprising at least one antenna control device, one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna being controlled using said at least one tuning control device antenna, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on said one or more characteristics, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means; a detection unit (3) delivering two “detection unit output signals”, each of the detection unit output signals being determined by an electrical variable sensed (or measured) at user access while a excitation is applied to user access; a single entry and single exit access tuning unit (4) having an entry access and an exit access, the entry access being coupled to the user access through the detection, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access comprising p devices with adjustable impedance, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p devices with adjustable impedance being called “one or more tunable unit impedance devices ”and being such that, at said given frequency, each of the one or more tunable unit impedance devices has a reactance, the reactance of any of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit being adjustable by electrical means; an antenna link (2) having a first end coupled to a signal access of the tunable passive antenna, the antenna link having a second end coupled to the output access; a signal processing unit (5), the signal processing unit estimating q real quantities dependent on the impedance presented by the user access, where q is an integer greater than or equal to 1, using the output signals detection unit, the signal processing unit delivering an “adjustment instruction” as a function of said q actual quantities dependent on the impedance presented by the user access; and a control unit (6), the control unit receiving the adjustment instruction from the signal processing unit (5), the control unit supplying "control signals", the control signals being determined according to the adjustment instruction, the reactance of each of one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being mainly determined by at least one of the control signals, each of said parameters being mainly determined by at minus one of the control signals.

This second example of a method for automatically tuning a tunable passive antenna can provide excellent tuning. Unfortunately, it can be shown that a tuning of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access obtained by using this second example method for automatically tuning a tunable passive antenna is typically not close to '' an optimal tuning, when the losses in the tuning unit with single input access and single output access are not very low.

Thus, there is no known solution to the problem of automatically tuning a tunable passive antenna coupled to a radio transmitter, in a manner which provides: good tuning ability, using a tuning unit with access to '' single entry and single exit access; and a setting of the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access which is close to optimal tuning, when its losses are not very low.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is a method and for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas and a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, devoid of the abovementioned limitations of the techniques. known, and also an apparatus for radio communication using this method.

In the following, X and Y being different quantities or variables, performing an action as a function of X does not exclude the possibility of performing this action as a function of Y. In the following, “having an influence” and “having a effect ”have the same meaning. In the following, “coupled”, when this term is applied to two ports (in the sense of circuit theory), can indicate that the ports are directly coupled, each terminal of one of the ports being in this case connected to (or , equivalently, in electrical contact with) one and only one of the terminals of the other access, and / or that the accesses are indirectly coupled, an electrical interaction different from the direct coupling existing in this case between the accesses, for example at through one or more components.

In the following, in accordance with the “IEC multilingual dictionary of electricity” published by the Central Bureau of the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1983, “open loop control” (literal translation of the expression “open-loop control” of the language English), synonymous with “open chain command”, means a command that does not use a measurement of the quantity ordered, and “closed loop command” (literal translation of the expression “closed-loop control” from the English language), synonymous with “closed chain control” and “servo control”, means a command where the action on the controlled system is made dependent on a measurement of the quantity ordered.

The method according to the invention is a method for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas and a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, the tuning unit with single input access and single access single output having input and output access, the one or more tunable passive antennas and the single input access and single output access tuning unit being parts of an apparatus for radio communication , the apparatus for radio communication allowing, at a given frequency, a transfer of power from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas, the method comprising the following steps: delivering a or more “antenna control signals”, each of the one or more tunable passive antennas comprising at least one antenna control device , one or more characteristics of said each of one or more tunable passive antennas being controlled using said at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an influence on the say one or more characteristics, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means, said at least one parameter being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals; apply excitement to entry access; picking up one or more electrical variables at the output access while the excitation is applied, to obtain one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more electrical variables picked up at the output port; estimate q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; deliver one or more “tuning control signals”, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access comprising p devices with adjustable impedance, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at the given frequency, each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals, said step of delivering one or more “tuning control signals” comp orting the following steps: generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, an initial value of said each of one or more tuning control signals, as a function of one or more of said q dependent real quantities an impedance seen by the output port; generating, for one or more of the one or more chord control signals, at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of the one or more chord control signals, an algorithm for regulation by search for extremum being used to generate said at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of one or more tuning control signals, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable by controlling the called one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals.

The given frequency can for example be a frequency greater than or equal to 150 kHz. The specialist understands that the impedance seen by the output access is a complex number, and that an impedance presented by the input access is a complex number. We will use ZSant to designate the impedance seen by the output access, and Z, to designate the impedance presented by the input access.

Each of the one or more tunable passive antennas has an access, called "signal access" to the tunable passive antenna, which can be used to receive and / or emit electromagnetic waves. Each of the one or more tunable passive antennas has at least one antenna control device, which may include one or more terminals used for other electrical connections. It is assumed that each of the one or more tunable passive antennas behaves, at the given frequency, with respect to its signal access, substantially like a passive antenna, that is to say as an antenna which is linear and which does not do not use an amplifier to amplify signals received by the antenna or transmitted by the antenna. Let TV be the number of one or more tunable passive antennas. As a consequence of the linearity, by considering, for each of the one or more tunable passive antennas, only its signal access, it is possible to define: if N is equal to one, an impedance presented by the one or more tunable passive antennas; and if N is greater than or equal to 2, an impedance matrix presented by the one or more tunable passive antennas, this matrix being a square matrix of order N.

As said above in the section on the state of the prior art, each of said one or more characteristics can for example be an electrical characteristic such as an impedance at a specified frequency, or an electromagnetic characteristic such as a diagram of directivity at a specified frequency.

It is said above that the radio communication device allows, at the given frequency, a transfer of power from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas. In other words, the apparatus for radio communication is such that, if power is received by the input port at the given frequency, part of said power received by the input port is transferred to a electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more passive antennas tunable at the given frequency, so that a power of the electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more passive antennas tunable at the given frequency is equal to said part of said power received by the entrance access. For example, the specialist knows that a power of the electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas (average radiated power) can be calculated as the flux of the real part of a complex Poynting vector of the electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas, through a closed surface containing the one or more tunable passive antennas.

To obtain that the device for radio communication allows, at the given frequency, a transfer of power from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas, at least one of the one or more Tunable passive antennas can for example be coupled, directly or indirectly, to the output port. More specifically, for at least one of the one or more tunable passive antennas, the signal access of the tunable passive antenna can for example be coupled, directly or indirectly, to the output access. For example, an indirect coupling can be a coupling through an antenna link and / or through a detection unit and / or through a power combiner or a power divider. For suitable values of the one or more tuning control signals and the one or more antenna control signals, said power transfer from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more antennas tunable liabilities can for example be a power transfer with low or negligible or zero losses, this characteristic being preferred.

According to the invention, each of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access can for example be a real quantity representative of the impedance seen by the output access.

According to the invention, each of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access can for example be substantially proportional to the module, or to the phase, or to the real part, or to the imaginary part of l impedance seen by the exit port, or the inverse of the impedance seen by the exit port (i.e., admittance seen by the exit port), or a reflection coefficient at the exit port.

Extrumum-seeking control algorithms are well known to specialists. Regulation by extremum search (in English: extremum-seeking control) is a family of non-linear regulation methods, the object of which is to autonomously find a maximum or a minimum of a performance variable, the variable of performance being a real function of one or more outputs of a controlled system, by controlling one or more inputs of the controlled system. In regulation algorithms by search for extremum, one or more signals varying over time are applied to these one or more inputs of the controlled system, in a way that allows the algorithm to probe the non-linearity of the performance variable with respect to one or more inputs of the controlled system, and to approach an extremum. Thus, the extremum search regulatory algorithms are based on information about the existence of the extremum, but they do not need an exact knowledge of the controlled system to find the extremum. For this reason, it is said of extremum search regulation that it is a real-time optimization approach that is not based on a model. For example, the book by KB Ariynr and M. Krstic, entitled Real-Time Optimization by Extremum-Seeking Control and published by Wiley-Interscience in 2003, describes a type of regulation by search for extremum which uses one or more periodic disturbances ( for example sinusoidal disturbances), and which is usually called “perturbation based extremum-seeking control” in English. For example, the book by S.-J. Liu and M. Krstic, entitled Stochastic Averaging and Stochastic Extremum Seeking and published by Springer-Verlag in 2012, describes a type of regulation by search for extremum which uses one or more stochastic disturbances (for example random disturbances), and which is usually called “stochastic extremum-seeking control” in English. There are many other types of regulation by search for extremum, such as those called in English “sliding mode extremum-seeking control”, “neural network extremum-seeking control”, “relay extremum seeking control”, “perturb and observe ”,“ numerical optimization based extremum-seeking control ”, etc., which are well known to specialists. For example, the article by B. Calli, W. Caarls, P. Jonker and M. Wisse, entitled “Comparison of Extremum Seeking Control Algorithms for Robotic Applications” and published in Proc, of the 2012IEEE / RSJInternational Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems , at pages 3195-3202, in October 2012, and the article by C. Olalla, MI Arteaga, R. Leyva and AE Aroudi, entitled “Analysis and Comparison of Extremum Seeking Control Techniques” and published in Proc. 2007 IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, on pages 72-76, June 2007, presents interesting comparisons of some types of regulation by looking for extremum.

Since, according to the invention, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum seeks to maximize or minimize a performance variable by controlling the said one or more of the one or more control control signals, the specialist understands that, in the context of the present invention, it is possible to consider that the said one or more inputs of the controlled system are the said one or more of the one or more tuning control signals. Thus, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum controls and varies the said one or more of the one or more control signals of agreement over time, to get closer to an extremum (i.e. say a maximum or a minimum) of the performance variable.

According to the invention, the performance variable is estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals. Thus, the performance variable depends on at least one of the one or more electrical variables picked up at the output access. For example, it is possible that the performance variable is a real quantity depending on a module of a voltage across the output port, or a representative quantity of the module of the voltage across the output port . Said real quantity depending on a module of a voltage across the output port can for example be substantially proportional to the module of a voltage across the output port, or to the square of the module of a voltage across the output access. For example, it is possible that the performance variable is a real quantity depending on a module of a current leaving the output access, or a representative quantity of the module of the current leaving the output access. Said real quantity depending on a module of a current leaving the outlet port may for example be substantially proportional to the module of a current leaving the outlet port, or to the square of the module of a current leaving the outlet exit access. For example, it is possible that the performance variable is a real quantity depending on a module of an incident voltage at the output access, or a quantity representative of the module of the incident voltage at the output access. Said real quantity depending on a module of an incident voltage at the output port can for example be substantially proportional to the module of an incident voltage at the output port, or to the square of the module of an incident voltage at exit access. For example, it is possible that the performance variable is a real quantity depending on an average power delivered by the output access, or a quantity representative of the average power delivered by the output access. Further explanations of the performance variable are given below in the presentations of the second embodiment, the third embodiment and the twenty-fourth embodiment.

According to the invention, it is for example possible that the regulation algorithm by search for extremum is completed when a completion criterion is satisfied. In other words, it is for example possible that the regulation algorithm by search for extremum stops trying to maximize or minimize the performance variable when a completion criterion is satisfied. For example, the completion criterion may be that the extremum search regulation algorithm has operated for a specified time. For example, in the case where the extremum search regulation algorithm seeks to minimize the performance variable, the completion criterion may be that the performance variable does not decrease rapidly (so that it can be reasonable deduce that the performance variable is close to a minimum). For example, in the case where the extremum search regulation algorithm seeks to maximize the performance variable, the completion criterion may be that the performance variable does not grow rapidly (so that it can be reasonable deduce that the performance variable is close to a maximum). For example, the completion criterion may be that a request for completion has been received.

While the extremum search regulation algorithm seeks to maximize or minimize the performance variable, it is possible that this regulation algorithm varies said one or more of the one or more control signals of agreement during time, so it is possible that the impedance presented by the input access varies over time, and that the performance variable varies over time. This can be detrimental to the operation of the radio communication device, as such variations can cause unwanted fading. Thus, a possible advantage of a possible completion of the regulation algorithm by search for extremum is that the regulation algorithm no longer varies the said one or more of the one or more control signals of agreement during the time.

Certain prior art methods for automatically tuning either an antenna or a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, use an extremum search algorithm. For example, chapter 7 of the book by C. Zhang and R. Ordônez, entitled Extremum-Seeking Control and Application and published by Springer-Verlag in 2012, explains how a regulation algorithm by search for extremum can be used to automatically regulate a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, the extremum search regulation algorithm seeking to reduce or minimize a power reflected at the input access. Similarly, the devices described in US Patent No. 4,356,458, entitled “Automatic Impedance Matching Apparatus” and in said Patent No. 5,225,847 use an extremum search regulation algorithm which seeks to minimize an actual quantity depending on a reflection coefficient at the input port or a standing wave ratio at the input port. These prior art methods for automatically adjusting a tuning unit with single input access and single output access do not have the following three characteristics of the invention: - the method according to the invention allows automatic tuning of one or more tunable passive antennas and a tuning unit with single input access and single output access; - according to the invention, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum is used after, for each of the one or more control control signals, an initial value of said each of the one or more control control signals has been generated, as a function of one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port; - according to the invention, the regulation algorithm by extremum search seeks to maximize or minimize a performance variable estimated as a function of one or more detection unit output signals mainly determined by electrical variables picked up at exit access.

As shown in the following embodiments, these characteristics are such that the invention can be used to optimally, quickly and automatically adjust the one or more tunable passive antennas and the tuning unit with single input access and single exit access, without very difficult calculations, despite the presence of losses in the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit.

The specialist sees a fundamental difference between the prior art method implemented in the automatic antenna system shown in Figure 2, on the one hand, and the invention, on the other hand. Said prior art method uses detection unit output signals, each of the detection unit output signals being determined by an electrical variable sensed at user access. On the contrary, the method according to the invention uses one or more detection unit output signals mainly determined by electrical variables picked up at the output access.

The specialist understands that the one or more antenna control signals have an effect on each of said parameters, so that they can have an influence on the impedance seen by the output port, and on the impedance presented. through the entrance access. In the preceding sentence, "each of said parameters" clearly means "each says at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device of each of the one or more tunable passive antennas".

For example, it is possible that an open loop command is used to generate said initial value of said each of one or more tuning control signals. Equivalently, it is for example possible that an open loop control structure is used to generate said initial value of said each of one or more tuning control signals. This possible feature will be explained below in the presentations of the second embodiment, the fourth embodiment and the sixth embodiment.

For example, it is possible that an open loop control is used to deliver each of the one or more antenna control signals. Equivalently, it is for example possible that an open loop control structure is used to deliver each of the one or more antenna control signals. This possible feature will be explained below in the presentations of the fourth embodiment, the sixth embodiment and the twelfth embodiment. However, as shown in the fifth embodiment, it is possible that a closed loop control is used to deliver each of the one or more antenna control signals.

An apparatus implementing the method according to the invention is an apparatus for radio communication comprising: one or more tunable passive antennas, each of one or more tunable passive antennas comprising at least one antenna control device, one or more characteristics of said each of the one or more tunable passive antennas being controlled using said at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an influence on said one or more characteristics, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means; a tuning unit with single input access and single output access having an input access and an output access, the apparatus for radio communication allowing, at a given frequency, a transfer of power from the access d input to an electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access comprising p devices with adjustable impedance, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p devices with adjustable impedance being called the “one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit” and being such that, at the given frequency, each of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the a reactance tuning unit, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable; a detection unit, the detection unit delivering one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables picked up by the exit port while an excitation is applied to the entry port; a signal transmission and processing unit, the signal transmission and processing unit delivering one or more “antenna adjustment instructions”, the signal transmission and processing unit applying the excitation at the input port, the signal transmission and processing unit estimating q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using a or more of the one or more detection unit output signals, the signal transmitting and processing unit issuing “tuning unit setting instructions”, at least one of the unit setting instructions agreement being an “initial tuning unit setting instruction”, each of the one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions being determined as a function of one or more of said q actual quantities dep endants of an impedance seen by the output port, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being a “subsequent tuning unit setting instruction”, the transmitting and processing unit of the signal executing an extremum search regulation algorithm to generate each of the one or more subsequent tuning unit adjustment instructions, the extremum search regulation algorithm seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable , the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; and a control unit, the control unit delivering one or more “antenna control signals” to the one or more tunable passive antennas, each of the one or more antenna control signals being determined based on at least one of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, each of said parameters being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals, the control unit delivering one or more “tuning control signals ”To the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, the control unit generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, one or more values of said each of one or several chord control signals, said one or more values of said each of the one or more chord control signals being determined as a function of at least one of the instructions tuning unit tuning, the reactance of each of the one or more tunable impedance devices of the tuning unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals.

In the preceding sentence, "each of said parameters" clearly means "each says at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device of each of the one or more tunable passive antennas".

For example, each of said electrical variables can be a voltage, or an incident voltage, or a reflected voltage, or a current, or an incident current, or a reflected current. For example, the control unit can be such that: for each of the one or more tuning control signals, say one or more values of said each of the one or more tuning control signals have a determined initial value based on one or more of the initial tuning unit setting instructions; and for one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, say one or more values of each said one or more of the one or more tuning control signals have at least one subsequent value determined according to a one or more subsequent tuning unit setting instructions.

In this case, it is for example possible to say that the control unit generates: for each of the one or more tuning control signals, an initial value determined as a function of one of the one or more instructions for adjusting the initial tuning unit; and, for one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, at least one subsequent value determined based on one of the one or more subsequent tuning unit setting instructions.

It is for example possible that the input access is coupled, directly or indirectly, to an access of the transmission and signal processing unit, said access of the transmission and signal processing unit delivering excitation.

The single entry and single exit access tuning unit has an entry access and an exit access. It is assumed that said tuning unit with single input access and single output access behaves, at said given frequency, with respect to its input access and its output access, substantially like a passive linear device, where 'passive' is used in the sense of circuit theory. More specifically, said tuning unit with single input access and single output access behaves, at said given frequency, with respect to the output access and the input access, substantially like a passive linear device. with 2 accesses. As a consequence of linearity, it is possible to define the impedance presented by the input access. As a consequence of passivity, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access does not provide amplification, its power gain is less than or equal to 1, and its composite power gain (in English : transducer power gain) is less than or equal to 1. The specialist understands that this linearity with respect to its input access and its output access does not contradict the non-linearity, mentioned above, of the performance variable with respect to one or more inputs of the controlled system (since each input of the controlled system can be considered to be one of the one or more tuning control signals). The tuning unit with single input access and single output access can for example be such that the reactance of any of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit has an influence on a impedance presented by the input access.

For example, it is possible that the radio communication device, such as either an open loop command or a closed loop command, is used to determine each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions.

The specialist understands that the device for radio communication according to the invention is adaptive in the sense that said parameters and the reactances of one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit can be automatically modified over time by function of the one or more detection unit output signals, each of which is mainly determined by one or more electrical variables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and represented in the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a block diagram of an automatic antenna system, and has already been commented on in the section devoted to the presentation of the state of the art; FIG. 2 represents a block diagram of an automatic antenna system, and has already been commented on in the section devoted to the presentation of the state of the art; FIG. 3 represents a block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (first embodiment); FIG. 4 represents an algorithmic implemented in an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (fourth embodiment); Figure 5 shows the diagram of a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, which can be used in the apparatus for radio communication shown in Figure 3 (fourth embodiment); FIG. 6 represents an algorithmic implemented in an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (fourth embodiment); FIG. 7 represents an algorithmic implemented in an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (fifth embodiment); FIG. 8 represents an algorithmic implemented in an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (sixth embodiment); FIG. 9 shows the diagram of a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, which can be used in the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 3 (sixth embodiment); FIG. 10 represents a first tunable passive antenna, which comprises a single antenna control device (eighth embodiment); FIG. 11 represents a second tunable passive antenna, which comprises three antenna control devices (ninth embodiment); FIG. 12 represents a third tunable passive antenna, which comprises four antenna control devices (tenth embodiment); FIG. 13 represents a fourth tunable passive antenna, which comprises a single antenna control device (eleventh embodiment); Figure 14 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (twelfth embodiment); Figure 15 shows a rear view of a mobile phone (thirteenth embodiment); FIG. 16 shows a first configuration of typical use (right hand and head configuration); Figure 17 shows a second typical usage configuration (two-hand configuration); Figure 18 shows a third typical usage configuration (right hand configuration only); FIG. 19 represents an algorigram implemented in an automatic tuning system according to the invention (fourteenth embodiment); FIG. 20 represents an algorigram implemented in an automatic tuning system according to the invention (fifteenth embodiment); FIG. 21 represents an algorigram implemented in an automatic tuning system according to the invention (sixteenth embodiment); FIG. 22 shows an algorithmic implemented in an automatic tuning system according to the invention (seventeenth embodiment); FIG. 23 represents an algorigram implemented in an automatic tuning system according to the invention (eighteenth embodiment); Figure 24 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (nineteenth embodiment); FIG. 25 represents a block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (twentieth embodiment); Figure 26 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (twentieth embodiment); Figure 27 shows the diagram of a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, which can be used in the devices for radio communication shown in Figure 25 and Figure 26 (twenty-first embodiment); Figure 28 shows the diagram of a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, which can be used in the devices for radio communication shown in Figure 25 and Figure 26 (twenty-second mode of production) ; FIG. 29 shows the diagram of a tuning unit with single input access and single output access, which can be used in the devices for radio communication shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 (twenty-third mode of production) ; FIG. 30 represents a block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication according to the invention (twenty-fourth embodiment).

DETAILED PRESENTATION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

First embodiment.

As a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, we have shown in FIG. 3 the block diagram of a device for radio communication comprising: a passive antenna tunable (1), the tunable passive antenna comprising at least one antenna control device, one or more characteristics of said tunable passive antenna being controlled using said at least one antenna control device, said at least one device antenna control having at least one parameter having an influence on said one or more characteristics, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means; a single entry access and single exit access tuning unit (4) having an entry access and an exit access, the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit comprising p adjustable impedance devices, where p is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at a given frequency greater than or equal to 30 MHz, each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being adjustable by electric means; a detection unit (3), the detection unit delivering two “detection unit output signals”, each of the detection unit output signals being determined by an electric variable sensed (or measured) at the exit port while an excitation is applied to the entry port; an antenna link (2) having a first end which is directly coupled to a signal access of the tunable passive antenna, the antenna link having a second end which is indirectly coupled to the output port, through the 'detection unit; a signal transmission and processing unit (8), the signal transmission and processing unit delivering one or more “antenna adjustment instructions”, the signal transmission and processing unit applying the excitation at the input access, the excitation having a carrier frequency called “the carrier frequency of the excitation”, the transmission and signal processing unit estimating q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, where q is an integer greater than or equal to 2, using the output signals from the detection unit, the transmission and signal processing unit issuing “unit setting instructions tuning ”, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being an“ initial tuning unit setting instruction ”, each of the one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions being determined ée according to one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being a “unit setting instruction subsequent tuning ”, each of the one or more subsequent tuning unit setting instructions being determined using an extremum search regulation algorithm, the extremum search regulation algorithm seeking to maximize a performance variable , the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the detection unit output signals; a control unit (6), the control unit receiving the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, the control unit supplying one or more "antenna control signals" to the tunable passive antenna, each one or more antenna control signals being determined as a function of at least one of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, each of said parameters being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals antenna, the control unit receiving the tuning unit setting instructions, the control unit delivering one or more “tuning control signals” to the single input access tuning unit and single output access, the control unit generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, one or more values of said each of the one or more tuning control signals, each e of said one or more values of said said each of the one or more tuning control signals being determined as a function of at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions, the reactance of each of the one or more devices to adjustable impedance of the tuning unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals. The tunable passive antenna is indirectly coupled to the output access. More specifically, the signal access of the tunable passive antenna is indirectly coupled to the output access, through the detection unit and the antenna link. In addition, the output access is indirectly coupled to the tunable passive antenna. More specifically, the output access is indirectly coupled to the signal access of the tunable passive antenna, through the detection unit and the antenna link. The detection unit (3) may for example be such that the detection unit output signals comprise: a first detection unit output signal proportional to a first electrical variable, the first electrical variable being a voltage at output access terminals; and a second detection unit output signal proportional to a second electrical variable, the second electrical variable being a current output from the output access. Said voltage at the terminals of the output access can be a complex voltage and said current leaving the output access can be a complex current. Alternatively, the detection unit (3) can for example be such that the detection unit output signals comprise: a first detection unit output signal proportional to a first electrical variable, the first electrical variable being a incident voltage at the output port; and a second detection unit output signal proportional to a second electrical variable, the second electrical variable being a voltage reflected at the output port. Said incident voltage at the output port can be a complex incident voltage and said reflected voltage at the output port can be a complex reflected voltage. The input access is directly coupled to an access from the transmission and signal processing unit (8), said access from the transmission and signal processing unit delivering the excitation. Each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions can be of any type of digital message. Each of the tuning unit setting instructions can be any type of digital message. The one or more antenna tuning instructions and tuning unit tuning instructions are issued during one or more tuning sequences. Four different setting sequences are described below, in the fourth embodiment, the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment and the seventh embodiment. The duration of an adjustment sequence is less than 100 microseconds.

For example, it is possible that the excitation is an unmodulated carrier, the carrier frequency of the excitation being the frequency of said carrier. In this case, the excitation can be a sinusoidal signal whose frequency is the frequency of said carrier. For example, it is possible that the excitation is an amplitude modulated carrier, the carrier frequency of the excitation being the frequency of said carrier. In this case, the excitation can be an amplitude modulated sinusoidal signal. For example, it is possible that the excitation is a frequency-modulated carrier, the carrier frequency of the excitation being the frequency of said carrier. In this case, the excitation may be a frequency modulated sinusoidal signal. For example, as explained in the third embodiment, it is possible that the excitation is a bandpass signal, the carrier frequency of the excitation being a carrier frequency of said bandpass signal.

The carrier frequency of the excitation can take any value selected from a “set of possible values of the carrier frequency of the excitation”, the set of possible values of the carrier frequency of the excitation having several elements. The tuning unit with single input access and single output access (4) is such that it can provide, at said given frequency, for suitable values of the one or more tuning control signals, a transfer low-loss power transfer from the input port to the output port, and low-loss power transfer from the output port to the input port. The output access being indirectly coupled to the tunable passive antenna, the specialist sees that the device for radio communication allows, at the given frequency, a transfer of power from the input access to a radiated electromagnetic field. by the tunable passive antenna. Thus, the device for radio communication is such that, if a power is received by the input access at the given frequency, a part of said power received by the input access is transferred to an electromagnetic field radiated by the passive antenna tunable to the given frequency, so that a power of the electromagnetic field radiated by the passive antenna tunable to the given frequency is equal to said part of said power received by the input access. The radio communication device allows, at said given frequency, a transfer of power from an incident electromagnetic field on the tunable passive antenna to the input access. In addition, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access (4) and the tunable passive antenna (1) are such that, at said given frequency, for suitable values of the one or more signals. tuning control and one or more antenna control signals, low loss power transfer from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the tunable passive antenna can be obtained (for l radio transmission), and a low loss power transfer from an incident electromagnetic field on the tunable passive antenna to the input access can be obtained (for radio reception). Thus, it is possible to say that the radio communication device allows, at said given frequency, for suitable values of the one or more tuning control signals and of the one or more antenna control signals, a transfer of low-loss power from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the tunable passive antenna, and low-loss power transfer from an electromagnetic field incident on the passive tunable antenna to the access input.

The correct values for the one or more tuning control signals and the one or more antenna control signals are provided automatically. Thus, the specialist understands that any small variation in the impedance seen by the output port can be at least partially compensated by a new automatic adjustment of the tunable passive antenna and of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the unit. Okay. The radio communication device is a portable radio transceiver, so that the signal transmission and processing unit (8) also performs functions which have not been mentioned above, and which are well known. specialists. For example, the device for radio communication can be user equipment (in English: "user equipment" or "UE") of an LTE-advanced radio network.

The specialist understands that ZSant depends on the frequency and the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the tunable passive antenna. In particular, the user's body has an effect on ZSant, and ZSant depends on the position of the user's body. This is called “user interaction”, or “main effect” (in English: “hand effect”) or “finger effect” (in English: “finger effect”). The specialist understands that the radio communication device can automatically compensate for a variation in ZSant caused by a variation in an operating frequency, and / or automatically compensate for user interaction.

In order to respond to variations in the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the tunable passive antenna and / or the operating frequency, a new adjustment sequence begins quickly after each change in the operating frequency, and no later than 10 milliseconds after the start of the previous setting sequence.

Second embodiment.

The second embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this second embodiment.

In this second embodiment, the excitation comprises a sinusoidal signal whose frequency is the carrier frequency of the excitation. As explained above, the carrier frequency of the excitation can take any value from the set of possible values of the carrier frequency of the excitation. Since the excitation is not amplitude-modulated, the excitation alone does not cause the module of a complex voltage at the terminals of the output port to vary, the module of a complex current leaving the output port , from the module of a complex incident voltage at the output port, an average power delivered by the output port, etc. The specialist understands that, consequently: the performance variable can for example be substantially the output of a passive peak detector supplying a positive voltage which is an increasing function of the module of the complex voltage across the output port, maximize this performance variable maximizing an average power delivered by the output port; the performance variable can for example be substantially the product of a positive constant and an average of the square of the instantaneous current leaving the output port, estimated using the output signal from the detection unit, maximize this variable performance maximizing an average power delivered by the output port; the performance variable can for example be substantially the product of a negative constant and an average of the absolute value of the instantaneous voltage across the output port, minimize this performance variable maximizing an average power delivered by l 'exit access; the performance variable can for example be substantially the product of a positive constant and the output of a low-pass filter receiving at its input the square of an instantaneous voltage at the output port, maximize this variable by performance maximizing an average power delivered by the output access.

The specialist notes that a possible performance variable is substantially the image, by a function, of a module of the complex envelope of an electrical variable sensed at the output port, the function being differentiable and strictly monotonic on the set of positive or harmful real numbers. The specialist also notes that, if said access from the transmission and signal processing unit to which the input access is connected behaves like an access from an active linear bipole, then maximize an average power delivered by the output access is equivalent to maximizing a composite gain in power of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access.

In this second embodiment, q = 2 and the q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access completely determine the impedance seen by the output access at the carrier frequency of the excitation. For example, in the case where the two detection unit output signals are respectively proportional to a voltage across the output port and to a current coming out of the output port, and in the case where both detection unit output signals are respectively proportional to an incident voltage at the output port and a reflected voltage at the output port, the specialist understands how the signal transmission and processing unit can process the detection unit output signals caused by excitation, to obtain actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port which completely determines the impedance seen by the output port. The transmitting and signal processing unit can for example perform an “in-phase / quadrature (I / Q) demodulation” (homodyne reception) of these output signals from the detection unit, to obtain four analog signals. These analog signals can then be converted into digital signals and then be processed in the digital domain, to estimate the real part of ZSant and the imaginary part of ZSant. Thus, the said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access can consist of a real number proportional to the real part of ZSant and to a real number proportional to the imaginary part of ZSant. Alternatively, the said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access can consist of a real number proportional to the module of ZSant and a real number proportional to the argument of ZSant.

Each of the tuning unit tuning instructions has no influence on the carrier frequency of the excitation, and on the impedance seen by the output access to the carrier frequency of the excitation. Each of the one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions is determined as a function of one or more of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and as a function of one or more quantities dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation. In addition, each of the one or more initial tuning unit adjustment instructions is determined only as a function of one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and on a or several quantities dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation. Thus, it is clear that the radio communication apparatus is such that an open loop command is used to determine each of the one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions.

In this second embodiment, the control unit is such that, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, the said one or more values of the said each of the one or more tuning control signals include a initial value determined based on one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions, and only based on one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions. Thus, it is clear that the apparatus for radio communication is such that, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, the initial value of said each of the one or more tuning control signals is generated as a function of one or more of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and as a function of one or more quantities dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation, an open loop command being used to generate the initial value of said each of the one or more tuning control signals.

Consequently, to generate the one or more tuning control signals, the second embodiment combines an open loop control structure and a closed loop control structure, using electrical variables picked up at the output access. More specifically, the method used to deliver the one or more tuning control signals comprises: - a step of generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, an initial value of the said each of the one or more signals tuning control, based on one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions, this step using an open loop control structure, in which one or more of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port and say one or more quantities dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation are used to obtain the one or more initial values of the one or more tuning control signals, the one or more initial values of the one or more tuning control signals having no influence on the carrier frequency of the excitation; a step of generating, for one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, as a function of the one or more subsequent tuning unit setting instructions, this step using an extremum search control algorithm, which uses a closed loop control structure.

The specialist understands that the characteristics of the open loop control structure and the closed loop control structure interact to provide the precision and speed of automatic adjustment of the tuner unit with single input access and single output, and to avoid that the algorithm by extremum search converges to a local extremum which is not the global extremum sought. However, to a limited extent, it is possible to consider that, according to the second embodiment, the high precision of the automatic adjustment of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access is mainly obtained with said step of generating, for one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of the one or more tuning control signals (closed loop control structure), and that the high speed of this automatic adjustment is mainly a consequence of the use of said step of generating, for each of the one or more control signals of agreement, an initial value of said each of one or more control signals of 'agreement (open loop control structure). In particular, faster adjustment of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access can typically be obtained if the initial values of the one or more tuning control signals are closer to the values corresponding to the desired extremum (maximum or minimum) of the performance variable.

The specialist sees a fundamental difference between the method of the prior art implemented in the automatic antenna system shown in Figure 2, on the one hand, and the second embodiment, on the other hand . In said prior art method, actual quantities dependent on the impedance presented by the user access are used to automatically grant the impedance presented by the user access. This means that said prior art method uses a closed loop control (servo) control structure, in which the actual quantities dependent on the impedance presented by the user access are used to obtain control signals. , which determine the reactance of each of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit, and which consequently determine the impedance presented by the user access. On the contrary, to deliver the one or more tuning control signals, the second embodiment combines an open loop control structure and a closed loop control structure, the closed loop control structure employing a regulation algorithm. by extremum search which seeks to maximize or minimize a performance variable estimated as a function of one or more detection unit output signals mainly determined by electrical variables picked up at the output port.

Third embodiment.

The third embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this third embodiment.

A bandpass signal (in English: “bandpass signal”) is sometimes incorrectly called “bandwidth signal” (from English “passband signal”) or “narrow band signal” (in English: “narrow-band signal”) . A bandpass signal is any real signal s (t), where t denotes time, such that the spectrum of s (t) is included in a frequency interval \ fc - W / 2, fc + W / 2], where fc is a frequency called the “carrier frequency” and where W is a frequency called “bandwidth”, which satisfies W <2fc. Thus, the Fourier transform of s (t), noted S (f), is significant only within the frequency intervals [-fc - W / 2, -fc + W / 2] and \ fc - W / 2, fc + W / 2], The complex envelope of the real signal s (t), called in English “complex envelope” or “complex baseband equivalent” or even “baseband-equivalent signal”, is a complex signal sB ( t) whose Fourier transform SB (f) is significant only in the frequency interval [- W / 2, W / 2] and satisfies SB (f) = k S (fc + /) in this interval, where k is a real constant which is chosen equal to the square root of 2 by some authors. The frequency interval \ fc - W / 2, fc + W / 2] is a bandwidth of the bandpass signal. According to the definitions, it is clear that, for a given bandpass signal, several choices of carrier frequency fc and bandwidth W are possible, so that the bandwidth of the bandpass signal is not defined so unique. However, any bandwidth of the bandpass signal must contain any frequency at which the spectrum of s (t) is not negligible. The complex envelope of the real signal s (t) clearly depends on the choice of a carrier frequency fc. However, for a given carrier frequency, the complex envelope of the real signal s (t) is uniquely defined, for a given choice of the real constant k. The excitation is produced by the transmission and signal processing unit, from a modulating signal sM (t). The excitation is a bandpass signal s (t), of carrier frequency fc, the complex envelope of which, for any fixed value of Ζυ, is substantially proportional to the modulating signal. The specialist knows that such an excitation can for example be obtained: - as a result of the phase and / or amplitude modulation of a single carrier at the frequency fc; - as a linear combination of a first signal and a second signal, the first signal being the product of the real part of the modulating signal and a first sinusoidal carrier of frequency fc, the second signal being the product of the part imaginary of the modulating signal and of a second sinusoidal carrier of frequency fc, the second sinusoidal carrier being 90 ° out of phase with respect to the first sinusoidal carrier; - in other ways, for example without using any carrier, for example by directly using a filtered output of a digital-analog converter. The excitation being a bandpass signal, it is possible to show that, if the bandwidth of the excitation is sufficiently narrow, then any voltage or current measured at the output port and caused by the excitation is a bandpass signal of which a complex envelope is proportional to the complex envelope of the excitation, the coefficient of proportionality being complex and independent of time. Thus we can consider that the excitation causes, at the output access: a current leaving the output access, of complex envelope iTP (t); and a voltage across the output access, with a complex envelope vTP (t). If the bandwidth of the complex envelope of the excitation is sufficiently narrow, we have '-' / y-fi) = ZSant 1 - //, (i) (1) where ZSant is the impedance seen by l output port at the carrier frequency.

The actual q quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access completely determine the impedance seen by the output access. Suppose that the two output signals from the detection unit are respectively proportional to a voltage across the output port and to a current leaving the output port, as explained above. The specialist understands how the signal transmitting and processing unit can process the detection unit output signals caused by excitation and obtained while the excitation is applied, to obtain actual quantities dependent on a impedance seen by the output port which completely determines the impedance seen by the output port. According to a first example, the transmission and signal processing unit can perform a frequency conversion of the detection unit output signals, followed by an “in-phase / quadrature (LQ) demodulation” (heterodyne reception) , to obtain four analog signals, respectively proportional to the real part of vTP (t), to the imaginary part of vTP (t), to the real part of iTP (t), and to the imaginary part of iTP (t). These analog signals can then be converted into digital signals and then be processed in the digital domain, using equation (1), to estimate the module of the admittance seen by the output port, and the phase admittance seen by the exit port. In a second example, the transmitting and signal processing unit can perform a down-conversion of all the detection unit output signals, followed by a conversion into digital signals using the method called in English “bandpass sampling”, and by a demodulation called in English “digital quadrature demodulation”, to obtain four digital signals: the samples of the real part of vTP (t); samples of the imaginary part of vTP (t); samples of the real part of iTP (t); and samples from the imaginary part of iTP (t). These digital signals can then be further processed, based on equation (1), to estimate the modulus of admittance seen by the output port, and the phase of admittance seen by the port of exit.

If the modulating signal module does not vary as a function of time, the excitation is not amplitude modulated and the excitation alone does not cause a variation, as a function of time, of the module of a complex voltage across the terminals of the output port, of the module of a complex current leaving the output port, of the module of a complex incident voltage at the output port, of an average power delivered by the output port, etc. . The specialist understands that, in this case, each of the performance variables mentioned as examples in the second embodiment can, for example, be used in this third embodiment.

If the modulus of the modulating signal varies as a function of time, the excitation is modulated in amplitude and the excitation alone causes variations, as a function of time, of the module of a complex voltage across the terminals of the output access, the modulus of a complex current exiting from the output port, from the module of a complex incident voltage at the output port, of an average power delivered by the output port, etc. In this case, none of the performance variables mentioned as examples in the second embodiment is appropriate. However, the specialist understands that excitation does not cause a variation, as a function of time, of a performance variable which is inversely proportional to a suitable function of the modulating signal module. Thus, the specialist understands that, in the case where the modulating signal module varies as a function of time but never cancels (and also in the case where the modulating signal module does not vary as a function of time): the variable performance can for example (example A) be substantially the product of a positive constant, an average of the square of the instantaneous current leaving the output port, and the inverse of the square of the modulating signal module, maximizing this performance variable maximizing an average power delivered by the output port; the performance variable can for example (example B) be substantially the product of a negative constant, an average of the absolute value of the instantaneous voltage across the output port, and the inverse of the module of the modulating signal, minimize this performance variable maximizing an average power delivered by the output port; the performance variable can for example (example C) be substantially the product of a positive constant, from the output of a first low-pass filter receiving at its input the square of an instantaneous incident voltage at the terminals of the access output, and the inverse of the output of a second low-pass filter receiving at its input the square of the modulating signal module.

The specialist understands that it is for example possible, in the case of example A, to easily obtain an analog signal substantially equal to the product of a positive constant and an average of the square of the instantaneous current leaving the output access, to convert this analog signal into a digital signal, and to obtain that the signal transmission and processing unit calculates a ratio between this digital signal and the square of the modulating signal module, to obtain the variable performance. The specialist understands that it is for example possible, in the case of example B, to easily obtain an analog signal substantially equal to the product of a negative constant and an average of the absolute value of the instantaneous voltage at output access terminals, convert this analog signal into a digital signal, and obtain that the signal transmission and processing unit calculates a ratio between this digital signal and the modulating signal module, to obtain the performance variable. The specialist understands that it is for example possible, in the case of example C, to easily obtain an analog signal substantially equal to the product of a positive constant and the output of an analog low-pass filter receiving at its input the square of an instantaneous incident voltage across the output port, converting this analog signal into a digital signal, and obtaining that the signal transmission and processing unit calculates a ratio between this digital signal and the output of a digital low-pass filter receiving at its input the square of the modulating signal module, to obtain the performance variable.

A performance variable which can be used in the case where the modulating signal module varies as a function of time (and also in the case where the modulating signal module does not vary as a function of time) can be such that, if the module of the modulating signal is not substantially zero, then the performance variable is substantially equal to the ratio between the image, by a function, of a module of a complex envelope of an electric variable captured at the output access , and the image, by the function, of a module of the modulating signal, the function being differentiable and strictly monotonic on the set of positive real numbers. Said electrical variable sensed at the output access can for example be a voltage across the output access, or a current leaving the output access, or an incident voltage at the output access, etc. Let us note / said function. The specialist understands that we can assume that said module of a complex envelope of an electrical variable sensed at the output port is, for given values of the tuning control signals and a given value of ZSant, substantially the product of a real constant A and of the modulating signal module. The specialist understands that, to obtain that variations in the modulus of the modulating signal have no effect on the performance variable, it is necessary and sufficient that, for any positive A, the ratio / (A | f (| sM (/) |) is independent of | sM (i) |. The function / must therefore be such that, for any positive number λ and any positive number x, we have

(2) so that (3)

Using a partial derivation of equation (3) with respect to the variable x then a partial derivation of equation (3) with respect to the variable λ, and then writing λ = 1, we obtain the differential equation

(4) in which f 'is the derivative of f. The differential equation (4) is not a linear differential equation. The solutions of the differential equation (4) are the functions given by

(5) where k and A? are real constants, K being non-zero. Conversely, we see that all the functions given by equation (5) satisfy equation (2), and are strictly monotonic for k non-zero. Thus, we have shown that the function f is such that the image of a positive variable by the function f is equal to the product of a nonzero real constant and the variable raised to a nonzero and constant real power. It is possible to consider that said example A corresponds to k = 2 and K> 0, and that said example B corresponds to k = 1 and K <0.

More generally, we see that, if the excitation is produced by the emission and signal processing unit from a modulating signal, the performance variable can be estimated as a function of one or more of the one or several detection unit output signals and depending on the modulating signal. In particular, the performance variable can be such that, if the modulus of the modulating signal is not substantially zero, then the performance variable is inversely proportional to the image of a modulus of the signal modulating by a differentiable function and strictly monotonous on the set of positive real numbers. This characteristic is advantageous because, as shown above, it can be such that variations in the modulus of the modulating signal have no effect on the performance variable.

Fourth embodiment.

The fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this fourth embodiment. An algorithm of one of the one or more adjustment sequences used in this fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. Before the start of said one of the one or more adjustment sequences, a “selected frequency” was chosen by l transmission and signal processing unit in the set of possible values of the excitation carrier frequency. In addition to the start symbol (81) and the end symbol (86), said algorithm includes:

a processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), in which the signal transmission and processing unit delivers one or more of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, and in which the control unit delivers said one or more antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna, each of said one or more of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions being determined as a function of the frequency selected; “start applying excitation” processing (83), in which the signal transmission and processing unit begins to apply excitation to the input port, so that the detection unit becomes capable of delivering the detection unit output signals each determined by an electrical variable sensed at the output port while an excitation is applied to the input port, said excitation having a carrier frequency which is equal to the selected frequency; a “supply tuning control signals to the tuning unit” processing (84), in which the transmission and signal processing unit delivers one or more of the tuning unit setting instructions , and wherein the control unit delivers said one or more tuning control signals to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access; and "stop applying excitation" processing (85), in which the transmitting and signal processing unit stops applying the excitation to the input access.

The selected frequency can take any value from the set of possible values of the excitation carrier frequency. Each of the one or more antenna control signals has no influence on the selected frequency. Each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions has no influence on the selected frequency. Each of said one or more of the one or more antenna tuning instructions being determined according to the selected frequency, and only according to the selected frequency, it is clear that an open loop command is used to obtain each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions, and an open loop command is used to obtain each of the one or more antenna control signals.

In this fourth embodiment, the one or more antenna adjustment instructions and the one or more antenna control signals are such that: at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the antenna passive tunable ”(82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to a specified impedance, which may depend on the frequency; each said at least one parameter of each said at least one tunable passive antenna antenna control device has a value which does not change since the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the passive antenna tunable ”(82) until the end of said one of one or more adjustment sequences.

To obtain that, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to the specified impedance, the unit Transmitting and signal processing uses an algorithm to determine and deliver the one or more antenna tuning instructions. The algorithm is based on the selected frequency and on certain properties of the tunable passive antenna. For example, the algorithm can be based on a formula making it possible to estimate the impedance seen by the output port ZSant in a configuration of supposed use, according to the selected frequency and each said at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device of the tunable passive antenna, the formula being able to be used to calculate, for the configuration of supposed use, an optimal value of each said at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device of the tunable passive antenna, at the selected frequency. For example, the algorithm can be based on one or more formulas making it possible to estimate, in a configuration of supposed use, an optimal value of each said at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device. tunable passive antenna, depending on the selected frequency. The specialist knows how to write such an algorithm, and he understands that such an algorithm cannot take into account variations in ZSant caused by variations in the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the tunable passive antenna. In addition, as mentioned above in the section on the prior art, a tunable passive antenna often provides only a poor tuning ability. Consequently, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is typically only very roughly close to the impedance specified.

We have shown in Figure 5 the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access (4) used in this fourth embodiment. This single entry and single exit access tuning unit includes: an exit access (401) having two terminals (4011) (4012), the exit access being asymmetrical; an entry access (402) having two terminals (4021) (4022), the entry access being asymmetrical; one of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (403), having a negative reactance and connected in series with a terminal of the output access; one of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (404), having a negative reactance and connected in series with a terminal of the input access; and a winding (405) having a terminal coupled to ground and a terminal coupled to a terminal of each of the one or more impedance adjustable devices of the tuning unit (403) (404).

All one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (403) (404) are adjustable by electrical means, but the circuits and control links necessary to determine the reactance of each of the one or more devices with impedance The adjustable tuning unit is not shown in Figure 5.

The specialist understands that the tuning unit with single input access and single output access is such that, if the impedance seen by the output port is equal to a given impedance, then the reactance of any which of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has an influence on an impedance presented by the input port. In addition, the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access has a full tuning capability (in English, “a full tuning capability”), the definition of which is given in section III of the article by F. Broydé and E. Clavelier entitled “Some Properties of Multiple-Antenna-Port and Multiple-User-Port Antenna Tuners”, published in IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Systems - I: Regular Papers, Vol. 62, No. 2, pages 423-432, in February 2015. Thus, the specialist understands that any small variation in the impedance seen by the output access can be completely compensated by a new automatic adjustment of the one or more devices to adjustable impedance of the tuning unit; and that the tuning unit with single input access and single output access can be such that it provides, at said given frequency, for suitable values of the one or more tuning control signals, a transfer of low loss power from the input port to the output port, and low loss power transfer from the output port to the input port.

In this fourth embodiment, we use p = 2 devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit. Thus, it is possible that p is greater than or equal to 2. As explained in said article entitled “Some Properties of Multiple-Antenna-Port and Multiple-User-Port Antenna Tuners”, this is necessary to obtain full agreement .

An algorithm for the processing “delivering tuning control signals to the tuning unit” (84) is shown in Figure 6. In addition to the start symbol (841) and the end symbol (844), said algorigramme comprises: a processing “generate initial values of the tuning control signals” (842), in which the transmission and signal processing unit issues an initial tuning unit setting instruction, and in which, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, the control unit generates a value of said each of the one or more tuning control signals, said value being called initial value, said initial value being determined by according to the initial tuning unit setting instruction, and only according to the initial tuning unit setting instruction; a “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” processing (843), in which the signal transmission and processing unit delivers subsequent tuning unit setting instructions, and in which, for each of the one or more tuning control signals and for each of the subsequent tuning unit setting instructions, the control unit generates a value of said each of the one or more tuning control signals, said value being called a subsequent value, said subsequent value being determined as a function of said each of the subsequent tuning unit adjustment instructions, and only as a function of said each of the subsequent tuning unit adjustment instructions.

The processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) has an open loop control structure, in which at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, and a quantity dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation, are used to obtain, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, an initial value. In this processing, the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port completely determine the impedance seen by the output port, at the carrier frequency of the excitation, after the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82). In this treatment, the quantity dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation is the selected frequency (which, as said above, is equal to the carrier frequency of the excitation).

According to a first example of the processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842), said initial tuning unit setting instruction is determined based on a model of the tuning unit to single input access and single output access, this model taking into account the influences of the excitation carrier frequency, of the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, and an initial tuning unit adjustment instruction, on a composite gain in power of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access. The specialist understands that this model can for example include: for each of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit, a consultation table (in English: “lookup table” or “look-up table”) on the characteristics of said each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit; and one or more formulas to calculate the composite power gain. The transmitting and signal processing unit estimates the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and uses an algorithm to determine the unit setting instruction. initial tuning, the initial tuning unit setting instruction being such that a predicted value of the composite gain in power of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, determined based on on the model, be as large as possible, at the carrier frequency of the excitation. This treatment does not require difficult calculation. This processing quickly provides the initial tuning unit setting instruction, which is such that a composite power gain obtained is not very far from a composite maximum power gain achievable with the tuning unit. with single input access and single output access to the carrier frequency of the excitation, because the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access completely determine the impedance seen by the output access, at the excitation carrier frequency, after the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82).

According to a second example of the processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842), a desired impedance is defined, and said initial tuning unit adjustment instruction is determined based on a model of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, this model taking into account the influences of the excitation carrier frequency, of the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and an initial tuning unit setting instruction, on the impedance presented by the input port Ζυ. The specialist understands that this model can for example include: for each of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit, a consultation table on the characteristics of the said each of one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the unit of agreement; and one or more formulas to calculate the impedance presented by the input access. The transmitting and signal processing unit estimates the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and uses an algorithm to determine the unit setting instruction. initial tuning, the initial tuning unit setting instruction being such that a predicted value of the modulus of the difference between the impedance presented by the input port and the desired impedance, determined based on the model, as small as possible, at the carrier frequency of the excitation. A first possible algorithm can for example use the formulas shown in section VI of the said article by F. Broydé and E. Clavelier entitled “Some Properties of Multiple-Antenna-Port and Multiple-User-Port Antenna Tuners”. This first possible algorithm does not take into account the losses in the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit. A second possible algorithm can for example use the iterative calculation technique presented in section 4 or in appendix C of the article by F. Broydé and E. Clavelier entitled “A Tuning Computation Technique for a Multiple-Antenna-Port and Multiple-User-Port Antenna Tuner ”, published in International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, in 2016. This second possible algorithm is more precise than the first possible algorithm, because it takes into account losses in the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access. The specialist knows how to write such an algorithm. This treatment does not require difficult calculation. This processing quickly provides the initial tuning unit setting instruction, which is such that, at the excitation carrier frequency, the impedance presented by the input port is not very far from the impedance sought, because the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port completely determine the impedance seen by the output port, at the carrier frequency of the excitation, after the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82).

Unfortunately, the processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) cannot be very precise, since it does not take into account the effects of component tolerances, component aging, and temperatures components, on the characteristics of the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit.

The processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) is used to substantially maximize an average power delivered by the output access, at the carrier frequency of the excitation. This processing is precise because it uses an extremum search regulation algorithm, which is based on a closed loop control structure. For example, this extremum search regulation algorithm may have the features set out below in the fourteenth embodiment, or in the fifteenth embodiment, or in the sixteenth embodiment, or in the seventeenth mode of embodiment, or in the eighteenth embodiment. This processing quickly provides one or more subsequent tuning unit setting instructions such that this average power delivered by the output port has a value very close to a maximum value, because this processing is started not very far from this maximum value, thanks to a processing “generate initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) taking into account the result of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82) . In the preceding sentence, "maximum value" means the largest value, of said average power, which can be obtained by adjusting only the tuning unit with single input access and single output access.

Unlike the “generate initial values of the tuning control signals” processing (842), the “generating subsequent values of the tuning control signals” processing (843) is not model-based, and it uses a closed loop control structure.

The processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) and the processing “generating subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) are such that setting the tuning unit to single entry access and single exit access is always optimal or nearly optimal, despite losses in the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit.

Therefore, this embodiment is a solution to the problem of automatically tuning a tunable passive antenna coupled to a radio transmitter, in a manner which provides: good tuning ability, using an access tuning unit. single entry and single exit access; and a setting of the single entry and single exit access tuning unit which is close to optimal tuning, when its losses are not very low. In addition, this embodiment provides a much wider tuning range than an automatic tuning system which would include the single entry access single exit access unit shown in Figure 5, but no tunable passive antenna.

Fifth embodiment.

The fifth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this fifth embodiment. An algorithm of one of the one or more adjustment sequences used in this fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. Before the start of said one of the one or more adjustment sequences, a “selected frequency” has been chosen by l transmission and signal processing unit in the set of possible values of the excitation carrier frequency. In addition to the start symbol (81) and the end symbol (86), said algorithm includes: “start to apply excitation” processing (83), in which the transmission and signal processing unit begins applying the excitation to the input port, so that the detection unit becomes capable of delivering the output signals of the detection unit each determined by an electric variable sensed at the output port while an excitation is applied to the input port, said excitation having a carrier frequency which is equal to the selected frequency; a processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), in which the signal transmission and processing unit delivers one or more of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, and in which the control unit delivers said one or more antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna, each of said one or more of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions being determined according to a or several of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port; a “supply tuning control signals to the tuning unit” processing (84), in which the transmission and signal processing unit delivers one or more of the tuning unit setting instructions , and wherein the control unit delivers said one or more tuning control signals to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access; and "stop applying excitation" processing (85), in which the transmitting and signal processing unit stops applying the excitation to the input access.

Each of said one or more of one or more antenna adjustment instructions being determined as a function of one or more of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, the one or more control signals antenna are issued based on one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port. The tunable passive antenna is such that each said at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device of the tunable passive antenna has an effect on the impedance seen by the output access, denoted ZSant. Since each of said parameters is mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals, the one or more antenna control signals have an effect on ZSant. Thus, the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82) uses a closed loop control structure, because one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output ports are used to obtain the one or more antenna tuning instructions, and then the one or more antenna control signals. Thus, it is clear that a closed loop command is used to obtain each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions, and that a closed loop command is used to obtain each of the one or more signal control signals. antenna.

In this fifth embodiment, the one or more antenna adjustment instructions and the one or more antenna control signals are such that: at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the antenna passive tunable ”(82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to a specified impedance, which may depend on the frequency; each said at least one parameter of each said at least one tunable passive antenna antenna control device has a value which does not change since the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the passive antenna tunable ”(82) until the end of said one of one or more adjustment sequences.

To obtain that, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to the specified impedance, the unit transmission and signal processing estimates the q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and uses an algorithm to determine and issue the one or more antenna tuning instructions. The algorithm uses the q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access. For example, supposing that the said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access are sufficient to be able to calculate ZSant, the algorithm may be a regulation algorithm by search for extremum seeking to minimize a variable of performance by controlling said one or more antenna control signals, the performance variable being an absolute value of the difference between ZSant and the specified impedance. For example, the algorithm can use the selected frequency and the q actual quantities depending on an impedance seen by the output access. For example, supposing that the said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port are sufficient to be able to calculate ZSant, the algorithm can be based on one or more formulas making it possible to estimate an optimal value of each said at least one parameter of each said at least one tunable passive antenna antenna control device, depending on the selected frequency, of the one or more antenna tuning instructions which were applied while the detection delivered the detection unit output signals used to estimate the q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and of ZSant. The specialist knows how to write such an algorithm. The specialist understands that such algorithms take into account variations in ZSant caused by variations in the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the tunable passive antenna. Consequently, the precision obtained can be better than in the corresponding processing of the fourth embodiment. However, as stated above in the section on the prior art, a tunable passive antenna often provides only poor tuning. Consequently, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is typically only roughly close to the specified impedance .

Sixth embodiment.

The sixth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this sixth embodiment. In this sixth embodiment, the excitation is applied continuously, so that the detection unit can continuously deliver detection unit output signals each determined by an electric variable sensed at the output access while an excitation is applied to the entrance access. An algorithm of one of the one or more adjustment sequences used in this sixth embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. Before the start of said one of the one or more adjustment sequences, a “selected frequency” was chosen by l transmission and signal processing unit, among the elements of the set of possible values of the excitation carrier frequency. Said excitation has, during said one of the one or more adjustment sequences, a carrier frequency which is equal to the selected frequency. In addition to the start symbol (81) and the end symbol (86), said algorithm includes: a processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), in which the unit d transmitting and processing the signal delivers one or more of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, and in which the control unit delivers the said one or more antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna, each said one or more of the one or more antenna tuning instructions being determined as a function of the selected frequency; and “providing tuning control signals to the tuning unit” processing (84), wherein the signal processing and transmitting unit outputs one or more of the tuning unit setting instructions. tuning, and wherein the control unit delivers said one or more tuning control signals to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access.

The selected frequency can take any value from the set of possible values of the excitation carrier frequency. Each of the one or more antenna control signals and each of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions being determined without using a measurement of a controlled quantity, it is clear that an open loop command is used to obtain each one or more antenna control signals and each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions.

In this sixth embodiment, the one or more antenna adjustment instructions and the one or more antenna control signals are such that: at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the antenna passive tunable ”(82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to a specified impedance, which may depend on the frequency; each said at least one parameter of each said at least one tunable passive antenna antenna control device has a value which does not change since the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the passive antenna tunable ”(82) until the start of an adjustment sequence following the end of said one or more adjustment sequences.

To obtain that, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to the specified impedance, the unit transmission and signal processing uses a look-up table to determine and issue the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, depending on the selected frequency. The specialist understands that such a look-up table cannot take into account variations in ZSant caused by variations in the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the tunable passive antenna. In addition, as mentioned above in the section on the prior art, a tunable passive antenna often provides only a poor tuning ability. Consequently, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is typically only very roughly close to the impedance specified.

We have shown in Figure 9 the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access (4) used in this sixth embodiment. This single entry and single exit access tuning unit includes: an exit access (401) having two terminals (4011) (4012), the exit access being asymmetrical; an entry access (402) having two terminals (4021) (4022), the entry access being asymmetrical; one of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (406), having a positive reactance, having a first terminal connected to a terminal of the input access, and having a second terminal connected to a terminal exit access; one of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (407), having a negative reactance and connected in parallel with the output access; and one of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (408), having negative reactance and connected in parallel with the input access.

All the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (406) (407) (408) are electrically adjustable, but the circuits and control links necessary to determine the reactance of each of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit are not shown in FIG. 9. In this sixth embodiment, we use p = 3 devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit.

The specialist understands that at a frequency at which the single entry access single exit access unit is provided to operate, the single entry access single exit access unit is such that, if the impedance seen by the output port is equal to a given impedance, then the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has an effect on an impedance presented by the entrance access.

An algorithm for the processing “delivering tuning control signals to the tuning unit” (84) is shown in Figure 6. In addition to the start symbol (841) and the end symbol (844), said algorigram includes: “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” processing (842), in which the signal transmission and processing unit delivers initial tuning unit setting instructions, and in which, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, the control unit generates a value of said each of the one or more tuning control signals, said value being called initial value, said initial value being determined by a function of one or more of the initial tuning unit setting instructions, and only a function of one or more of the initial tuning unit setting instructions; a “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” processing (843), in which the signal transmission and processing unit delivers subsequent tuning unit setting instructions, and in which, for each of one or more tuning control signals, the control unit generates values of said each of one or more tuning control signals, said values being called subsequent values, each of said subsequent values being determined by function of one or more of the subsequent tuning unit setting instructions.

The chord control signals have no effect on the impedance seen by the output access, and therefore on said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access. The processing “generate initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) not using measurement of a controlled quantity, it is clear that it has an open loop control structure, in which a dependent quantity of the excitation carrier frequency and at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port are used to obtain, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, an initial value . In this treatment, the quantity dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation is a number proportional to the selected frequency. The “generate initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) processing uses a look-up table to determine the initial tuning unit setting instructions, based on the selected frequency and the q actual quantities. dependent on an impedance seen by the output port. The specialist understands how to build and use the look-up table.

According to a first example of the processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842), the look-up table can be saved in a read-only memory, and have been constructed using data obtained by determining, by laboratory with a prototype of the device for radio communication, at different frequencies, and for different configurations producing different values of the impedance seen by the output access, initial tuning unit adjustment instructions producing the values greatest possible from a composite gain in power of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access. This processing does not require difficult calculation, and it quickly provides initial tuning unit setting instructions, which are such that a composite power gain obtained is not very far from a composite power gain maximum achievable with the tuning unit with single input access and single output access to the carrier frequency of the excitation, because the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the access of output completely determine the impedance seen by the output access, at the excitation carrier frequency, after the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82).

According to a second example of the processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842), the look-up table can be saved in a read-only memory, and can have been constructed using data obtained by determining, by laboratory with a prototype of the device for radio communication, at different frequencies, and for different configurations producing different values of the impedance seen by the output access, initial tuning unit adjustment instructions producing the values smallest possible of a module of the difference between the impedance presented by the input access and a sought impedance. This processing does not require difficult calculation, and it quickly provides initial tuning unit setting instructions which are such that, at the excitation carrier frequency, the impedance presented by the input port is not very far from the impedance sought, because the at least two of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port completely determine the impedance seen by the output port, at the carrier frequency of the excitation, after the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82).

Unfortunately, the processing "generating initial values of the tuning control signals" (842) cannot be very precise, for the reasons already explained above in the fourth embodiment.

The processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) is used to substantially maximize an average power delivered by the output access, at the carrier frequency of the excitation. This treatment is precise because it uses a regulatory algorithm by looking for extremum. This processing quickly provides one or more subsequent tuning unit setting instructions such that this average power delivered by the output port has a value very close to a maximum value, because this processing is started not very far from this maximum value, thanks to the processing “generate initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) taking into account the result of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82). In the preceding sentence, "maximum value" means the largest value, of said average power, which can be obtained by adjusting only the tuning unit with single input access and single output access.

Since it uses assumed characteristics of the single input access and single output access tuning unit, the processing “generate initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) is model-based. On the contrary, the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) is not based on a model, and it uses a closed loop control structure.

The processing “generating initial values of the tuning control signals” (842) and the processing “generating subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) are such that setting the tuning unit to single entry access and single exit access is always optimal or nearly optimal, despite losses in the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit.

Therefore, this embodiment is a solution to the problem of automatically tuning a tunable passive antenna coupled to a radio transmitter, in a manner which provides: good tuning ability, using an access tuning unit. single entry and single exit access; and a setting of the single entry and single exit access tuning unit which is close to optimal tuning, when its losses are not very low. In addition, this embodiment provides a much wider tuning range than an automatic tuning system which would include the single entry access single exit access unit shown in Figure 9, but no tunable passive antenna.

Seventh embodiment.

The seventh embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this seventh embodiment. In this seventh embodiment, the excitation is applied continuously, so that the detection unit can continuously deliver detection unit output signals each determined by an electrical variable sensed at the output access while an excitation is applied to the entrance access. An algorithm of one of the one or more adjustment sequences used in this seventh embodiment is shown in Figure 8. Before the start of said one or more adjustment sequences, a “selected frequency” was chosen by l transmission and signal processing unit, among the elements of the set of possible values of the excitation carrier frequency. Said excitation has, during said one of the one or more adjustment sequences, a carrier frequency which is equal to the selected frequency. In addition to the start symbol (81) and the end symbol (86), said algorithm includes: a processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), in which the unit d transmitting and processing the signal delivers one or more of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, and in which the control unit delivers the said one or more antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna, each said one or more of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions being determined as a function of one or more of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port; and “providing tuning control signals to the tuning unit” processing (84), wherein the signal processing and transmitting unit outputs one or more of the tuning unit setting instructions. tuning, and wherein the control unit delivers said one or more tuning control signals to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access.

In this seventh embodiment, the one or more antenna adjustment instructions and the one or more antenna control signals are such that: at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the antenna passive tunable ”(82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to a specified impedance, which may depend on the frequency; each said at least one parameter of each said at least one tunable passive antenna antenna control device has a value which does not change since the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the passive antenna tunable ”(82) until the start of an adjustment sequence following the end of said one or more adjustment sequences.

To obtain that, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is close to the specified impedance, the unit transmission and signal processing estimates the q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, and uses a look-up table to determine and issue the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, based on on the selected frequency and on the q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, taking into account the one or more antenna adjustment instructions which were applied while the detection unit delivered the signals of detection unit output used to estimate the q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port. The specialist understands how to build and use such a look-up table. The look-up table is such that the tunable passive antenna settings are always optimal or almost optimal. The specialist understands that such a look-up table takes into account the variations in ZSant caused by variations in the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the tunable passive antenna. Therefore, the accuracy obtained may be better than in the corresponding processing of the sixth embodiment. However, as stated above in the section on the prior art, a tunable passive antenna often provides only poor tuning. Consequently, at the end of the processing “deliver antenna control signals to the tunable passive antenna” (82), the impedance seen by the output port is typically only roughly close to the specified impedance .

Eighth embodiment.

The eighth embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this eighth embodiment. The tunable passive antenna (1) used in this eighth embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. The tunable passive antenna shown in FIG. 10 comprises a planar metallic structure (111) produced above a ground plane (115), the signal access of the tunable passive antenna (116) where an asymmetrical antenna link is connected to the metal structure, and an antenna control device (112). The metal structure is split and such that, if the antenna control device was not present, the tunable passive antenna would be an example of the antenna called in English “planar inverted-F antenna” or “PIFA”. The antenna control device is a micro-electromechanical switch comprising a first terminal (113) connected to the metal structure (111) at a first side of the slot, and a second terminal (114) connected to the metal structure (111 ) on a second side of the slot. The specialist understands that the self-impedance of the tunable passive antenna, in a given test configuration and at the given frequency, is a characteristic of the tunable passive antenna which can be varied using said control device antenna, so that this feature is controlled using said antenna control device. The state of the micro-electromechanical switch (open or closed) is a parameter of the antenna control device which has an influence on said characteristic. This parameter of the antenna control device is adjustable electrically, but the circuits and control links necessary to determine the state of the antenna control device are not shown in Figure 10.

Ninth embodiment.

The ninth embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this ninth embodiment. The tunable passive antenna (1) used in this ninth embodiment is shown in Figure 11. The tunable passive antenna shown in Figure 11 has a planar metal structure (111) made above a ground plane (115), the signal access of the tunable passive antenna (116) where an asymmetrical antenna link is connected to a metal strip (117) located between the ground plane and the metal structure, and three control devices d antenna (112). Each of the antenna control devices is an adjustable impedance device having a reactance at the given frequency, comprising a first terminal (113) connected to the metal structure (111), and a second terminal (114) connected to the ground plane (115). The specialist understands that the self-impedance of the tunable passive antenna, in a given test configuration and at the given frequency, is a characteristic of the tunable passive antenna which can be varied using the said devices. antenna control, so this feature is controlled using the so-called antenna control devices. Each of the antenna control devices has a reactance at the given frequency, this reactance being a parameter of said each of the antenna control devices, this parameter having an influence on said characteristic. This parameter for each of the antenna control devices is electrically adjustable, but the circuits and control links required to determine the reactance of each of the antenna control devices are not shown in Figure 11.

Tenth embodiment.

The tenth embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this tenth embodiment. The tunable passive antenna (1) used in this tenth embodiment is shown in Figure 12. The tunable passive antenna shown in Figure 12 has a plane of symmetry orthogonal to the drawing. Thus, the passive tunable antenna has a first half-antenna, on the left in FIG. 12, and a second half-antenna, on the right in FIG. 12. The signal access of the passive tunable antenna has a first terminal ( 118) where a first conductor of a symmetrical antenna link is connected to the first half antenna, and a second terminal (119) where a second conductor of the symmetrical antenna link is connected to the second half antenna. Each half antenna has three segments and two antenna control devices (112). Each of the antenna control devices is an adjustable impedance device having a reactance at the given frequency, comprising a first terminal connected to a segment of a half-antenna, and a second terminal connected to another segment of this half antenna. The specialist understands that the self-impedance of the tunable passive antenna, in a given test configuration and at the given frequency, is a characteristic of the tunable passive antenna which can be varied using the said devices. antenna control, so this feature is controlled using the so-called antenna control devices. Each of the antenna control devices has a reactance at the given frequency, this reactance being a parameter of said each of the antenna control devices, this parameter having an influence on said characteristic. This parameter for each of the antenna control devices is adjustable by electrical means, but the control circuits and baisons necessary to determine the reactance of each of the antenna control devices are not shown in Figure 12.

Eleventh embodiment.

The eleventh embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, and all the explanations provided for the first embodiment are applicable to this eleventh embodiment. The tunable passive antenna (1) used in this eleventh embodiment is shown in Figure 13. The tunable passive antenna shown in Figure 13 has a main antenna (121), a spurious antenna (122), 1 access signal from the tunable passive antenna (127) where an asymmetrical antenna link (128) is connected to the main antenna and ground (126), and an antenna control device (123). The antenna control device is an adjustable impedance device having a reactance at the given frequency, comprising a first terminal (124) connected to the parasitic antenna (122), and a second terminal (125) connected to ground ( 126). The specialist understands that the directivity diagram of the tunable passive antenna (1), in a given test configuration and at the given frequency, is a characteristic of the tunable passive antenna which can be varied by using said antenna control device, so that this feature is controlled using said antenna control device. The reactance of the antenna control device at the given frequency is a parameter of said antenna control device which has an influence on said characteristic. This parameter of the antenna control device is adjustable electrically, but the circuits and control links necessary to determine the reactance of the antenna control device are not shown in Figure 13.

However, the specialist understands that this parameter also has an influence on the self-impedance of the tunable passive antenna, so that the self-impedance of the tunable passive antenna, in a given test configuration and at the given frequency , is also a characteristic of the tunable passive antenna which can be varied by using said antenna control device. The tunable passive antenna (1) could also include other parasitic antennas each coupled to an antenna control device.

Twelfth embodiment.

By way of a twelfth embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, we consider a method for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas and a tuning unit with single input access and access single output, the single input and single output access tuning unit having input access and output access, the one or more tunable passive antennas and the access tuner unit single input and single output access being parts of an apparatus for radio communication, the apparatus for radio communication allowing, at a given frequency, a transfer of power from the input access to a radiated electromagnetic field by the one or more tunable passive antennas, the method comprising the following steps: estimating one or more “location variables”, each of the one or more variables location based on a distance between a part of a human body and an area of the device for radio communication; deliver one or more “antenna control signals”, according to a “selected frequency” and according to one or more location variables, each of the one or more tunable passive antennas comprising at least one device for controlling antenna, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of said each of one or more tunable passive antennas, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means, said at least a parameter being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals; applying an excitation to the input access, the excitation having a carrier frequency called "the carrier frequency of the excitation" and equal to the selected frequency; picking up one or more electrical variables at the output access while the excitation is applied, to obtain one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more electrical variables picked up at the output port; estimate q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; deliver one or more “tuning control signals”, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access comprising p devices with adjustable impedance, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at the given frequency, each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals, the reactance of any of the one or more impedance devices re of the tuning unit having an influence on an impedance presented by the input access, said step of delivering one or more “tuning control signals” comprising the following steps: generating, for each of the one or several tuning control signals, an initial value of said each of one or more tuning control signals, as a function of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port; generating, for one or more of the one or more chord control signals, at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of the one or more chord control signals, an algorithm for regulation by search for extremum being used to generate said at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of one or more tuning control signals, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable by controlling the called one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals.

We have shown in FIG. 14 the block diagram of a device for radio communication implementing this method, the device for radio communication comprising: a location sensor unit (7), the location sensor unit estimating one or more “location variables”, each of the one or more location variables dependent on a distance between a part of a human body and an area of the device for radio communication; a tunable passive antenna (1), the tunable passive antenna comprising at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means; an antenna link (2); a single entry access and single exit access tuning unit (4) similar to that used in the first embodiment, having an entry access and an exit access; a detection unit (3) delivering two “detection unit output signals”, each of the detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables sensed at the output access while a excitation is applied to the entrance access; a signal transmission and processing unit (8), the signal transmission and processing unit delivering one or more "antenna adjustment instructions", each of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions being determined as a function of a “selected frequency” and as a function of one or more location variables, the selected frequency being greater than or equal to 300 MHz, the transmission and signal processing unit applying excitation to the input access, the excitation having a carrier frequency called “the carrier frequency of the excitation” and equal to the selected frequency, the transmission and signal processing unit estimating q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals, the unit d transmitting and processing the signal delivering “tuning unit setting instructions”, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being an “initial tuning unit setting instruction”, each of one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions being determined as a function of the selected frequency and as a function of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, at least one of the setting instructions d the tuning unit being a “subsequent tuning unit setting instruction”, the signal transmission and processing unit executing a regulation algorithm by search for extremum to generate each of the one or more instructions for tuning of subsequent tuning units, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable, the varia ble of performance being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; and a control unit (6) similar to that used in the first embodiment, delivering one or more "antenna control signals" to the tunable passive antenna and one or more "tuning control signals" to the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit.

It is possible that at least one of the one or more location variables is an output from a sensor sensitive to a pressure exerted by a part of a human body. Thus, it is possible that at least one of the one or more location variables is the output of a circuit comprising a switch using a mechanical system with a single pressure without engagement, the state of which changes while sufficient pressure is exerted. by a part of a human body. It is also possible that at least one of the one or more location variables is the output of a circuit comprising another type of electromechanical sensor sensitive to a pressure exerted by a part of a human body, for example a microelectromechanical sensor ( in English: “MEMS sensor”).

It is possible that at least one of the one or more location variables is an output from a proximity sensor, such as a proximity sensor dedicated to detecting a human body. Such a proximity sensor may for example be a capacitive proximity sensor, or an infrared proximity sensor using measurements of the intensity of reflected light, or an infrared proximity sensor using time of flight measurements (in English: of-flight), which are well known to specialists.

It is possible that the set of possible values of at least one of the one or more location variables is a finite set. It is possible that at least one of the one or more localization variables is a binary variable, that is to say such that the set of possible values of said at least one of the one or more localization variables has exactly two elements. For example, a capacitive proximity sensor dedicated to the detection of a human body (for example the SX9300 device from Semtech) can be used to obtain a binary variable, which indicates whether or not a human body has been detected in the vicinity of '' an area of the device for radio communication. It is possible that the set of possible values for any of the one or more location variables is a finite set. However, it is possible that the set of possible values of at least one of the one or more location variables is an infinite set, and it is possible that the set of possible values of at least one of the one or more variables of location is a continuous set.

It is possible that the set of possible values of at least one of the one or more location variables has at least three elements. For example, an infrared proximity sensor using time of flight measurements and dedicated to the evaluation of the distance to a human body (for example the VL6180 device from STMicroelectronics) can be used to obtain a location variable such as the set of possible values of the location variable has at least three elements, one of the values signifying that no human body was detected, each of the other values corresponding to a different distance between an area of the device for radio communication and the closest part of a human body detected. The set of possible values for any of the one or more location variables may have at least three elements.

It is possible that at least one of the one or more localization variables is an output from a sensor which is not dedicated to the detection of a human body. For example, it is possible that at least one of the one or more location variables is determined by a change of state of a switch on a keyboard, which reveals the position of a human finger. For example, it is possible that at least one of the one or more location variables is determined by a change of state of an output of a touch screen, which reveals the position of a human finger. Such a touch screen can use any of the available technologies, such as a resistive touch screen, a capacitive touch screen or a surface acoustic wave touch screen, etc.

It is said above that each of the one or more location variables depends on the distance between a part of a human body and an area of the device for radio communication. This should be interpreted as meaning: each of the one or more location variables is such that there is at least one configuration in which the distance between a part of a human body and an area of the device for radio communication has an effect. on said each of the one or more location variables. However, it is possible that there are one or more configurations in which the distance between a part of a human body and an area of the device for radio communication has no effect on said each of the one or more variables. of location. For example, the distance between a part of a human body and an area of the device for radio communication has no effect on a switch if there is no force exerted directly or indirectly by the body. human on the switch. For example, the distance between a part of a human body and an area of the device for radio communication has no effect on a proximity sensor if the human body is outside the range of the proximity sensor.

The selected frequency can take any value from a "set of possible values of the excitation carrier frequency", which has several elements. Each of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions being determined as a function of the selected frequency and one or more location variables, and only as a function of the selected frequency and one or more location variables, it is clear that open loop control is used to generate each of the one or more antenna control signals.

The specialist understands that, in this twelfth embodiment, the step of delivering one or more tuning control signals can be faster, for a given precision, than the corresponding step of the first embodiment, thanks to the use of one or more location variables.

Thirteenth embodiment.

The thirteenth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 14, and all the explanations provided for the twelfth embodiment are applicable to this thirteenth embodiment. In addition, in this thirteenth embodiment, the device for radio communication is a mobile telephone, and the location sensor unit includes 4 proximity sensors.

Figure 15 is a drawing of a rear view of the mobile phone (700). Figure 15 shows: a point (71) where the first of the 4 proximity sensors is located; a point (72) where the second of the 4 proximity sensors is located; a point (73) where the third of the 4 proximity sensors is located; and a point (74) where the fourth of the 4 proximity sensors is located.

A finite set of typical usage patterns is defined. For example, Figure 16 shows a first typical usage configuration, which can be called “right hand and head configuration”; FIG. 17 shows a second typical configuration of use, which can be called “two-hand configuration”; and Figure 18 shows a third typical usage configuration, which can be called "right hand configuration only". In Figure 16, Figure 17 and Figure 18, the mobile phone (700) is held by a user. More specifically, the user holds the mobile phone close to his head with his right hand in figure 16, far from his head with his two hands in figure 17, and far from his head only with his right hand in figure 18 In a real use configuration, the location variables evaluated by the 4 proximity sensors are used to determine the typical use configuration closest to the real use configuration. Each of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions is determined from a set of predetermined antenna adjustment instructions which are stored in a look-up table produced in the signal transmission and processing unit, based on the closest typical usage configuration and the selected frequency. The specialist understands how to build and use such a look-up table. The specialist understands the advantage of defining and using a set of typical usage patterns, which must be large enough to cover all relevant cases, and small enough to avoid an overly large look-up table.

It has been shown that, in order to obtain good accuracy for each of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, more than two typical usage configurations must be defined, and that a single location variable cannot be used to determine the closest typical usage configuration. Therefore, in this thirteenth embodiment, it is important that a plurality of location variables is estimated.

In addition, to be able to determine the closest typical usage configuration, it is necessary to use location variables depending on the distance between a part of a human body and different areas of the device for radio communication. . More precisely, it is necessary that there are two localization variables, denoted A and B, the localization variable A depending on the distance between a part of a human body and an area X of the device for radio communication, the location variable B depending on the distance between a part of a human body and an area Y of the device for radio communication, such that X and Y are distinct, or preferably such that X and Y have an empty intersection. In this thirteenth embodiment, this result is obtained by using a location sensor unit comprising a plurality of proximity sensors, located in different locations of the device for radio communication, as shown in FIG. 15.

Fourteenth embodiment.

The fourteenth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, to the algorithms represented in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 6, and the single input access and single output access tuning unit shown in FIG. 5. All the explanations provided for the first embodiment and for the fourth embodiment are applicable to this fourteenth embodiment. . As p = 2, the "one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit" can be called "devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit".

In this fourteenth embodiment, the tuning control unit delivers two tuning control signals to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, and reactance of each of the devices to adjustable impedance of the tuning unit is mainly determined by one and only one of the tuning control signals.

We have shown in FIG. 19 an algorigram applicable, in this fourteenth embodiment, to the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) of FIG. 6. In addition to the start symbol (84301) and of the end symbol (84307), this algorithm comprises: an “initialization” processing (84302), in which a condition is defined; a processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signal for 403” (84303), in which at least one subsequent value of the tuning control signal which mainly determines the reactance of a first of the devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (403) is delivered using a one parameter parameter search algorithm, the one parameter search algorithm seeking to maximize the performance variable by controlling said signal tuning control which mainly determines the reactance of a first of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (403); a processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signal for 404” (84304), in which at least one subsequent value of the tuning control signal which mainly determines the reactance of a second of the devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (404) is delivered using a one parameter parameter search algorithm, the one parameter search algorithm seeking to maximize the performance variable by controlling said signal tuning control which mainly determines the reactance of a second of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (404); a process (84305) in which a test value is determined; and a conditional branch (84306) used to reach the end symbol (84307) if the test value satisfies the condition (which corresponds to a completion criterion).

The specialist understands that, in this fourteenth embodiment, at least one subsequent value of each of the tuning control signals is generated using a two-parameter extremum search regulation algorithm, the search regulation algorithm two-parameter extremum using a one-parameter extremum search algorithm in the “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signal for 403” (84303) processing, and a search algorithm extremum to a parameter in the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signal for 404” (84304). Here, “regulation algorithm by search for a single parameter” designates a regulation algorithm by search for extremum which controls and varies a tuning control signal over time, and “algorithm for regulation by search for a 'two-parameter extremum ”designates a regulation algorithm by looking for an extremum which controls and varies 2 control control signals over time.

More generally, if p is an integer greater than or equal to 2, use “regulation algorithm by search for extremum with p parameters” to designate a regulation algorithm by search for extremum which controls and varies p control signals from agreement over time. In a different embodiment such as the tuning unit with single input access and single output access ap devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit, such as the tuning control unit delivers p tuning control signals, and such that the reactance of each of the tuning unit's impedance devices is mainly determined by one and only one of the tuning control signals, it is possible that at least one subsequent value of each of the tuning control signals is generated using a p-parameter extremal search regulation algorithm, which uses a plurality of extremum search regulation algorithms each of which controls and varies less than p tuning control signals over time, for example p regulation algorithms by looking for a single parameter extremum.

Fifteenth embodiment.

The fifteenth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication represented in FIG. 3, to the algorithms represented in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 6, to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access shown in FIG. 5, and to the flow diagram of the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” represented in FIG. 19. All the explanations provided for the first embodiment, the fourth embodiment and the fourteenth embodiment are applicable to this fifteenth embodiment.

We have shown in FIG. 20 an algorigram applicable, in this fifteenth embodiment, to the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signal for 403” (84303) of FIG. 19, and to the processing “generate values of the tuning control signal for 404 ”(84304) in Figure 19. In addition to the start symbol (84901) and the end symbol (84906), this algorithm includes: a process (84902) in which a timer (in English: timer) is set to zero and started; a processing (84903) in which a regulation algorithm by search for a one-parameter extremum, which delivers subsequent values of one of the tuning control signals, is started; and a conditional branch (84904) used to wait for a predefined time; and a processing (84905) in which the algorithm for regulation by search for a single parameter is stopped.

For example, a regulation algorithm by search for extremum with a suitable parameter can be an algorithm called “perturbation based extremum-seeking control algorithm” in English, which includes a step in which a periodic perturbation is applied to said one of the signals of control okay. For example, this approach is treated in chapter 1 of the said book by K.B. Ariyur and M. Krstic, in the case of a purely analog implementation.

Sixteenth embodiment.

The sixteenth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, to the algorithms represented in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 6, to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access shown in FIG. 5, and to the flow diagram of the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” represented in FIG. 19. All the explanations provided for the first embodiment, the fourth embodiment and the fourteenth embodiment are applicable to this sixteenth embodiment.

We have shown in FIG. 21 an algorigram applicable, in this sixteenth embodiment, to the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signal for 403” (84303) of FIG. 19, and to the processing “generate values of the tuning control signal for 404 ”(84304) in Figure 19. In addition to the start symbol (84901) and the end symbol (84906), this algorithm includes: a process (84907) in which a condition is defined; a processing (84908) in which a step of a regulation algorithm by search for an extremum with a parameter is carried out, during which a predefined number of subsequent values of one of the tuning control signals are delivered; a process (84909) in which a test value is determined; and a conditional branch (84910) used to reach the end symbol (84906) if the test value satisfies the condition.

For example, a regulation algorithm by search for extremum at a suitable parameter can be an algorithm called “stochastic extremum-seeking control algorithm” in English, which includes a step in which a stochastic or random disturbance, for example a colored noise passed through one bounded non-linearity, is applied to said one of the tuning control signals. For example, this approach is dealt with in chapter 5 of the said book by S.-J. Liu and M. Krstic, in the case of a purely analog implementation.

Seventeenth embodiment.

The seventeenth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication represented in FIG. 3, to the algorithms represented in FIG. 4 and the FIG. 6, and to the single input access and single output access tuning unit shown in FIG. 5. All the explanations provided for the first embodiment and for the fourth embodiment are applicable to this ten- seventh embodiment. As p = 2, the "one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit" can be called "devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit".

In this seventeenth embodiment, the tuning control unit delivers two tuning control signals to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, and reactance of each of Adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit is mainly determined by one and only one of the tuning control signals.

We have shown in FIG. 22 an algorigram applicable, in this seventeenth embodiment, to the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) of FIG. 6. In addition to the start symbol ( 84301) and the end symbol (84307), this algorithm includes: a processing (84308) in which a timer (in English: timer) is set to zero and started; a processing (84309) in which a regulation algorithm by search for extremes with two parameters, which delivers subsequent values of the two tuning control signals, is started; a conditional branch (84310) used to wait for a predefined time; and a processing (84311) in which the algorithm for regulation by search for extremes with two parameters is stopped.

For example, a suitable two-parameter extremum search regulation algorithm may be an algorithm called “perturbation based extremum-seeking control algorithm” in English, which comprises a step in which two different periodic disturbances are each applied to one of the signals. control okay. For example, this approach is dealt with in chapter 2 of the said book by K.B. Ariyur and M. Krstic, in the case of a purely analog implementation. It offers higher performance than that used in the fourteenth embodiment.

More generally, p being an integer greater than or equal to 2, in a different embodiment such as the tuning unit with single input access and single output access ap devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit , such that the tuning control unit delivers p tuning control signals, and such that the reactance of each of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit is mainly determined by one and only one of the tuning control, it is possible that at least one subsequent value of each of the tuning control signals is generated using a p-parameter extremum search algorithm which is of the type called “perturbation based extremum- seeking control ”in English, which includes a step in which p different periodic disturbances are each applied to one of the tuning control signals.

Eighteenth embodiment.

The eighteenth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the device for radio communication shown in FIG. 3, to the algorithms represented in FIG. 4 and the FIG. 6, and to the single input access and single output access tuning unit shown in FIG. 5. All the explanations provided for the first embodiment and for the fourth embodiment are applicable to this ten- eighth embodiment. As p = 2, the "one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit" can be called "devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit".

In this eighteenth embodiment, the tuning control unit delivers two tuning control signals to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, and reactance of each of Adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit is mainly determined by one and only one of the tuning control signals.

We have shown in FIG. 23 an algorithm which is applicable, in this eighteenth embodiment, to the processing “generate subsequent values of the tuning control signals” (843) of FIG. 6. In addition to the start symbol ( 84301) and the end symbol (84307), this algorithm includes: a processing (84312) in which a condition is defined; a processing (84313) in which a step of a two-parameter extremum search algorithm is performed, during which a predefined number of subsequent values of the two tuning control signals are delivered; a process (84314) in which a test value is determined; and a conditional branch (84315) used to reach the end symbol (84307) if the test value satisfies the condition (which corresponds to a completion criterion).

For example, a suitable two-parameter extremum search regulation algorithm may be an algorithm called “stochastic extremum-seeking control algorithm” in English, which comprises a step in which two different stochastic or random perturbations are each applied to one of the control signals okay. For example, this approach is dealt with in chapter 8 of the said book by S.-J. Liu and M. Krstic, in the case of a purely analog implementation. It offers higher performance than that used in the fourteenth embodiment.

More generally, p being an integer greater than or equal to 2, in a different embodiment such as the tuning unit with single input access and single output access ap devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit , such that the tuning control unit delivers p tuning control signals, and such that the reactance of each of the adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit is mainly determined by one and only one of the tuning control, it is possible that at least one subsequent value of each of the tuning control signals is generated using a p-parameter extremum search regulation algorithm which is of the type called “stochastic extremum-seeking control ”in English, which includes a step in which p different stochastic or random perturbations are each applied to one of the tuning control signals.

Nineteenth embodiment.

By way of a nineteenth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, we have shown in FIG. 24 the block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication comprising: N = 4 tunable passive antennas (1), each of the tunable passive antennas comprising at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of said each of the tunable passive antennas, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means; a switching unit (9), the switching unit comprising N antenna accesses each coupled to one and only one of the passive antennas tunable through an antenna link (2), the switching unit comprising a network access antennas, the switching unit operating in an active configuration determined by one or more “configuration instructions”, the active configuration being one of a plurality of authorized configurations, the switching unit providing, in any authorized configurations, for signals in a given frequency band, a bidirectional path between the antenna network access and one and only one of the antenna accesses; a single entry access and single exit access tuning unit (4) having an entry access and an exit access, the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit comprising p adjustable impedance devices, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at a given frequency in the given frequency band, each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being adjustable by electric means; a detection unit (3) delivering one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables picked up (or measured) at the output port while an excitation is applied to the input port, the output port being indirectly coupled to the antenna array access through the detection unit; a signal transmission and processing unit (8), the signal transmission and processing unit delivering the one or more configuration instructions, the signal transmission and processing unit delivering one or more “ antenna adjustment instructions ”, the transmitting and signal processing unit applying excitation to the input access, the transmitting and signal processing unit estimating q actual quantities dependent on a impedance seen by the output port, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more output signals of the detection unit, the transmission and processing unit of the signal delivering “tuning unit setting instructions”, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being an “initial tuning unit setting instruction”, each of one or more tuning setting instructions initial tuning unit being determined as a function of one or more of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being a “tuning instruction subsequent tuning unit setting ”, the signal transmission and processing unit executing an extremum search regulation algorithm to generate each of one or more subsequent tuning unit setting instructions, l 'regulation algorithm by search for an extremum seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable, the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; and a control unit (6), the control unit delivering one or more "antenna control signals" to the one or more tunable passive antennas, each of the one or more antenna control signals being determined as a function of '' at least one of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, each says at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device of each of the tunable passive antennas being determined by at least one of the one or more signals antenna control unit, the control unit delivering one or more “tuning control signals” to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, the control unit generating, for each of one or more tuning control signals, one or more values of said each of one or more tuning control signals, say one or more values of said each of one or more ur tuning control signals being determined as a function of at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions, the reactance of each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being determined by at minus one of the one or more tuning control signals. The switching unit operates (or is used) in an active configuration determined by the one or more configuration instructions, the active configuration being an authorized configuration among a plurality of authorized configurations, the switching unit providing, in any which of the authorized configurations, for signals in the given frequency band, a path between the antenna network access and one of the antenna accesses. Thus, the switching unit operates in an active configuration which is one of the authorized configurations, and each authorized configuration corresponds to a selection of an antenna access from the N antenna accesses. It is also possible to say that the switching unit operates in an active configuration corresponding to a selection of an antenna access from the N antenna accesses.

Each authorized configuration corresponds to a selection of an antenna access from among the N antenna accesses, the switching unit providing, for signals in the given frequency band, a path between the antenna network access and the antenna access selected. This path can preferably be a low loss path for signals in the given frequency band. The specialist understands that a suitable switching unit may include one or more electrically controlled switches and / or switches. In this case, one or more of said one or more electrically controlled switches and / or switches may for example be an electromechanical relay, or a microelectromechanical switch, or a circuit using one or more PIN diodes and / or one or more effect transistors field with insulated gate as switching devices.

In this nineteenth embodiment, it is not possible to say that, for each of the tunable passive antennas, a signal access of the tunable passive antenna is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the output access. However, in this nineteenth embodiment, the output access is indirectly coupled to one and only one of the N tunable passive antennas. Or, more precisely, the output access is indirectly coupled to a signal access from one and only one of the N tunable passive antennas, through the detection unit, the switching unit and one and only one of the housings d 'antenna. The output access being indirectly coupled to the antenna network access through the detection unit, the specialist sees that the device for radio communication allows, at the given frequency, a transfer of power from the access of entry to an electromagnetic field radiated by tunable passive antennas. Thus, the device for radio communication is such that, if a power is received by the input access at the given frequency, a part of said power received by the input access is transferred to an electromagnetic field radiated by the passive antennas tunable to the given frequency, so that a power of the electromagnetic field radiated by the passive antennas tunable to the given frequency is equal to said part of said power received by the input access. The radio communication device allows, at said given frequency, a transfer of power from an incident electromagnetic field on the tunable passive antennas to the input access. In addition, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access (4) and the tunable passive antennas are such that, at said given frequency, for suitable values of the one or more control signals. tuning and one or more antenna control signals, a low loss power transfer from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the tunable passive antennas can be obtained (for radio transmission), and low loss power transfer from an incident electromagnetic field on the tunable passive antennas to the input port can be obtained (for radio reception). The apparatus for radio communication is such that an open loop command is used to determine each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions, and an open loop command is used to generate each of the one or more signal signals. antenna control. The specialist understands that this characteristic implies for example that the output signals from the detection unit are not used to obtain the one or more antenna control signals. The device for radio communication is a radio transmitter or a radio transceiver, so that the signal transmission and processing unit (8) also performs functions which have not been mentioned above, and which are well known to specialists. The given frequency band contains only frequencies greater than or equal to 300 MHz.

For example, each of the one or more configuration instructions can be determined as a function of: one or more location variables, defined as in the twelfth embodiment; a frequency used for radio communication with tunable passive antennas; of one or more additional variables, each of the additional variables being an element of a set of additional variables, the elements of the set of additional variables comprising: communication type variables which indicate whether a radio communication session is a voice communication session, data communication session or other type of communication session; a hands-free activation indicator; a speaker activation indicator; variables obtained using one or more accelerometers; user identity variables that depend on the identity of the current user; reception quality variables; and program quality variables.

The elements of said set of additional variables may further include one or more variables which are different from the location variables and which characterize how a user holds the device for radio communication.

Each of the one or more configuration instructions can for example be determined using a look-up table.

Each of the one or more configuration instructions can be of any type of digital message. Each of the one or more antenna tuning instructions and each of the tuning unit tuning instructions can be any type of digital message. The one or more configuration instructions, the one or more antenna adjustment instructions and the tuning unit adjustment instructions are issued during several adjustment sequences. The transmission and signal processing unit begins an adjustment sequence when one or more configuration instructions are issued. The transmission and signal processing unit ends the adjustment sequence when the last tuning unit adjustment instruction of the adjustment sequence has been issued. The duration of an adjustment sequence is less than 100 microseconds.

In order to respond to variations in the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the tunable passive antennas and / or of the operating frequency, adjustment sequences can take place repeatedly. For example, a new adjustment sequence may start periodically, for example every 10 milliseconds.

Outside the adjustment sequences, the transmission and signal processing unit uses the one or more detection unit output signals to estimate one or more quantities each dependent on the power supplied by the output access. For example, such quantities, each dependent on the power supplied by the output port, can be used to regulate the power supplied by the output port, by varying the power supplied to the input port.

Twentieth embodiment.

By way of a twentieth embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, we consider a method for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas and a tuning unit with single input access and access single output, the single input and single output access tuning unit having input access and output access, the one or more tunable passive antennas and the access tuner unit single input and single output access being parts of an apparatus for radio communication, the apparatus for radio communication allowing, at a given frequency, a transfer of power from the input access to a radiated electromagnetic field by the one or more tunable passive antennas, the method comprising the following steps: delivering one or more “antenna control signals”, according to a “frequency selected frequency ”, each of one or more tunable passive antennas comprising at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of said each of one or more tunable passive antennas, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means, said at least one parameter being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals; applying an excitation to the input access, the excitation having a carrier frequency called "the carrier frequency of the excitation", the carrier frequency of the excitation being equal to the selected frequency; picking up one or more electrical variables at the output access while the excitation is applied, to obtain one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more electrical variables picked up at the output port; measure, at one or more locations in the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, a temperature, to obtain one or more “temperature signals”, each of said one or more temperature signals being mainly determined by one or more of the temperatures at said one or more locations; estimate q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; deliver one or more “tuning control signals”, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access comprising p devices with adjustable impedance, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at the given frequency, each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals, said step of delivering one or more “tuning control signals” comp orting the following steps: generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, an initial value of said each of one or more tuning control signals, as a function of one or more of said q dependent real quantities an impedance seen by the output port, and according to said one or more temperature signals; generating, for one or more of the one or more chord control signals, at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of the one or more chord control signals, an algorithm for regulation by search for extremum being used to generate said at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of one or more tuning control signals, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable by controlling the called one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals.

The specialist understands that, for each of the one or more chord control signals, an open loop command is used to generate the initial value of said each of the one or more chord control signals. The specialist understands that, for this reason, it is advantageous to take into account said one or more temperature signals to generate the initial value of each of the one or more tuning control signals. The specialist understands how to generate an initial value of each of the one or more tuning control signals, as a function of one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, and as a function of one or more temperature signals. The specialist also knows that the characteristics of the components of the single input access and single output access tuning unit depend on the frequency and the temperature. Therefore, it is also advantageous to take into account the carrier frequency of the excitation to generate the initial value of each of the one or more tuning control signals. The specialist understands how to generate an initial value of each of the one or more tuning control signals, as a function of one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, as a function of one or more quantities dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation, and according to said one or more temperature signals.

We have shown in FIG. 25 the block diagram of a first device for radio communication implementing the method of this twentieth embodiment of the invention, the device for radio communication comprising: a tunable passive antenna (1) comprising at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna, said at least one parameter being adjustable by means electric; an antenna link (2); a single entry access and single exit access tuning unit (4) having an entry access and an exit access, the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit comprising p adjustable impedance devices, where p is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at a given frequency , each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable, l '' Single input access and single output access tuning unit comprising a temperature measuring device which measures, at one or more locations in the single input access tuning unit and access s single output, a temperature, to obtain one or more “temperature signals”, each of said one or more temperature signals being mainly determined by one or more of the temperatures at said one or more locations; a detection unit (3) delivering one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables sensed at the access of output while an excitation is applied to the input port; a signal transmission and processing unit (8), the signal transmission and processing unit delivering one or more “antenna adjustment instructions”, the signal transmission and processing unit applying the excitation at the input access, the excitation having a carrier frequency called “the carrier frequency of the excitation”, the transmission and signal processing unit delivering “unit adjustment instructions d 'tuning', at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being an 'initial tuning unit setting instruction', each of the one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions being determined by function of said one or more temperature signals and according to one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, at least one of the unit setting instructions tuning being a “subsequent tuning unit setting instruction”, the signal transmitting and processing unit executing an extremum search regulation algorithm to generate each of the one or more unit setting instructions subsequent agreement, the extremum search regulation algorithm seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable, the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more unit output signals of detection; and a control unit (6) similar to that used in the first embodiment.

For the reasons explained above, it is possible that each of the one or more initial tuning unit adjustment instructions are determined as a function of one or more of said q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the access. output, as a function of one or more quantities dependent on the carrier frequency of the excitation, and as a function of said one or more temperature signals.

We have shown in Figure 26 the block diagram of a second device for radio communication implementing the method of this twentieth embodiment of the invention, the device for radio communication comprising: a tunable passive antenna (1) comprising at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of the tunable passive antenna, said at least one parameter being adjustable by means electric; an antenna link (2); a single entry access and single exit access tuning unit (4) having an entry access and an exit access, the single entry access and single exit access tuning unit comprising p adjustable impedance devices, where p is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at a given frequency , each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable, l '' Single input access and single output access tuning unit comprising a temperature measuring device which measures, at one or more locations in the single input access tuning unit and access s single output, a temperature, to obtain one or more “temperature signals”, each of said one or more temperature signals being mainly determined by one or more of the temperatures at said one or more locations; a detection unit (3) delivering one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables sensed at the access of output while an excitation is applied to the input port; a signal transmission and processing unit (8) similar to that used in the first embodiment, delivering one or more “antenna adjustment instructions” and “tuning unit adjustment instructions”, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being an “initial tuning unit setting instruction”, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being a “unit tuning instruction agree later ”; and a control unit (6), the control unit receiving the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, the control unit delivering one or more "antenna control signals" to the tunable passive antenna, each of the one or more antenna control signals being determined as a function of at least one of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, each of said parameters being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more control signals d antenna, the control unit receiving tuning unit setting instructions, the control unit delivering one or more “tuning control signals” to the single input access tuning unit and single output access, the control unit generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, one or more values of said each of the one or more tuning control signals, each any of said one or more values of said said each of one or more tuning control signals being determined as a function of said one or more temperature signals and as a function of at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions , the reactance of each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals.

The specialist understands that, in this twentieth embodiment, the step of delivering one or more tuning control signals can be faster, for a given precision, than the corresponding step of the first embodiment, because the The regulation algorithm by extremum search is started closer to the optimal values of the tuning control signals, thanks to the use of temperature signals.

Twenty-first embodiment.

The twenty-first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 25 or to the apparatus for radio communication shown in Fig. 26, and all the corresponding explanations provided in the twentieth embodiment are applicable to this twenty-first embodiment.

We have shown in Figure 27 the tuning unit with single input access and single output access (4) used in this twenty-first embodiment. This single entry and single exit access tuning unit includes: an exit access (401) having two terminals (4011) (4012), the exit access being asymmetrical; an entry access (402) having two terminals (4021) (4022), the entry access being asymmetrical; one of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (403), having a negative reactance and connected in series with a terminal of the output access; one of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (404), having a negative reactance and connected in series with a terminal of the input access; a winding (405) having a terminal coupled to ground and a terminal coupled to a terminal of each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (403) (404); a temperature measuring device (45) comprising two temperature sensors (451) (452), the temperature measuring device measuring, at the location of each of the temperature sensors, a temperature, in order to obtain one or more signals of temperature, each of said one or more temperature signals being mainly determined by the temperature at the location of one of the temperature sensors; and an electromagnetic screen (48), which is grounded.

All the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (403) (404) are adjustable by electrical means, but the circuits and the control links necessary to adjust the reactance of each of the one or more devices with impedance The adjustable tuning unit is not shown in Figure 27. The connections required to supply the temperature sensors (451) (452) and to transport the said one or more temperature signals are not shown in the figure. 27.

Experimental results have shown that the electromagnetic characteristics of the volume surrounding the single input access and single output access tuning unit often influence Ζυ. The specialist understands that this phenomenon can be harmful, because an open loop command is used to generate said one or more initial values. Experimental results have shown that this phenomenon can be mitigated by reducing the variable electromagnetic field produced by the single input access tuning unit and single output access unit outside the access tuning unit. single entry and single exit access. In Figure 27, a suitable reduction of this electromagnetic field is provided by the electromagnetic screen (48), which can also be called electromagnetic shielding, and which is connected to a ground plane of the printed circuit on which the unit of Single entry access and single exit access agreement is achieved.

A first of the temperature sensors (451) is located near a first of one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (403), such that it measures a temperature which is close to the temperature of said first of one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit. A second of the temperature sensors (452) is located near a second of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (404), such that it measures a temperature which is close to the temperature said second of one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit. In this way, the one or more temperature signals provide information on the temperatures of each of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit, which may be different from each other. The specialist understands that these temperatures can in particular be different if a significant high-frequency power is applied to the input port, because the powers dissipated in the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit are typically different from each other.

In this twenty-first embodiment, two temperature sensors are used, to measure, at two locations in the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, a temperature. Thus, it is possible that the number of locations in the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access, at which a temperature is measured, is greater than or equal to 2.

Twenty-second embodiment.

The twenty-second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 25 or to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. FIG. 26, and all the corresponding explanations provided in the twentieth embodiment are applicable to this twenty-second embodiment.

We have shown in Figure 28 the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access (4) used in this twenty-second embodiment. This single entry and single exit access tuning unit includes: an exit access (401) having two terminals (4011) (4012), the exit access being asymmetrical; an entry access (402) having two terminals (4021) (4022), the entry access being asymmetrical; one of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (406), having a positive reactance, having a first terminal connected to a terminal of the input access, and having a second terminal connected to a terminal exit access; one of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (407), having a negative reactance and connected in parallel with the output access; one of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (408), having a negative reactance and connected in parallel with the input access; a temperature measuring device (45) comprising a single temperature sensor (453), the temperature measuring device measuring, at the location of the temperature sensor, a temperature, to obtain one or more temperature signals, each of said one or more temperature signals being mainly determined by the temperature at the location of the temperature sensor; and an electromagnetic screen (48), which is grounded.

All one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (406) (407) (408) are electrically adjustable, but the circuits and control links necessary to adjust the reactance of each of one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit are not shown in figure 28. The connections necessary to supply the temperature sensor (453) and to transport said one or more temperature signals are not shown in figure 28.

In this twenty-second embodiment, the electromagnetic screen (48) forms an enclosure all containing one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (406) (407) (408), in which the temperature is almost uniform. This is why only one temperature sensor is used.

In this twenty-second embodiment, three devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit are used. Thus, it is possible that the number of devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit is greater than or equal to 3.

Twenty-third embodiment.

The twenty-third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, also corresponds to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. 25 or to the apparatus for radio communication shown in FIG. FIG. 26, and all the corresponding explanations provided in the twentieth embodiment are applicable to this twenty-third embodiment.

We have shown in Figure 29 the tuning unit with single input access and single output access (4) used in this twenty-third embodiment. This single entry and single exit access tuning unit includes: an exit access (401) having two terminals (4011) (4012), the exit access being symmetrical; an entry access (402) having two terminals (4021) (4022), the entry access being asymmetrical; a transformer (409); two adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (403) (404), each having a negative reactance; a coil (405); and a temperature measuring device comprising three temperature sensors (451) (452) (454), the temperature measuring device measuring, at the location of each of the temperature sensors, a temperature, to obtain one or more signals temperature, each of said one or more temperature signals being mainly determined by the temperature at the location of one of the temperature sensors.

All the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit (403) (404) are adjustable by electrical means, but the circuits and the control links necessary to adjust the reactance of each of the one or more devices with impedance The adjustable tuning unit is not shown in figure 29. The connections necessary to transport the said one or more temperature signals are not shown in figure 29.

A first of the temperature sensors (451) is located near a first of one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (403), such that it measures a temperature which is close to the temperature of said first of one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit. A second of the temperature sensors (452) is located near a second of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit (404), such that it measures a temperature which is close to the temperature said second of one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit. A third of the temperature sensors (454) is located near the coil (405), so that it measures a temperature that is close to the temperature of the coil. In this way, the one or more temperature signals provide information about the temperatures of the coil and of each of the one or more tunable device impedance devices, which may be different from each other. The specialist understands that these temperatures can in particular be different if a significant high-frequency power is applied to the input access. The coil used in this twenty-third embodiment has a ferrite core, so that its inductance and its losses depend on the temperature of the coil. This is why the third of the temperature sensors (454) is present.

In this twenty-third embodiment, the transformer (409) is used to obtain symmetrical output access. Such a transformer is often called a balun.

More generally, according to the invention, it is possible that the input access and / or the output access of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access are asymmetrical, and it is the input access and / or the output access of the single input access and single output access tuning unit may be symmetrical.

In this twenty-third embodiment, three temperature sensors are used, to measure, at three locations in the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, a temperature. Thus, it is possible that the number of locations in the tuning unit with single entry access and single exit access, at which a temperature is measured, is greater than or equal to 3.

Twenty-fourth embodiment.

As a twenty-fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, we have shown in FIG. 30 the block diagram of an apparatus for radio communication comprising: a passive tunable antenna (1), the passive tunable antenna comprising at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an effect on one or more characteristics of the antenna passive tunable, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means; an antenna link (2); a single entry access and single exit access tuning unit (4) similar to that used in the first embodiment, having an entry access and an exit access; a detection unit (3), the detection unit delivering one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables sensed at the exit port while an excitation is applied to the entry port; an additional detection unit (35), the additional detection unit delivering one or more “additional detection unit output signals”, each of the additional detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more variables electric sensed at the input port while said excitation is applied to the input port; a signal transmission and processing unit (8), the signal transmission and processing unit delivering one or more “antenna adjustment instructions”, the signal transmission and processing unit applying the excitation at the input access through the additional detection unit, the excitation having a carrier frequency called “the carrier frequency of the excitation”, the transmission and signal processing unit estimating q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more output signals from the detection unit, the emission unit and processing the signal providing "tuning unit setting instructions", at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being an "initial tuning unit setting instruction", each of a or several initial tuning unit adjustment instructions being determined as a function of one or more of said q actual quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, at least one of the unit tuning instructions tuning being a “subsequent tuning unit setting instruction”, the signal transmitting and processing unit executing an extremum search regulation algorithm to generate each of the one or more unit setting instructions subsequent agreement, the extremum search regulation algorithm seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable, the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more unit output signals of detecting and depending on one or more of the one or more additional detection unit output signals; and a control unit (6) similar to that used in the first embodiment. The detection unit (3) can for example be such that the one or more detection unit output signals comprise: a first detection unit output signal proportional to a first electrical variable, the first electrical variable being a voltage across the output port; and a second detection unit output signal proportional to a second electrical variable, the second electrical variable being a current output from the output access. Alternatively, the detection unit (3) can for example be such that the one or more detection unit output signals comprise: a first detection unit output signal proportional to a first electrical variable, the first variable electric being an incident voltage at the output port; and a second detection unit output signal proportional to a second electrical variable, the second electrical variable being a voltage reflected at the output port. The additional detection unit (35) may for example be such that the one or more additional detection unit output signals comprise: a first additional detection unit output signal proportional to a first electrical variable, the first electric variable being a voltage across the input port; and a second output signal from an additional detection unit proportional to a second electrical variable, the second electrical variable being a current entering the input access. Alternatively, the additional detection unit (35) can for example be such that the one or more additional detection unit output signals comprise: a first additional detection unit output signal proportional to a first electrical variable, the first electrical variable being an incident voltage at the input access; and a second output signal from an additional detection unit proportional to a second electrical variable, the second electrical variable being a voltage reflected at the input access.

The specialist understands that said incident voltage at the input access is defined by

(6) where uF is said incident voltage at the input port, νυ is a complex voltage across the input port, iv is a complex current entering the input port, and ZRU is a reference impedance used to define the incident voltage at the input port.

For example, the performance variable may be substantially equal to the product of a negative constant, an average of the square of an instantaneous voltage at the output port, and the inverse of a mean of the square of an instantaneous incident voltage at the input port. It can be shown that, if the reference impedance used to define the incident voltage at the input access is equal to the internal impedance of an access of the transmission and signal processing unit, this access delivering excitation to the input access, then minimizing this performance variable maximizes a composite gain in power of the tuning unit with single input access and single output access. This performance variable is such that variations in the modulus of the complex envelope of the excitation have no effect on the performance variable. This performance variable can therefore be used when the excitation is amplitude modulated.

INDICATIONS ON INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

The method according to the invention is suitable for automatically and optimally adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas and a tuning unit with single input access and single output access. The radio communication device according to the invention can automatically and optimally adjust its one or more tunable passive antennas and its tuning unit with single input access and single output access. The device for radio communication according to the invention can for example be a radio receiver, a radio transmitter or a radio transceiver. The invention is particularly suitable for mobile radio transceivers, for example those used in portable radiotelephones or portable computers, which can be subjected to rapid variations in the electromagnetic characteristics of the environment surrounding the one or more tunable passive antennas used for the radio communications.

Claims (10)

1. Method for automatically adjusting one or more tunable passive antennas (1) and a single entry access and single exit access tuning unit (4), the single entry and access access tuning unit single output having input and output access, the one or more tunable passive antennas and the single input access and single output access tuning unit being parts of an apparatus for radio communication , the apparatus for radio communication allowing, at a given frequency, a transfer of power from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas, the method comprising the following steps: delivering a or more “antenna control signals”, each of the one or more tunable passive antennas comprising at least one antenna control device, one or more characteristics said each of the one or more tunable passive antennas being controlled using said at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an influence on said one or more characteristics, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electrical means, said at least one parameter being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals; apply excitement to entry access; picking up one or more electrical variables at the output access while the excitation is applied, to obtain one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more electrical variables picked up at the output port; estimate q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output access, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; deliver one or more “tuning control signals”, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access comprising p devices with adjustable impedance, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p adjustable impedance devices being called “one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit” and being such that, at the given frequency, each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable, the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals, said step of delivering one or more “tuning control signals” comp orting the following steps: generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, an initial value of said each of one or more tuning control signals, as a function of one or more of said q dependent real quantities an impedance seen by the output port; generating, for one or more of the one or more chord control signals, at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of the one or more chord control signals, an algorithm for regulation by search for extremum being used to generate said at least one subsequent value of each of said one or more of one or more tuning control signals, the regulation algorithm by search for extremum seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable by controlling the called one or more of the one or more tuning control signals, the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals. 2. Method according to claim 1, in which the tuning unit with single input access and single output access is such that, if an impedance seen by the output port is equal to a given impedance, then the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has an influence on an impedance presented by the input port. 3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which p is greater than or equal to 2. 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the algorithm for regulation by search for extremum comprises a step in which one or more disturbances are each applied to one of the tuning control signals. 5. Apparatus for radio communication comprising: one or more tunable passive antennas (1), each of one or more tunable passive antennas comprising at least one antenna control device, one or more characteristics of said each of one or more passive antennas tunable being controlled using said at least one antenna control device, said at least one antenna control device having at least one parameter having an influence on said one or more characteristics, said at least one parameter being adjustable by electric means; a single input and single output access tuning unit (4) having an input access and an output access, the apparatus for radio communication allowing, at a given frequency, power transfer from the input access to an electromagnetic field radiated by the one or more tunable passive antennas, the tuning unit with single input access and single output access comprising p devices with adjustable impedance, where p is an integer greater than or equal to one, the p devices with adjustable impedance being called the “one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit” and being such that, at the given frequency, each of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit has a reactance, the reactance of any of the one or more devices with adjustable impedance of the tuning unit being electrically adjustable ; a detection unit (3), the detection unit delivering one or more “detection unit output signals”, each of the one or more detection unit output signals being mainly determined by one or more electrical variables sensed at the exit port while an excitation is applied to the entry port; a signal transmission and processing unit (8), the signal transmission and processing unit delivering one or more “antenna adjustment instructions”, the signal transmission and processing unit applying the excitation at the input port, the transmission and signal processing unit estimating q real quantities dependent on an impedance seen by the output port, where q is an integer greater than or equal to one, using one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals, the signal transmitting and processing unit issuing “tuning unit setting instructions”, at least one of the setting instructions tuning unit instruction being an “initial tuning unit setting instruction”, each of the one or more initial tuning unit setting instructions being determined as a function of one or more of said q actual quantitiesdependent on an impedance seen by the output port, at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions being a “subsequent tuning unit setting instruction”, the transmitting and processing unit of the signal executing an extremum search regulation algorithm to generate each of one or more subsequent tuning unit adjustment instructions, the extremum search regulation algorithm seeking to maximize or minimize a performance variable , the performance variable being estimated as a function of one or more of the one or more detection unit output signals; and a control unit (6), the control unit delivering one or more "antenna control signals" to the one or more tunable passive antennas, each of the one or more antenna control signals being determined as a function of '' at least one of the one or more antenna adjustment instructions, each said at least one parameter of each said at least one antenna control device of each of the one or more tunable passive antennas being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more antenna control signals, the control unit delivering one or more “tuning control signals” to the tuning unit with single input access and single output access, the control generating, for each of the one or more tuning control signals, one or more values of said each of one or more tuning control signals, say one or more value s said each of the one or more tuning control signals being determined as a function of at least one of the tuning unit setting instructions, the reactance of each of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the unit being mainly determined by at least one of the one or more tuning control signals. 6. Apparatus for radio communication according to claim 5, in which at least one of the one or more detection unit output signals is: a detection unit output signal proportional to an electrical variable, the electrical variable being a voltage across the output port; or an output signal from a detection unit proportional to an electric variable, the electric variable being a current leaving the output access; or an output signal from a detection unit proportional to an electrical variable, the electrical variable being an incident voltage at the output access; or an output signal from a detection unit proportional to an electrical variable, the electrical variable being a voltage reflected at the output access. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one or more antenna adjustment instructions and the tuning unit adjustment instructions are issued during one or more adjustment sequences, one of the one or more sequences An adjustment comprising: a processing (842), in which the signal transmission and processing unit issues an initial tuning unit adjustment instruction, and in which, for each of the one or more control signals d 'tuning, the control unit generates a value of said each of one or more tuning control signals, said value being called initial value, said initial value being determined according to the unit setting instruction initial agreement; a processing (843), in which the signal transmission and processing unit delivers subsequent tuning unit setting instructions, and in which, for each of the one or more tuning control signals and for each of the subsequent tuning unit setting instructions, the control unit generates a value of said each of one or more tuning control signals, said value being called subsequent value, said subsequent value being determined as a function of said each of the subsequent tuning unit setting instructions. 8. Apparatus for radio communication according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the tuning unit with single input access and single output access is such that, if an impedance seen by the output port is equal to a given impedance, so the reactance of any of the one or more adjustable impedance devices of the tuning unit has an influence on an impedance presented by the input port. 9. Apparatus for radio communication according to any one of claims 5 to 8, in which p is greater than or equal to 2. 10. Apparatus for radio communication according to any one of claims 5 to 9, in which the regulation algorithm by search for extremum comprises a step in which one or more disturbances are each applied to one of the tuning control signals .