Mobile wireless communications device with proximity based transmitted power control and related methods

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one antenna carried by the portable housing, and at least one capacitive proximity sensor carried by the portable housing and configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a wireless transmitter carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one antenna, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter and the at least one capacitive proximity sensor. The controller may be configured to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from the at least one antenna based upon the at least one capacitive proximity sensor.

1 . A mobile wireless communications device comprising:
 a portable housing;   at least one antenna carried by said portable housing;   at least one capacitive proximity sensor carried by said portable housing and configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto;   a wireless transmitter carried by said portable housing and coupled to said at least one antenna; and   a controller carried by said portable housing and coupled to said wireless transmitter and said at least one capacitive proximity sensor, and configured to cooperate with said wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from said at least one antenna based upon said at least one capacitive proximity sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one antenna comprises a plurality of antennas; wherein said at least one capacitive proximity sensor comprises a plurality of capacitive proximity sensors corresponding to said plurality of antennas; and wherein said controller is configured to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust the transmitted power output at each of said plurality of antennas based upon a corresponding one of said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display carried by said portable housing and coupled to said controller; and wherein said at least one capacitive sensor comprises at least one capacitive proximity sensor on said display. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to adjust the transmitted power output to below a reduced power level based upon sensing the human user immediately adjacent said at least one capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to adjust the transmitted power output to a full power level based upon sensing the human user spaced apart from said at least one capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one antenna and said at least one capacitive proximity sensor are adjacent one another. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate carrying said at least one antenna and said at one capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a cellular transmitter. 
     
     
         9 . A mobile wireless communications device comprising:
 a portable housing;   a plurality of antennas carried by said portable housing;   a plurality of capacitive proximity sensors adjacent corresponding ones of said plurality of antennas and carried by said portable housing, and each configured to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto;   a wireless transmitter carried by said portable housing and coupled to said plurality of antennas; and   a controller carried by said portable housing and coupled to said wireless transmitter and said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors, and configured to cooperate with said wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from said plurality of antennas based upon said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors.   
     
     
         10 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 9 , further comprising a display carried by said portable housing and coupled to said controller; and wherein said plurality of capacitive sensors comprises at least one capacitive proximity sensor on said display. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 9 , wherein said controller is configured to adjust the transmitted power output to below a reduced power level based upon sensing the human user immediately adjacent at least one of said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 9 , wherein said controller is configured to adjust the transmitted power output to a full power level based upon sensing the human user spaced apart from at least one of said plurality of capacitive proximity sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile wireless communications device of  claim 9 , wherein said wireless transmitter comprises a cellular transmitter. 
     
     
         14 . A method of adjusting transmitted power output from at least one antenna of a mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing carrying the at least one antenna, at least one capacitive proximity sensor, a wireless transmitter coupled to the at least one antenna, and a controller coupled to the wireless transmitter and the at least one capacitive proximity sensor, the method comprising:
 using the at least one capacitive sensor to sense proximity of a human user adjacent thereto; and   using the controller to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust transmitted power output from the at least one antenna based upon the at least one capacitive proximity sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna comprises a plurality of antennas; wherein the at least one capacitive proximity sensor comprises a plurality of capacitive proximity sensors corresponding to the plurality of antennas; and wherein the method comprises using the controller to cooperate with the wireless transmitter to adjust the transmitted power output at each of the plurality of antennas based upon a corresponding one of the plurality of capacitive proximity sensors. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device further comprises a display carried by the portable housing and coupled to the controller; and wherein the at least one capacitive sensor comprises at least one capacitive proximity sensor on the display. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the controller adjusts the transmitted power output to a reduced power level based upon sensing the human user immediately adjacent the at least one capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the controller adjusts the transmitted power output to a full power level based upon sensing the human user spaced apart from the at least one capacitive proximity sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one antenna and the at least one capacitive proximity sensor are adjacent one another. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a cellular transmitter.