Modernizing RF exposure management

What you should know:

• Time-Averaged Specific Absorption Rate (TAS), is a method of RF exposure management established by Qualcomm Technologies to address evolving performance requirements of 5G, multi-radio devices and emerging technologies while meeting worldwide RF exposure regulation.
• Between 2012 and 2019, Qualcomm led the industry in research, testing and validation, culminating in a breakthrough solution that set a new standard for the industry.
• Our innovations paved the way for other OEMs and set new benchmarks for compliance and performance, and transformed how the industry approaches RF exposure compliance and device performance.

When Qualcomm Technologies pioneered a new way to manage RF exposure through real-time averaging, it wasn't simply about a new product. Behind this breakthrough development is a story about years of vision, collaboration and technical rigor that paved the way for a new era in RF exposure management. Spanning nearly a decade, the journey to develop this new technology - Time-Averaged Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), also known as TAS - stands as another example of our relentless drive to develop the best wireless experience possible and deliver maximum benefit to industry and consumers.

A foundation built on determination: 2012-2019

Developing TAS required years of systematic effort to redefine how wireless devices manage RF exposure. Our expertise in mobile gave us a unique line of sight to where the industry was headed, and we were pursuing novel ways to enable the growth required for better uplink performance.

The seeds of TAS were planted in 2012, when our engineers and scientists recognized a looming challenge: Legacy RF exposure management was holding back the promise of next-generation wireless technologies. The team saw that RF exposure management using static, capped peak power limits were stifling innovation and making it harder for device makers to deliver the performance users were demanding. Thus began a decade of dialog, research, testing and validation, culminating in a breakthrough solution that set a new standard for the industry.

This effort unfolded through several key milestones:

• Early regulatory engagement:

In 2012, we presented the concept of real-time averaging for RF exposure management to the FCC, initiating a dialogue that would shape future compliance procedures. We worked closely with regulators worldwide, advocating for the adoption of time averaging as a scientifically sound and practical approach to Regulatory compliance.

• Technical prototyping and validation:

Between 2013 and 2015, Qualcomm Technologies developed and tested prototype algorithms and devices, including the first sub-6 GHz hand-held device. These efforts demonstrated the feasibility of real-time power averaging and provided critical data for regulatory review.

• Establishment of new regulatory test procedures:

In 2016, we released to the regulators the first version of SAR measurement procedures for validating TAS algorithms. Since then, the test cases and procedures for regulatory certification of wireless devices enabled with TAS RF exposure management have been updated to validate enhancements and used to enable other TAS providers to enter the market.

• Algorithm development for 5G and mmWave:

As wireless technology has evolved, so have Qualcomm Technologies' solutions. In 2018, our engineers expanded the algorithms to support 5G mmWave, addressing new challenges in device complexity and simultaneous multi-radio transmissions.

• Collaboration with third-party labs:

To ensure robust validation, Qualcomm Technologies partnered with leading compliance labs and third-party test houses worldwide. These collaborations helped to harmonize TAS testing procedures and meet the compliance test and regulatory certification needs of OEMs for on-time launch of their commercial products.

• Regulatory approval:

In 2018, the FCC first approved time averaging procedures for sub-6 GHz and mmWave devices, a direct result of our sustained engagement and technical advocacy. This enabled OEMs to design for compliance using time averaging, rather than relying on legacy power back-off methods.

• Industry education and knowledge transfer:

Qualcomm invested significant resources in educating OEMs, operators, and labs about the new approach. Our teams provide training, consulting and technical support to accelerate industry adoption and ensure consistent, reliable compliance. To date, we have on-boarded 25 compliance labs in 8 different countries with 10 more labs in progress.

The launch: Qualcomm Smart Transmit becomes reality

In April 2019, Qualcomm Technologies launched TAS as a commercial product, branded Smart Transmit, as an optional feature in the first 5G-enabled smartphones. Smart Transmit was more than a product introduction; it was the culmination of years of hard work, technical excellence and industry-wide collaboration. The technology was validated, the ecosystem was ready and the industry was aligned on the benefits of dynamic RF exposure management.

Why this journey matters

In addition to cellular, today Smart Transmit includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® wireless technology, UWB, RFID and satellite radios. The rise of AI, XR and an ever-increasing number of wearables are placing even more importance on the efficiency and capacity of uplink transmission as devices send more and more data to the cloud for real-time learning and personalization.

The principles and methodologies developed during this journey paved the way for other OEMs and set new benchmarks for compliance and performance. The groundwork laid between 2012 and 2019 enabled not just a technical solution, but a transformation in how the industry approaches RF exposure compliance and device performance.

Qualcomm's leadership in developing TAS reflects the strength of our research and development teams, our engineering ingenuity and our commitment to solving the hardest problems in wireless.