Antenna module and electronic devices comprising the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10109908-B2
Application number	US-201514677217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 4, 2014
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

An antenna module and an electronic device are provided. The antenna module may include a first case including a case surface, wherein at least one antenna protection part is disposed on the first case, and wherein the at least one antenna projection part is formed to be distinguishable from the case surface, an antenna including a pattern, wherein at least a part of the pattern of the antenna is adjacently disposed to the antenna protection part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna module comprising:
a first case including a case surface and at least one antenna protection part, wherein the at least one antenna protection part is disposed on the first case and is formed to be distinguishable from the case surface;
a through-hole passing through inner and outer parts of the first case, the through-hole electrically connecting the inner and outer parts;
an antenna including a pattern;
a second case covering the antenna protection part and the part of the pattern adjacently disposed to the antenna projection part; and
an auxiliary pattern electrically connected to the antenna,
wherein at least a part of the pattern of the antenna is adjacently disposed to the antenna protection part,
wherein the auxiliary pattern is disposed on a surface different from the case surface on which the antenna is disposed and the auxiliary pattern is connected to the antenna through the through-hole, and
wherein at least a part of the second case is disposed in an upper part and a lower part of the through-hole to close the through-hole.

2. The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna protection part comprises at least one of:
at least one rail having a certain length and at least one projection disposed in parallel with at least a part of the antenna;
at least one of a rib and a rail disposed on an area of the antenna adjacent to a gate through which an injection fluid of the second case is introduced; and
a protective rib disposed on an area that is adjacent to the antenna facing a mold when the second case is formed.

3. The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises:
a contact connection part in which the through-hole is disposed, such that the through-hole passes through front and rear surfaces of the first case or inner and outer sides of a side surface of the first case;
a pattern part connected to the contact connection part, the pattern part having a certain length or volume; and
an end part disposed on an end of the pattern part.

4. The antenna module according to claim 3 , wherein the end part is disposed on the first case so as to be exposed to an outside of the first case.

5. The antenna module according to claim 3 , wherein the through-hole is having a polygonal cross section or the through-hole is having a cross section that varies with a depth.

6. The antenna module according to claim 3 , further comprising:
an antenna hole pattern disposed on a certain area of the first case which forms the through-hole; and
an insert pin disposed in the through-hole.

7. The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a conductive elastic body electrically connected to the antenna; and
an auxiliary case in which another antenna electrically connected to the conductive elastic body is disposed, the auxiliary case being joined to at least one of the first case and the second case.

8. The antenna module according to claim 7 , wherein the auxiliary case exposes the other antenna.

9. The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is formed through at least one of dot printing, inkjet printing, direct pattering intenna (DPI), laser direct plating (LDP), steel use stainless (SUS) disposition, and disposition based on a combustible printed circuit board.

10. The antenna module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first case is made of a platable material, and the antenna is formed on at least one surface of the first case through laser direct structuring (LDS), or
wherein the first case is made of a non-platable material, and the antenna is formed on at least one surface of the first case through direct pattering intenna (DPI).

11. The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover disposed adjacent to the second case and covering a portion of the antenna that is not covered by the first case and the second case.

12. An electronic device comprising:
an antenna module comprising:
a first case including a case surface and at least one antenna protection part, wherein at least one antenna protection part is disposed on the first case, and is formed to be distinguishable from the case surface,
a through-hole passing through inner and outer parts of the first case, the through-hole electrically connecting the inner and outer parts,
an antenna including a pattern, at least a part of the pattern of the antenna is adjacently disposed to the antenna protection part, and
a second case covering the antenna protection part and the part of the pattern adjacently disposed to the antenna projection part;

a frame in which the antenna module is disposed; and
an auxiliary pattern electrically connected to the antenna,
wherein the auxiliary pattern is disposed on a surface different from the case surface on which the antenna is disposed,
wherein the auxiliary pattern is connected to the antenna through the through-hole, and
wherein the electronic device further comprises:
a conductive elastic body electrically connected to the antenna, and
an auxiliary case in which another antenna electrically connected to the conductive elastic body and exposed to an outside of the conductive elastic body is disposed, the auxiliary case being joined to at least one of the first case and the second case.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the antenna protection part comprises at least one of:
at least one rail having a certain length and at least one projection disposed in parallel with at least a part of the antenna;
at least one of a rib and a rail disposed on an area of the antenna adjacent to a gate through which an injection fluid of the second case is introduced; and
a protective rib disposed on an area that is adjacent to the antenna facing a mold when the second case is formed.

14. The electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the first case is made of a platable plastic material, and the antenna is formed on at least one surface of the first case through laser direct structuring (LDS), or
wherein the first case is made of a non-platable material, and the antenna is formed on at least one surface of the first case through direct pattering intenna (DPI).

15. The electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein at least a part of the antenna is disposed on the first case so as to be exposed to an outside of the first case.

16. The electronic device according to claim 12 , wherein the antenna comprises at least one of:
the through-hole, wherein the through-hole having a polygonal cross section or the through-hole having a cross section that varies with a depth;
the auxiliary pattern, wherein the auxiliary pattern electrically connected to the through-hole;
an insert pin closing the through-hole; or
the second case disposed in an upper part and a lower part of the through-hole.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Youm Byeong Hwan
• Ko Jong Kwon
• Kim Hyung Jin
• Kim Seung Hwan
• Kim Kyung Bin
• Kim Austin
• Byun Joon Ho
• Sin Yu Ri

Classifications

• B29L2031/3456

  Antennas, e.g. radomes · CPC title

• H01Q1/40

  Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material · CPC title

• B29K2995/0005

  Conductive · CPC title

• H01Q5/371

  Branching current paths · CPC title

• H01Q1/243 Primary

  with built-in antennas · CPC title