Electronic device and method of improving antenna performance thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10446912-B2
Application number	US-201615236367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2016
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A method of improving antenna performance and an electronic device configured to improve the antenna performance are provided. The electronic device include: a housing; an antenna located inside the housing or formed as part of the housing; a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to transmit/receive wireless signals via the antenna; a groove formed inside an opening in part of the housing; an electrical connector placed inside the groove; a ground member placed inside the housing; a processor electrically connected to the RF interface and the electrical connector; and a memory electrically connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions which enable the processor to detect an external electrical connector inserted into the electrical connector, and select at least one of a plurality of electrical paths between the RF interface and the ground member, in response to at least part of the inserted external electrical connector. Various embodiments are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
an antenna located inside the housing;
a radio frequency (RF) interface configured to transmit and receive wireless signals via the antenna;
an electrical connector;
a ground member;
a processor electrically connected to the RF interface and the electrical connector; and
a memory electrically connected to the processor,
wherein the memory stores instructions enabling the processor to:
detect whether an external electrical connector is inserted into the electrical connector while the electronic device performs a communication function,

determine whether to change an electrical path between the RF interface and the ground member based on a result of detecting whether the external electrical connector is inserted into the electrical connector, and
in response to determining to change the electrical path, select at least one of a plurality of electrical paths between the RF interface and the ground member, based on a frequency band used to perform the communication function,
wherein electrical length of each of the plurality of electrical paths is different.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions enable the processor to select:
a first path of the plurality of electrical paths when the external electrical connector is not inserted to the electrical connector; and
a second path of the plurality of electrical paths when the external electrical connector is inserted to the electrical connector.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the RF interface is configured to perform transmission and reception of signals less than or equal to a frequency of 1 gigahertz (GHz); and
the instructions enable the processor to switch a first electrical path of the plurality of electrical paths to a second electrical path, when the signals of the frequency of 1 GHz are transmitted and received.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores:
a switching table containing information regarding a switch driving signal corresponding to at least one external electrical connector according to frequency bands.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a switch,
wherein the instructions enables the processor to:
create a switch driving signal corresponding to the detected external electrical connector based on a stored switching table; and
select at least one of the plurality of electrical paths based on the switch driving signal transmitted to the switch via at least one general purpose input and output pin.

6. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first path includes an electrical length that differs from that of the second path.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the electrical length of the first path is greater than that of the second path.

8. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein:
the first path comprises a first magnitude of inductance; and
the second path comprises a second magnitude of inductance.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the first magnitude of inductance is greater than the second magnitude of inductance.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the external electrical connector comprises at least one of an audio jack, an earphone jack, a universal serial bus (USB) connector, or a metallic accessory.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Hoon
• Kang Myungjin
• Kim Kyoungho
• Lee Kihun
• Yi Hanjun
• Choi Jongwook

Classifications

• H01Q1/243 Primary

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title