Portable terminal with antenna device for display element or display assembly including flexible functional region

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10615485-B2
Application number	US-201815998479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2018
Priority date	Feb 25, 2013
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A portable terminal is provided. The portable terminal includes a flexible display element, a first antenna element disposed at a first region on the display element, a second antenna element disposed at a foldable second region on the display element to face the first region, and a switch element configured to selectively connect the second antenna element. When the display element is folded or rolled, the first and second antenna elements at least partially overlap each other, and the switch element disconnects the second antenna element. The portable terminal including the antenna device as described above may maintain a stable transmission/reception performance although it includes a flexible display element or a display assembly. When a plurality of antenna elements are provided, the portable terminal may implement a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna device in a state where the display element is extended.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A portable terminal comprising:
a flexible display element configured to being folded or rolled and including a first region and a second region which are capable of facing each other when the flexible display element is folded or rolled;
a first antenna element disposed at the first region;
a second antenna element disposed at the second region to face the first region; and
a switch element configured to be selectively articulated to establish a first connection between the second antenna element and a communication circuit and a second connection between the second antenna element and ground of the portable terminal,
wherein, when the flexible display element is unfolded or unrolled, the switch element is in a closed state and connects the second antenna element to one of the communication circuit or the ground such that the first antenna element and the second antenna element carry out a transmission/reception operation independently from each other, and
wherein, when the flexible display element is folded or rolled, the first and second antenna elements at least partially overlap each other, and the switch element is in an open state and disconnects the second antenna element from the communication circuit and the ground such that only the first antenna element carries out a transmission/reception operation.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1 , wherein the switch element is an electrical element including a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) switch or a physical switch.

3. The portable terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element is disposed at one end of the flexible display element and the second antenna element is disposed at another end of the flexible display element so that, when the flexible display element is folded, the first and second antenna elements are positioned to at least partially face each other.

4. The portable terminal of claim 3 , further comprising:
a circuit board disposed at one side edge of the flexible display element and provided with the communication circuit,
wherein the first and second antenna elements extend from the opposite ends of the circuit board, respectively.

5. The portable terminal of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first circuit board disposed at one side edge of the flexible display element; and
a second circuit board disposed at another side edge of the flexible display element,
wherein at least one of the first circuit board and the second circuit board is provided with the communication circuit, and
wherein the first antenna element extends from the first circuit board and the second antenna element extends from the second circuit board.

6. The portable terminal of claim 1 , wherein the flexible display element comprises a display assembly that includes at least a partially flexible functional region.

7. The portable terminal of claim 1 , wherein when the flexible display element is folded or rolled, the first antenna element forms a monopole antenna.

8. A portable terminal comprising:
a flexible display element configured to being folded or rolled and including a first region and a second region which are capable of facing each other when the flexible display element is folded or rolled;
a first antenna element disposed at the first region;
a second antenna element disposed at the second region to face the first region;
a switch element configured to selectively connect the second antenna element to one of the communication circuit and ground of the portable terminal; and
a circuit board disposed in a central part of the flexible display element and provided with the communication circuit,
wherein, when the flexible display element is unfolded or unrolled, the switch element connects the second antenna element to the one of the communication circuit and the ground such that the first antenna element and the second antenna element carry out a transmission/reception operation independently from each other,
wherein, when the flexible display element is folded or rolled, the first and second antenna elements at least partially overlap each other, and the switch element is in an open state and disconnects the second antenna element from the one of the communication circuit or the ground such that only the first antenna element carries out a transmission/reception operation, and
wherein the flexible display element is folded on the circuit board, and the first and second antenna elements are radiation patterns that extend from the circuit board to be farther apart from each other and are arranged one side edge of the flexible display element.

9. A portable terminal comprising:
a flexible display element configured to being folded or rolled and including a first region and a second region which are capable of facing each other when the flexible display element is folded or rolled;
a first antenna element disposed at the first region;
a second antenna element disposed at the second region to face the first region; and
a switch element configured to selectively connect the second antenna element to one of the communication circuit and ground of the portable terminal,
wherein, when the flexible display element is unfolded or unrolled, the switch element connects the second antenna element to the one of the communication circuit and the ground such that the first antenna element and the second antenna element carry out a transmission/reception operation independently from each other, and
wherein, when the flexible display element is folded or rolled, the first and second antenna elements at least partially overlap each other, and the switch element is in an open state and disconnects the second antenna element from the one of the communication circuit or the ground such that only the first antenna element carries out a transmission/reception operation,
wherein the portable terminal further comprising:
a first circuit board disposed at one end of the flexible display element; and
a second circuit board disposed at another end of the flexible display element, and positioned to face the first circuit board when the flexible display element is folded,

wherein at least one of the first circuit board and the second circuit board is provided with the communication circuit, and
wherein the first antenna element extends from the first circuit board and the second antenna element extends from the second circuit board, and
wherein the first and second antenna elements are disposed at one side edge of the flexible display element, and the first and second circuit boards extend to approach each other.

10. A portable terminal comprising:
a flexible display element configured to being folded or rolled and including a first region and a second region which are capable of facing each other when the flexible display element is folded or rolled;
at least one circuit board provided with a ground and communication circuit;
a first antenna element disposed at the first region;
a second antenna element disposed at the second region; and
a switch element configured to selectively actuate between a plurality of states,
wherein, when the flexible display element is unfolded or unrolled, the switch element is actuated to a first state such that the second antenna element is connected to the ground or the switch element is actuated to a second state such that the second antenna element is connected to the communication circuit,
wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element carry out a transmission/reception operation when the switch element is actuated to the first state or the second state,
wherein, when the flexible display element is folded or rolled, the first and second antenna elements at least

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chun Jae-Bong
• Jung Jin-Woo

Classifications

• H01Q1/44

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/22 Primary

  by structural association with other equipment or articles · CPC title

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• G09F9/00

  Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements (in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00) · CPC title