Electronic device for determining failure of signal path and component, and method for operating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11258523-B2
Application number	US-201916772511-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2019
Priority date	Jan 18, 2018
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

Provided are an electronic device for determining failure of a signal path and a component, and a method for operating the electronic device according to various embodiments. The electronic device comprises: at least one connection part for connection to an external device; a first signal path including an amplifier for amplifying a signal transmitted to the outside of the electronic device; a second signal path for obtaining another signal from the outside of the electronic device; an antenna port electrically connected to the first signal path and the second signal path through a filter circuit; and a communication module, wherein the communication module may be configured to transmit a transmission signal through the first signal path to the antenna port, obtain at least a part of the transmission signal through the second signal path, and determine whether the electronic device is defective on the basis of the transmission signal and information associated with at least a part of the transmission signal. Various other embodiments are possible.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
at least one connector configured to be connected to an external device;
a first signal path including an amplifier configured to amplify a signal to be transmitted to the outside of the electronic device;
a second signal path configured to obtain another signal from the outside of the electronic device;
an antenna port electrically connected to the first signal path and the second signal path via a filter circuit; and
a communication module,
wherein the communication module is configured to:
transmit a transmission signal to the antenna port via the first signal path;
obtain at least part of the transmission signal via the second signal path; and
determine failure of the electronic device based on the transmission signal and information associated with the at least part of the transmission signal.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second antenna port configured to receive a diversity signal,
wherein the communication module is configured to:
emit a transmission signal corresponding to a control signal, using a first antenna connected to the antenna port;
obtain at least part of the emitted transmission signal via a third signal path connected to the second antenna port; and
determine failure of the electronic device based on the transmission signal and information associated with the at least part of the transmission signal.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication module is configured to transmit the transmission signal to the antenna port when the antenna port is in an opened state.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information associated with at least part of the transmission signal comprises attenuated amplitude of the transmission signal while the transmission signal is being transmitted via the first signal path and the second signal path.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication module comprises a plurality of paths connected to the second signal path, and
the information associated with at least part of the transmission signal comprises signal information of the transmission signal transmitted through each of the plurality of paths.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication module comprises an amplifier connected to a plurality of paths, and
the information associated with at least of the transmission signal comprises signal information of the transmission signal amplified through the amplifier.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transmission signal is a signal having a same frequency as a reception frequency of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first signal path comprises an amplifier that supports a bypass mode, and
the information associated with at least of the transmission signal comprises signal information of the transmission signal amplified through the amplifier and information of the transmission signal when the amplifier is operated in the bypass mode.

9. An electronic device comprising:
at least one connector configured to be connected to an external device;
a first signal path including an amplifier configured to amplify a signal to be transmitted to the outside of the electronic device;
a second signal path configured to obtain another signal from the outside of the electronic device;
a first antenna port electrically connected to the first signal path and the second signal path via a filter circuit;
a second antenna port electrically connected to the second signal path; and
a communication module,
wherein the communication module is configured to:
receive a control signal from an external device;
transmit a transmission signal corresponding to the control signal to the first antenna port via the first path signal;
emit the transmission signal using a first antenna connected to the first antenna port;
receive the emitted signal using a second antenna connected to the second antenna port;
obtain at least part of the transmission signal via the second signal path; and
determine failure of the electronic device based on the transmission signal and information associated with at least part of the transmission signal.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Son Yoonkook
• An Yongjun
• Lee Yuseon
• Lee Hanyeop
• Kim Joosung
• Na Hyoseok
• Ku Doil
• Kang Hyunsang
• Van Juho
• Pyo Chulseung

Classifications

• H04B17/14 Primary

  of the whole transmission and reception path, e.g. self-test loop-back · CPC title

• H04B17/13

  of power amplifiers, e.g. gain or non-linearity · CPC title

• H04B17/17

  Detection of non-compliance or faulty performance, e.g. response deviations (H04B17/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04B17/103 Primary

  Reflected power, e.g. return loss · CPC title

• H04B17/29

  Performance testing · CPC title