Electronic device supporting signal radiation of antenna structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11380980-B2
Application number	US-202117238428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2021
Priority date	Feb 19, 2019
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

An electronic device includes a housing including a first plate facing in a first direction, a second plate facing in a second direction, and a side member surrounding a space between the first plate and the second plate, a support member interposed between the first plate and the second plate and including a metallic structure, an antenna structure mounted on the support member and including a first surface facing in a third direction toward the side member, and a polymer structure disposed in a space surrounded by the first plate, the support member, the side member, and the first surface of the antenna structure, and coupled to the metallic structure. The coupled metallic structure and polymer structure includes a groove bounded by the first surface, a second surface on the polymer structure forming an acute angle with the first surface, and a third surface substantially perpendicular to the second surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing including a first plate including a first planar area, a second plate including a second planar area substantially parallel to the first planar area, and a side member disposed between the first plate and the second plate and forming a portion of a surface of the electronic device;
a polymer structure coupled to the side member, wherein grooves are formed in the polymer structure;
an antenna structure disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the antenna structure including a first surface facing the grooves of the polymer structure, and at least one antenna element configured to output a directional beam; and
a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the at least one antenna element and configured to transmit and/or receive a signal having a frequency between 3 GHz to 100 GHz.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a support member includes a metal structure comprising a metal material and at least partially coupled with the polymer structure.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the polymer structure includes a first area and a second area in contact with the first surface of the antenna structure, and
wherein the grooves are formed between the first area and the second area.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 ,
wherein the grooves recess in a direction away from the first surface of the antenna structure.

5. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the first surface of the antenna structure is substantially perpendicular to the first planar area and the second planar area.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the grooves form an air gap between the first surface of the antenna structure and the polymer structure.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the portion formed by the side member is a first portion, and the polymer structure forms a second portion of the surface of the electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure is configured to output the directional beam towards the grooves of the polymer structure.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second plate includes a curved area extending from an edge of the second planar area toward the side member, and
wherein the curved area at least partially contacts the polymer structure.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the antenna structure is positioned at least partially between the first plate and the curved area of the second plate.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure includes a second surface opposite to the first surface, and
wherein the electronic device further comprises a support member including a rib at least partially facing the second surface of the antenna structure.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor module including at least one sensor, and
wherein the rib extends into a space between the sensor module and the antenna structure.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes:
a short side portion substantially perpendicular to each of the first planar area and the second planar area, and
a long side portion longer than the short side portion, the long side portion substantially perpendicular to the short side portion, the first planar area and the second planar area, and
wherein the short side portion includes at least a portion of the polymer structure, and
wherein the antenna structure at least partially overlaps the short side portion corresponding to the polymer structure.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the first surface of the antenna structure is extended along the short side portion, and
wherein the polymer structure extends along the short side portion, and wherein each of the grooves is spaced apart at a specified interval along the short side portion.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna structure includes:
a printed circuit board forming the first surface of the antenna structure and including the at least one antenna element,
a shielding member coupled to the printed circuit board, and
a flexible circuit board electrically connecting the printed circuit board and the wireless communication circuit.

16. An electronic device comprising:
a first plate including a first planar area;
a second plate including a second planar area substantially parallel to the first planar area and a curved area extending from at least a portion of an edge of the second planar area;
a side member connecting at least part of an edge of the first plate and at least part of an edge of the second plate, the side member including a short side portion and a long side portion extending from the short side portion;
a display disposed to be visually exposed through the first plate;
a polymer structure coupled to the short side portion of the side member and extending along the short side portion; and
an antenna structure including an antenna substrate having a first surface, wherein the first surface of the antenna substrate at least partially faces a second surface of the polymer structure, the second surface of the polymer structure opposite to a surface of the polymer structure forming an exterior of the electronic device;
wherein at least one groove is formed on the second surface of the polymer structure and is recessed toward the surface of the polymer structure to form an air gap between the first surface of the antenna substrate and the second surface of the polymer structure.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the second surface of the polymer structure includes a first area and a second area in contact with the first surface of the antenna substrate,
wherein the first area and the second area are spaced apart at a specified interval in along the short side portion, and
wherein a first groove of the at least one groove is formed between the first area and the second area.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein each of the first area and the second area extends toward the curved area of the second plate, and
wherein the groove opens toward the curve area of the second plate.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the second surface of the polymer structure further includes a third area in contact with the first surface of the antenna substrate and spaced apart from the second area along the short side portion, and
wherein a second groove of the at least one groove is formed between the second area and the third area, and the antenna substrate includes antenna elements arranged along a direction from the first groove toward the second groove.

20. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the antenna substrate further includes:
antenna elements configured to output a directional beam towards the at least one groove of the polymer structure, and
a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the antenna elements and configured to transmit and/or receive a signal having a frequency of 3 GHz to 100 GHz.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Moon Heecheul
• Son Kwonho
• Yoon Chongo
• Seo Mincheol
• Yoo Minwoo

Classifications

• H01Q1/241

  used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM (H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/36

  Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; {Particular materials used therewith}(H01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/22

  by structural association with other equipment or articles · CPC title

• H01Q1/12 Primary

  Supports; Mounting means · CPC title

• H01Q1/243 Primary

  with built-in antennas · CPC title