Electronic device and method for switching of antenna thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11546459-B2
Application number	US-202017116301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2020
Priority date	Dec 13, 2019
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a foldable housing, a communication circuit, a first transmission/reception circuit configured to transmit/receive a signal in a first frequency band, a first antenna electrically connected to the first transmission/reception circuit, and disposed on a portion of the first side member, a second transmission/reception circuit configured to transmit/receive a signal in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, a second antenna electrically connected to the second transmission/reception circuit, and disposed on a portion of the first side member, a sensor configured to detect a contact of a user's body portion, and a processor. The processor may be configured to cause the first transmission/reception circuit to be electrically connected to the second antenna such that the signal in the first frequency band is transmitted/received through the second antenna when the contact of the user's body portion is detected by the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing including:
a hinge structure;
a first housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a first surface oriented to face a first direction, a second surface oriented to face a second direction opposite to the first surface, and a first side member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface; and
a second housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a third surface oriented to face a third direction, a fourth surface oriented to face a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and a second side member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface, the second housing structure being folded to the first housing structure about the hinge structure, wherein, in a folded state, the third direction is opposite to the first direction, and in an unfolded state, the third direction is a same as the first direction;

a communication circuit;
a first transmission/reception circuit configured to transmit/receive a signal in a first frequency band;
a first antenna electrically connected to the first transmission/reception circuit, and disposed on a portion of the first side member of the first housing structure;
a second transmission/reception circuit configured to transmit/receive a signal in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band;
a second antenna electrically connected to the second transmission/reception circuit, and disposed on a portion of the first side member;
a sensor disposed in the second housing structure configured to detect a contact of a user's body portion on a part of the first antenna, wherein the sensor is located adjacent to a part of the first antenna when the electronic device is in the folded state; and
a processor,
wherein the processor is configured to:
cause the first transmission/reception circuit to be electrically connected to the first antenna such that the signal in the first frequency band is transmitted/received through the first transmission/reception circuit and the first antenna when the contact of the user's body portion is not detected by the sensor and the electronic device is in the folded state, and
cause the first transmission/reception circuit to be electrically connected to the second antenna such that the signal in the first frequency band is transmitted/received through the first transmission/reception circuit and the second antenna when the contact of the user's body portion is detected by the sensor and the electronic device is in the folded state.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first transmission/reception circuit comprises a first amplifier and a switch,
wherein the second transmission/reception circuit comprises a second amplifier and a diplexer electrically connected to the second antenna,
wherein the switch electrically connects the first amplifier to the first antenna or the diplexer, and
wherein the processor is further configured to:
control the switch such that the first amplifier and the diplexer are electrically connected to each other so as to cause the first transmission/reception circuit to be electrically connected to the second antenna.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the switch such that the first amplifier and the first antenna are electrically connected to each other when the contact of the user's body portion is not detected through the sensor.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first side member comprises:
a first side surface arranged substantially parallel to the hinge structure;
a second side surface extending from one end of the first side surface to the hinge structure; and
a third side surface extending from another end of the first side surface to the hinge structure, and

wherein the first antenna is a conductive portion disposed on at least a portion of the first side surface and the second side surface.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the second antenna is a conductive portion disposed on at least a portion of the second side surface.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are separated from each other due to a non-conductive portion.

7. The electronic device of claim 4 ,
wherein the second side member comprises:
a fourth side surface arranged substantially parallel to the hinge structure;
a fifth side surface extending from one end of the first side surface to the hinge structure; and
a sixth side surface extending from another end of the first side surface to the hinge structure, and

wherein a position where the sensor is disposed is symmetrical to the one end of the first antenna with respect to the hinge structure in the fourth side surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a position where the sensor is disposed is a position adjacent to the one end of the first antenna in the first side surface.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
measure a change value in capacitance through the sensor; and
identify whether the user's body portion comes into contact based on the measured change value in capacitance.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first antenna matching circuit disposed in an electrical path connecting the first antenna and the communication circuit to each other; and
a second antenna matching circuit disposed in an electrical path connecting the second antenna and the communication circuit to each other.

11. An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing including:
a hinge structure;
a first housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a first surface oriented to face a first direction, a second surface oriented to face a second direction opposite to the first surface, and a first side member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface; and
a second housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a third surface oriented to face a third direction, a fourth surface oriented to face a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and a second side member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface, the second housing structure being folded to the first housing structure about the hinge structure, wherein, in a folded state, the third direction is opposite to the first direction, and in an unfolded state, the third direction is a same as the first direction;

a communication circuit;
a first transmission/reception circuit configured to transmit/receive a signal in a first frequency band;
a first antenna electrically connected to the first transmission/reception circuit, and disposed on a portion of the first side member;
a second transmission/reception circuit configured to transmit/receive a signal in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band;
a second antenna electrically connected to the second transmission/reception circuit, and disposed on a portion of the first side member;
a switch configured to connect between the first transmission/reception circuit and one of the first antenna and the second antenna;
a first bidirectional coupler disposed in an electrical path connecting the communication circuit and the first antenna to each other;
a second bidirectional coupler disposed in an electrical path connecting the communication circuit and the second antenna to each other; and
a processor,
wherein the processor is configured to:
identify whether a user's body portion is contacting th

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jung Hojin
• Kim Yongyoun
• Oh Myeongsu
• Chu Duho

Classifications

• H04B1/50

  using different frequencies for the two directions of communication · CPC title

• H04M1/72454 Primary

  according to context-related or environment-related conditions · CPC title

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H04M1/0216 Primary

  Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge · CPC title

• H01Q1/52

  Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure (absorbing means H01Q17/00) · CPC title