Electronic device for identifying performance of communication circuit based on signal transmitted and received via antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11677162-B2
Application number	US-202117532208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Dec 4, 2018
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

An electronic device is provided The electronic device includes a patch antenna element, at least one antenna including a first feeding unit electrically connected to the patch antenna element and a second feeding unit electrically connected to the patch antenna element so as to have a designated isolation for a signal that is input to the first feeding unit, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) which includes a first communication circuit including a first transmission circuit and a first reception circuit which are electrically connected to the first feeding unit, and a second communication circuit including a second transmission circuit and a second reception circuit which are electrically connected to the second feeding unit, and a processor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable communication device comprising:
one antenna comprising a first part of the one antenna and a second part of the one antenna, the first part of the one antenna being different from the second part of the one antenna but physically part of the same one antenna;
a first communication circuit comprising a first transmission circuit and a first reception circuit;
a second communication circuit comprising a second transmission circuit and a second reception circuit;
a first switch circuit configured to form a first signal path between the first part of the one antenna and one of the first transmission circuit or the first reception circuit;
a second switch circuit configured to form a second signal path between the second part of the one antenna and one of the second transmission circuit or the second reception circuit;
a processor; and
a memory operatively connected to the processor,
wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
control the first switch circuit to form the first signal path between the first transmission circuit and the first part of the one antenna, to transmit a first signal, and
while transmitting the first signal, control the second switch circuit to form the second signal path between the second reception circuit and the second part of the one antenna, to receive a second signal, corresponding to the first signal being transmitted, via the second part of the one antenna.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first part of the one antenna corresponds to a first feeding location on the one antenna for transmitting a signal having a horizontal polarization, and
wherein the second part of the one antenna corresponds to a second feeding location on the one antenna for transmitting a signal having a vertical polarization.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board comprising a first surface and a second surface facing opposite to the first surface,
wherein the one antenna is disposed on the first surface, and
wherein the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit are disposed on the second surface.

4. The portable communication device of claim 3 , further comprising:
another printed circuit board,
wherein the processor is disposed on the other printed circuit board.

5. The portable communication device of claim 3 ,
wherein the one antenna is included in an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, and
wherein the antenna array is disposed on the first surface.

6. The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to, based on the received second signal, determine a state of at least a part of a signal path comprising the first transmission circuit, the one antenna, and the second reception circuit.

7. The portable communication device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to perform calibration related to the at least the part of the signal path based on the determined state.

8. The portable communication device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to determine the state, when at least a part of the received second signal is attenuated by a designated degree or more in comparison to the transmitted first signal.

9. The portable communication device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to determine the state based on at least one of a magnitude difference, phase difference, or frequency difference between the transmitted first signal and the received second signal.

10. The portable communication device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first feeding unit connected to the first part of the one antenna among; and
a second feeding unit connected to the second part of the one antenna,
wherein the first switch circuit is configured form the first signal path via the first feeding unit, and
wherein the second switch circuit is configured form the second signal path via the second feeding unit.

11. The portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the first switch circuit comprises:
a first wiring configured to connect the first feeding unit and the first transmission circuit;
a second wiring configured to connect the first feeding unit and the first reception circuit;
a first switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect a ground and a point on the first wiring having a length of 214 from the first feeding unit; and
a second switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect a ground and a point on the second wiring having a length of 214 from the first feeding unit.

12. The portable communication device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
electrically disconnect the first wiring and the ground via the first switch, and
electrically connect the second wiring with the ground via the second switch, so as to transfer the transmitted first signal to the first feeding unit from the first transmission circuit.

13. The portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the second switch circuit comprises:
a third wiring configured to connect the second feeding unit and the second transmission circuit;
a fourth wiring configured to connect the second feeding unit and the second reception circuit;
a third switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect a ground and a point on the third wiring having a length of 214 from the second feeding unit; and
a fourth switch configured to electrically connect or disconnect a ground and a point on the fourth wiring having a length of λ/4 from the second feeding unit.

14. The portable communication device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:
electrically connect the third wiring and the ground via the third switch, and
electrically disconnect the fourth wiring and the ground via the fourth switch, so as to transfer the received second signal to the second reception circuit from the second feeding unit.

15. The portable communication device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first communication circuit is configured to support a horizontal polarization component of a signal transmitted or received via the one antenna, and
wherein the second communication circuit is configured to support a vertical polarization component of a signal transmitted or received via the one antenna.

16. The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to control to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal of a frequency band designated to be used for fifth generation (5G) network communication to the one antenna, via the first transmission circuit.

17. The portable communication device of claim 16 , wherein the frequency band is 6 GHz or higher.

18. The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the one antenna is included in an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas.

19. The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to, based on at least a part of the transmitted first signal, perform calibration related to at least a part of a signal path comprising the processor, the first transmission circuit, the one antenna, and the second reception circuit.

20. The portable communication device of claim 1

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Chaejun
• Kim Jihoon
• Kim Jiyong
• Na Hyoseok
• Lee Jongin

Classifications

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H04B1/40

  Circuits · CPC title

• H04B17/19 Primary

  Self-testing arrangements · CPC title

• H04B17/14

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

• H03F2200/421

  Multiple switches coupled in the output circuit of an amplifier are controlled by a circuit · CPC title