Electronic device including antenna device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11758673-B2
Application number	US-202217871324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2022
Priority date	Jan 25, 2019
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first housing structure including a conductive first side member, a second housing structure including a conductive second side member, a hinge structure rotatably connecting the first housing structure and the second housing structure, and a printed circuit board. The first side member or the second side member may include a first side face, a second side face, a third side face, a fourth side face, a first slit formed in the fourth side face, and a second slit formed in any one of the first side face, the second side face, and the third side face. At least a part of the second side face or the third side face between the first slit and the second slit may be made of a conductive material and electrically connected to the printed circuit board as a radiating conductor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing including:
a hinge structure extending along a first axis;
a first housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a first face that faces in a first direction, a second face that faces away from the first face, and a first side member surrounding a first space between the first face and the second face,
wherein the first side member includes:
a first conductive portion extending parallel to the first axis adjacent the hinge structure;
a second conductive portion extending perpendicular to the first axis;
a third conductive portion including a portion extending parallel to the first conductive portion;
a first non-conductive portion inserted between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion; and
a second non-conductive portion inserted between the second conductive portion and the third conductive portion;

a second housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a third face that faces in a second direction, a fourth face that faces away from the third face, and a second side member surrounding a second space between the third face and the fourth face,
wherein the second side member includes:
a fourth conductive portion extending parallel to the first axis adjacent the hinge structure;
a fifth conductive portion extending perpendicular to the fourth conductive portion;
a sixth conductive portion including a portion extending parallel to the fourth conductive portion;
a third non-conductive portion inserted between the fourth conductive portion and the fifth conductive portion; and
a fourth non-conductive portion inserted between the fifth conductive portion and the sixth conductive portion,
wherein the second housing structure is foldable with respect to the first housing structure about the first axis,
wherein, in a folded state of the foldable housing, the first face faces the third face, and in an unfolded state, the second direction is a same as the first direction, and
wherein, in the folded state, when viewed from outside the second conductive portion, the second non-conductive portion and the fourth non-conductive portion are aligned with each other, and when viewed from outside the hinge structure, the first non-conductive portion and the third non-conductive portion are aligned with each other;

a flexible display extending from the first face to the third face; and
at least one wireless communication circuit electrically connected to a first position of the second conductive portion adjacent to the second non-conductive portion and configured to transmit and/or receive a signal in a frequency band of 500 MHz to 6 GHz.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ground member electrically connected to a second position of the second conductive portion between the first position and the first non-conductive portion.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
at least one switch in the first space,
wherein the switch is electrically connected to a third position of the second conductive portion between the second position and the first non-conductive portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a plurality of matching paths provided between the ground member and the switch,
wherein the switch is configured to electrically connect the second conductive portion to the ground member through at least one matching path selected from the plurality of matching paths, or cut off the electrical connection between the second conductive portion and the ground member.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the hinge structure includes a hinge cover disposed between the first housing structure and the second housing structure, and
wherein, as the first housing structure and the second housing structure are unfolded, the hinge cover is gradually concealed by the first housing structure and the second housing structure.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein an interval or a gap is formed between an outer circumferential surface of the hinge cover and the first housing structure or between the hinge cover and the second housing structure.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first housing structure includes a sensor area.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising a recess configured to accommodate the flexible display.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 ,
wherein the recess has a first width between a first portion of the second housing structure, which is parallel to the first axis, and an edge of the sensor area of the first housing structure, and
wherein the recess has a second width between a second portion of the second housing structure and a second portion that does not correspond to the sensor area and is parallel to the first axis in the first housing structure, the second width being different from the first width.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoon Shinho
• Lee Jonghyuck
• Kim Taeik
• Kim Haeyeon
• Oh Dongjun
• Hwang Soonho

Classifications

• H05K5/0226 Primary

  Hinges · CPC title

• G06F1/1698 Primary

  the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone (details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266) · CPC title

• H04M1/0268 Primary

  including a flexible display panel · CPC title

• H04M1/0249 Primary

  Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly · CPC title

• H04M1/0214

  Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235) · CPC title