Antenna and electronic device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11942704-B2
Application number	US-202217584981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2022
Priority date	Jan 20, 2021
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

An electronic device is provided that includes a housing, an antenna structure, an electronic component, and a wireless communication circuit. The antenna structure includes a substrate, at least one conductive patch disposed at the substrate, at least one power feeder disposed at a position of the at least one conductive patch, and at least one electrical connection structure. The at least one electrical connection structure includes a first conductive via disposed to pass through the at least one conductive patch and a ground layer of the substrate, and a second conductive via passing through the at least one conductive patch and electrically connected to the ground layer. The electronic component is disposed to overlap at least in part with the at least one conductive patch when the substrate is viewed from above, and is electrically connected to a main board through the at least one electrical connection structure. The wireless communication circuit is electrically connected to the at least one power feeder, and is configured to form a beam pattern in a first direction through the at least one conductive patch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
an antenna structure disposed in an inner space of the housing and including:
a substrate having a first substrate surface facing toward a first direction, a second substrate surface facing toward a direction opposite to the first substrate surface, and a ground layer disposed in a space between the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface,
at least one conductive patch disposed between the ground layer and the first substrate surface or to be exposed to the first substrate surface, and
at least one power feeder disposed at a position of the at least one conductive patch;

an electronic component disposed on the first substrate surface and disposed to overlap at least in part with the at least one conductive patch when the first substrate surface is viewed from above, the electronic component being electrically connected to a main board through at least one electrical connection structure; and
a wireless communication circuit disposed in the inner space, electrically connected to the at least one power feeder, and configured to form a beam pattern in the first direction through the at least one conductive patch,
wherein the at least one electrical connection structure including:
a first conductive via disposed to pass through the at least one conductive patch and the ground layer, and
a second conductive via passing through the at least one conductive patch and electrically connected to the ground layer.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one power feeder includes:
a first power feeder disposed on a first line passing through a center of the at least one conductive patch, and
a second power feeder disposed on a second line passing through the center and perpendicular to the first line.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein when the at least one conductive patch is viewed from above, the first conductive via and the second conductive via are symmetrically disposed with respect to a center of the at least one conductive patch.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first conductive via and the second conductive via are disposed within a distance of 30% of a linear distance from the center to an end of the at least one conductive patch.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein when the at least one conductive patch is viewed from above, the second conductive via is disposed at a position overlapping with a center of the at least one conductive patch.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the first conductive via is disposed within a distance of 30% of a linear distance from the center to an end of the at least one conductive patch.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connector disposed on the second substrate surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the first conductive via,
wherein the connector is electrically connected to the main board.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a surface mount device (SMD) pad disposed between the electronic component and the first substrate surface,
wherein the SMD pad includes a first conductive pad electrically connected to the first conductive via exposed on the first substrate surface.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 ,
wherein the first conductive pad is formed to have an elongated shape outward from a center of the at least one conductive patch when the first substrate surface is viewed from above,
wherein the electronic component is electrically connected at a first point of the first conductive pad, and
wherein the first conductive via is electrically connected at a second point of the first conductive pad closer to the center than the first point.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 ,
wherein the SMD pad includes a second conductive pad electrically connected to the second conductive via exposed on the first substrate surface,
wherein the second conductive pad is formed to have an elongated shape outward from a center of the at least one conductive patch when the first substrate surface is viewed from above,
wherein the electronic component is electrically connected at a first point of the second conductive pad, and
wherein the second conductive via is electrically connected at a second point of the second conductive pad closer to the center than the first point.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein radiation performance of the antenna structure is determined through a separation distance from a center of the at least one conductive patch to the second conductive via when the first substrate surface is viewed from above.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component includes a key button device having at least one key button exposed at least in part to the outside through an opening formed in a conductive portion disposed at least partially in the housing.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein a non-conductive portion is formed along an edge of the opening.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein when the first substrate surface is viewed from above, the at least one key button is disposed to overlap at least in part with the at least one conductive patch.

15. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one key button is formed of a non-conductive material.

16. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one key button has at least two conductive portions segmented through at least one non-conductive portion.

17. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one conductive patch includes a plurality of conductive patches disposed at predetermined intervals.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 ,
wherein the key button device includes key modules disposed respectively to overlap with two or more of the plurality of conductive patches, and
wherein the at least one electrical connection structure is disposed on each of the key modules.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the key modules are symmetrically disposed in the plurality of conductive patches.

20. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one key button includes one key button accommodating the key modules together or two or more key buttons individually accommodating at least two key modules among the key modules.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yun Sumin
• Kim Hosaeng
• Park Seongjin
• Jang Woomin
• Jong Jehun
• Jo Jaehoon

Classifications

• H01Q9/0421 Primary

  with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element (H01Q9/0414 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/44 Primary

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01Q9/0407 Primary

  Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna (dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40) · CPC title

• H01Q21/08

  the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)} · CPC title