Antenna and electronic device comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11962068-B2
Application number	US-202017431861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2020
Priority date	Feb 19, 2019
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first housing structure, a second housing structure, and a foldable housing structure for connecting the first housing structure and the second housing structure. The first housing structure and the second housing structure may include a front plate for interconnecting front surfaces with a flexible display, a rear plate which is an opposite surface to the front plate, a side member which surrounds a space between the front plate and the rear plate, and includes at least in part a conductive portion and an insulating portion, a communication circuit and at least one switch electrically connected to the communication circuit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a foldable housing comprising:
a hinge structure,
a first housing structure connected to the hinge structure, and comprising a first surface facing a first direction, a second surface facing a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and a first side member which surrounds at least in part a space between the first surface and the second surface, and comprises a first conductive unit, a first insulating unit, a second conductive unit, a second insulating unit and a third conductive unit sequentially disposed from the hinge structure, and
a second housing structure connected to the hinge structure, comprising a third surface facing a third direction, a fourth surface facing a fourth direction which is opposite to the third direction, and a second side member which surrounds at least in part a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, and comprises a fourth conductive unit, a third insulating unit, a fifth conductive unit, a fourth insulating unit and a sixth conductive unit sequentially disposed from the hinge structure, wherein the second housing structure folds with the first housing structure based on the hinge structure, the first surface faces the third surface in a folded state, the third direction is same as the first direction in an unfolded state, the first insulating unit and the third insulating unit substantially align in the folded state, and the second insulating unit and the fourth insulating unit substantially align in the folded state;

a flexible display extended from the first surface to the third surface;
a first printed circuit board disposed between the first surface and the second surface, and comprising at least one first ground layer;
a second printed circuit board disposed between the third surface and the fourth surface, and comprising at least one second ground layer;
at least one wireless communication circuit disposed on the first printed circuit board, and configured to at least one of transmit or receive:
a first signal of a first frequency band by electrically connecting to a first position of the second conductive unit, wherein the first position of the second conductive unit is closer to the second insulating unit than the first insulating unit, and
a second signal of a second frequency band by electrically connecting to a second position of the third conductive unit, wherein the second position of the third conductive unit is closer to the second insulating unit than the first insulating unit;

and
at least one first switch comprising:
a first terminal electrically connected to the second ground layer,
a second terminal electrically connected to a third position of the fifth conductive unit, wherein the third position of the fifth conductive unit is closer to the fourth insulating unit than the third insulating unit, and
a third terminal electrically connected to a fourth position of the sixth conductive unit, wherein the fourth position of the sixth conductive unit is close to the fourth insulating unit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one first passive element on a first electrical path electrically connected between the third position and the second ground layer.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
at least one second passive element on a second electrical path electrically connected between the fourth position and the second ground layer.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a second switch comprising a fourth terminal and a fifth terminal,
wherein the fourth terminal is electrically connected to a fifth position between the first position of the second conductive unit and the first insulating unit, and
wherein the fifth terminal is electrically connected to the first ground layer.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fifth electrical path electrically connected between a seventh position of the second conductive unit, between the first insulating unit and the first position, and the first ground layer.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein, in the folded state, when viewed from above the second surface, the fourth conductive unit overlaps at least in part the first conductive unit,
wherein, in the folded state, when viewed from above the second surface, the fifth conductive unit overlaps at least in part the second conductive unit, and
wherein, in the folded state, when viewed from above the second surface, the sixth conductive unit overlaps at least in part the third conductive unit.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first side member forms a first side surface and a second side surface facing opposite directions, and a third side surface interconnects the first side surface and the second side surface and is perpendicular to the first side surface,
wherein the third conductive unit forms the third side surface, part of the first side surface and part of the second side surface, and
wherein the first conductive unit and the second conductive unit form part of the first side surface or part of the second side surface.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a sixth electrical path electrically connected between an eighth position, of a portion which forms the third side surface, of the third conductive unit, and the first ground layer.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one tuner on a seventh electrical path electrically connected between the first position and the at least one wireless communication circuit.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth switch on an eighth electrical path electrically connected between the second position and the at least one wireless communication circuit.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the fourth switch is configured to:
electrically separate the second position and the at least one wireless communication circuit in the first frequency band, and
electrically connect the second position and the at least one wireless communication circuit in the second frequency band.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected with the flexible display, the at least one wireless communication circuit, and the first switch; and
a memory operatively connected with the processor,
wherein the memory stores instructions, when executed, causing the processor to control the first switch to electrically connect the first terminal with at least one of the second terminal and the third terminal according to the first frequency band or the second frequency band, in the folded state.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one conductive pattern disposed in the first housing structure, and electrically connected to the second conductive unit.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one conductive pattern is formed on the first printed circuit board, or on a nonconductive structure disposed in the first housing structure.

15. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one conductive pattern is electrically connected to the first ground layer.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one first switch comprises two first switches, each of the two first switches is electrically connected to the second ground layer, one of the two first switches is electrically connected to the third position, and the other one of the two first switches is electrically connected to

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oh Dongjun
• Kim Taeik
• Kim Haeyeon
• Park Sehyun
• Yoon Shinho
• Lee Jonghyuck

Classifications

• H01Q1/242

  specially adapted for hand-held use · CPC title

• H04B1/18

  Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) · CPC title

• H04B1/40

  Circuits · CPC title

• H04M1/0216

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

• H04M1/0249 Primary

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