Antenna structure and electronic device including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12009595-B2
Application number	US-202217569132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2022
Priority date	Jul 5, 2019
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

Electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises: a housing surrounding a space between first and second plates and including a side surface member of which at least a portion includes a conductive section; a communication module; and an antenna structure. The conductive section includes first and second regions formed at a different position. The antenna structure includes a plurality of first slot sets formed in the first region, wherein at least two first slots extending in a first direction combine to form one first slot set and the plurality of first slot sets are formed at first designated intervals in a second direction, and a plurality of second slot sets formed in the second region. At least two second slots extending in the first direction combine to form one second slot set and the plurality of second slot sets are formed at second designated intervals in the second direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing including a first plate;
a second plate facing in a direction opposite to the first plate;
a side surface member surrounding a space between the first plate and the second plate and including a conductive portion;
a communication module; and
an antenna structure operably connected to the communication module,
wherein:
the conductive portion of the side surface member includes a first area and a second area formed in a position different from the first area;
the antenna structure includes:
a plurality of first slot sets formed in the first area, a first slot set formed by combining at least two first slots extending in a first direction, and the plurality of first slot sets formed with a first designated gap in a second direction, and
a plurality of second slot sets formed in the second area, a second slot set formed by combining at least two second slots extending in the first direction, and the plurality of second slot sets formed with a second designated gap in the second direction; and

at least two first slots included in the first slot set are formed to include different lengths in the first direction, respectively, and at least two second slots included in the second slot set are formed to include different lengths in the first direction, respectively.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second designated gap is set to be identical to the first designated gap, and
wherein each second slot set included in the plurality of second slot sets is formed in a position corresponding to a position in which each first slot set included in the plurality of first slot sets is formed.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the second slot set formed in the position corresponding to the first slot set is configured in parallel to the second direction and includes a shape symmetrical with the first slot set with respect to a designated point in a virtual line passing through a center of the conductive portion.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the conductive portion surrounds at least a portion of an inner space of the electronic device and includes a first surface facing an outside of the electronic device, and
wherein when viewed from above the first surface, the first area and the second area are divided by a virtual line.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a foldable electronic device including a first housing structure and a second housing structure,
wherein:
the conductive portion includes:
a first conductive portion included in the first housing structure and formed with the first area, and
a second conductive portion included in the second housing structure and formed with the second area; and

when the foldable electronic device is folded, the first area and the second area are disposed adjacent to each other, and the plurality of first slot sets included in the first conductive portion and the plurality of second slot sets included in the second conductive portion are formed to be disposed in positions corresponding to each other.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an extension extending from the conductive portion, the extension formed with at least one surface facing in a direction different from a direction in which a first surface faces.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the extension includes,
a first extension extending from a first end of the conductive portion, the first extension formed with a second surface facing in a direction different from the direction in which the first surface faces; and
a second extension extending from a second end of the conductive portion, the second extension formed with a third surface facing in a direction different from the direction in which the first surface faces.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the first area is formed on at least a portion of the conductive portion and the first extension, and the second area is formed on at least a portion of the conductive portion and the second extension, and
wherein the first slot and the second slot extend on the first extension and the second extension, respectively, in a third direction.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein at least portion of the plurality of first slot sets further extend on the first extension in a fourth direction, and at least portion of the plurality of second slot sets further extend on the second extension in a direction opposite to the fourth direction.

10. The electronic device of claim 6 , further comprising a cover member or a display member covering at least portion of the extension.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first slot sets forms a first array antenna and the plurality of second slot sets forms a second array antenna.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one first feeding line is disposed in a position couplable with the first slot set and at least one second feeding line is disposed in a position couplable with the second slot set.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the first feeding line and the second feeding line are configured to independently feed the first slot sets and the second slot sets, respectively.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein:
the conductive portion surrounds an inner space of the electronic device and includes a first surface facing an outside of the electronic device;
the antenna structure further includes a first extension extending from a first end of the conductive portion, the antenna structure formed with a second surface facing in a direction different from a direction in which the first surface faces or a second extension extending from a second end of the conductive portion and formed with a third surface facing in a direction from the direction in which the first surface faces; and
a first conductive line or a second conductive line is electrically connected to the first extension or the second extension, respectively.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one processor
configured to control beamforming in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction using the antenna structure.

16. An electronic device comprising:
a housing including:
a first plate;
a second plate facing in a direction opposite to the first plate;
a side surface member surrounding a space between the first plate and the second plate and including a conductive portion;
a communication module;
an antenna structure operably connected to the communication module; and
at least one processor controlling beamforming in a horizontal direction using the antenna structure or controlling beamforming in a vertical direction using the antenna structure,
wherein the conductive portion of the side surface member includes a first area and a second area formed in a position different from the first area,
wherein the antenna structure includes:
first slot sets formed in the first area, a first slot set formed by combining at least two first slots extending in a first direction, a plurality of first slot sets formed with a designated gap in a second direction; and second slot sets formed in the second area, a second slot set formed by combining at least two second slots, a plurality of second slot sets formed with the designated gap in the second direction,

wherein at least two first slots included in the first slot set are formed to include different lengths in the first direction each other, and at least two second slots included in the second sl

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Univ Yonsei Iacf

Inventors

• Kim Junggil
• Yoon Youngjoong
• Kim Sungsoo
• Kim Sunghoe
• Bae Janghwan

Classifications

• H04M1/0266

  for a display module 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

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01Q21/06

  Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart · CPC title

• H01Q1/46

  Electric supply lines or communication lines · CPC title