Electronic device having antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12015208-B2
Application number	US-202118556020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2021
Priority date	Apr 20, 2021
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A mobile terminal having an antenna according to one embodiment is provided. The mobile terminal comprises: a first metal housing having a left side surface and a right side surface that define the exterior; and a second metal housing having a left side surface, a right side surface, and a bottom side surface that define the exterior. A first conductive member and a second conductive member of the second metal housing each include a first sub member disposed on a lower side surface and a second sub member disposed on a left side surface or a right side surface; the left side surface of the first metal housing and the second sub member of the second metal housing overlap; the overlapping first metal housing is not exposed to the exterior, while the second sub member may be exposed to the exterior.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile terminal that changes in size, the mobile terminal comprising:
a first metal housing including a left side surface and a right side surface defining the exterior of the mobile terminal,
a second metal housing including a left side surface, a right side surface, and a bottom side surface defining the exterior—each of a first conductive member and a second conductive member of the second metal housing includes a first sub member disposed on the bottom side surface and a second sub member disposed on the left or right side surface—;
a first printed circuit board (PCB) having a wireless communication unit;
a second PCB electrically connected to the first PCB;
a third PCB electrically connected to the second PCB; and
a display including a first region that is exposed to a front surface in a retracted state of the mobile terminal, and a second region that is an expanded region exposed to the front surface in an expanded state of the mobile terminal,
wherein the left side surface of the first metal housing and the second sub member of the second metal housing overlap each other, and the overlapped first metal housing is not exposed to the exterior while the second sub member is exposed to the exterior,
a feed portion and a ground portion are connected from the second PCB to a first portion of the first metal housing, and
a contact portion having tension is disposed between the first metal housing and the second sub member.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein a length from the contact portion to an overlap portion between the first portion and the second sub member is shorter than or equal to ¼ of an operating wavelength of an antenna disposed on at least portion of the second metal housing.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive member comprises the first sub member disposed on a first portion of a lower side of the second metal housing, the second sub member disposed on a first side surface of the second metal housing, and a first corner region defined between the first sub member and the second sub member, and
the first metal housing overlapping the first conductive member operates as a first antenna.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3 , wherein the second PCB further comprises a switch configured to adjust an operating band of the first antenna, and
the feed portion is electrically connected to the first metal housing at a first point, the ground portion is electrically connected at a second point adjacent to an end portion of the first metal housing, and the switch is electrically connected to the second sub member.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the feed portion and the ground portion are connected from the second PCB to one side of the first portion of the first metal housing, and
a second feed portion, a first ground portion, and a second ground portion are connected from the third PCB to another side of the first part of the first metal housing.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5 , wherein the second conductive member comprises the first sub member disposed on a second portion of a lower side of the second metal housing, the second sub member disposed on a second side surface of the second metal housing, and a second corner region defined between the first sub member and the second sub member, and
the first metal housing overlapping the second conductive member operates as a second antenna.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the second antenna forms a loop mode by the second feed portion and the first ground portion disposed adjacent to an end portion of the second sub member, and
forms an IFA mode by the second feed portion and the second ground portion disposed between the first ground portion and the second feed portion.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 5 , wherein the second feed portion is electrically connected to the second sub member, and the first ground portion is electrically connected at a first point adjacent to an end portion of the first metal housing, and
the second ground portion is electrically connected at a second point of the first metal housing.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the second metal housing further comprises a third conductive member disposed between the first conductive member and the second conductive member, and
an end portion of the first conductive member and one end portion of the third conductive member are spaced apart from each other by a first slit, and
an end portion of the second conductive member and another end portion of the third conductive member are spaced apart from each other by a second slit.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9 , wherein the first metal housing comprises a first portion, a second portion separated by a slit and exposed to the exterior, and a third portion formed inside the mobile terminal,
a slot region from which a metal is removed is defined between the third conductive member and the third portion, and
a first region of the display is disposed on a front surface of the mobile terminal corresponding to the slot region.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , further comprising a fourth conductive member disposed on a left side surface of the second portion of the first metal housing, and a fifth conductive member disposed on a right side surface,
wherein the fourth conductive member and the fifth conductive member operate as a third antenna and a fourth antenna, respectively, and
the wireless communication unit of the first PCB controls operations of the first antenna to the fourth antenna.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11 , wherein the second antenna is connected to a second feed portion and a ground portion from the third PCB to one side of a second portion of the second metal housing, and
the fourth antenna is connected to a fourth feed portion and a ground portion from the third PCB to another side of the second portion of the second metal housing.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12 , wherein the ground portion of the second antenna is electrically connected to the second portion at a position adjacent to an end portion of the first portion, and
the ground portion of the fourth antenna is electrically connected to the second portion at a position adjacent to a slot of the second portion.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication unit controls, when only the second antenna operates, switches such that the ground portion of the second antenna is electrically connected to the third PCB through a capacitor, and the ground portion of the fourth antenna is shorted from the third PCB.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication unit controls, when only the fourth antenna operates, switches such that the ground portion of the second antenna is shorted from the third PCB, and the ground portion of the fourth antenna is electrically connected to the third PCB through an inductor.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication unit controls, when both the second antenna and the fourth antenna operate, switches such that the ground portion of the second antenna is electrically connected to the third PCB through a first inductor and the ground portion of the fourth antenna is electrically connected to the third PCB through a second inductor.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 13 , further comprising a processor operably coupled to the wireless communication unit,
wherein the processor, when it is determined that a hand effect has occurred while only the second antenna operates, controls switches suc

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Dongjin
• Kim Namyong
• Kim Sungwon
• Ha Jihun
• Kwon Youngbae
• Jung Byungwoon

Classifications

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• H01Q1/46

  Electric supply lines or communication lines · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/24

  with receiving set · CPC title

• H05K2201/10098

  Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas · CPC title