Electronic device including sensor and method for operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12292776-B2
Application number	US-202318207201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2023
Priority date	Jun 20, 2022
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may comprise an antenna circuit including an antenna, a first capacitor, a switch, a sensor, and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to control the switch to connect the first capacitor and the sensor, based on start of booting of the electronic device, determine an initial value of the sensor for determining whether a user grips at least a portion of the electronic device, based on the connection of the first capacitor and the sensor, and control the switch to connect the antenna circuit and the sensor, based on the determination of the initial value of the sensor. Other various embodiments are possible as well.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
an antenna circuit including an antenna;
a first capacitor;
a sensor;
a switch configured to selectively connect. either the first capacitor or the antenna circuit to the sensor:
memory storing instructions; and
at least one processor,
wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to:
control the switch to connect the first capacitor and the sensor, based on start of booting of the electronic device,
determine a value of the sensor for determining whether a user grips at least a portion of the electronic device, based on connection of the first capacitor and the sensor, and
control the switch to disconnect the first capacitor and the sensor and connect the antenna circuit and the sensor, based on the determination of the initialvalue of the sensor.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device further to perform calibration of the sensor, based on the determined value, when the first capacitor and the sensor are connected.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna circuit includes a second capacitor, and
wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor have the same value.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor. cause the electronic device to control the switch to connect the first capacitor and the sensor in a state in which the sensor and the antenna circuit are not connected.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor, iscause the electronic device further to obtain a sensing value for determining whether the user grips an area where the antenna is positioned in the electronic device through the sensor, based on connection of the antenna circuit and the sensor.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device further to:
determine a strength of a signal to be transmitted through the antenna, based on the sensing value, and
when the strength of the signal to be transmitted through the antenna exceeds a preset value, adjust the strength of the signal to be transmitted through the antenna.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the preset value is set based on a designated specific absorption rate.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor includes a shunt capacitor.

9. A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
controlling a switch included in the electronic device to connect a first capacitor included in the electronic device and a sensor included in the electronic device, based on start of booting of the electronic device;
determining an value of the sensor for determining whether a user grips at least a portion of the electronic device, based on connection of the first capacitor and the sensor; and
controlling the switch to disconnect the first capacitor and the sensor and connect an antenna circuit included in the electronic device and the sensor, based on the determination of the value of the sensor.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising performing calibration of the sensor, based on the determined value, when the first capacitor and the sensor are connected.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the antenna circuit includes a second capacitor, and
wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor have the same value.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the switch to connect the first capacitor and the sensor comprises:
controlling the switch to connect the first capacitor and the sensor in a state in which the sensor and the antenna circuit are not connected.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising obtaining a sensing value for determining whether the user grips an area where an antenna included in the antenna circuit is positioned in the electronic device through the sensor, based on connection of the antenna circuit and the sensor.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining a strength of a signal to be transmitted through the antenna, based on the sensing value; and
when the strength of the signal to be transmitted through the antenna exceeds a preset value, adjusting the strength of the signal to be transmitted through the antenna.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first capacitor includes a shunt capacitor.

16. An electronic device comprising:
an antenna circuit including an antenna;
a first capacitor;
a sensor;
memory storing instructions: and
at least one processor,
wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to:
connect the first capacitor and the sensor using a first channel connected to the sensor, based on start of booting of the electronic device,
determine a value of the sensor for determining whether a user grips at least a portion of the electronic device, based on connection of the first capacitor and the sensor, and
connect the antenna circuit and the sensor using a second channel connected to the sensor, based on the determination of the value of the sensor, while disconnecting the first capacitor and the sensor.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the antenna circuit includes a second capacitor, and
wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor have the same value.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to connect the first capacitor and the sensor, in a state in which the sensor and the antenna circuit are not connected.

19. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device further to obtain a sensing value for determining whether the user grips an area where the antenna is positioned in the electronic device through the sensor, based on connection of the antenna circuit and the sensor using the second channel connected to the sensor.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the instructions. when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device further to:
determine a strength of a signal to be transmitted through the antenna, based on the sensing value, and
when the strength of the signal to be transmitted through the antenna exceeds a preset value, adjust the strength of the signal to be transmitted through the antenna.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hwang Minjoo
• Yoo Donghyun
• Kim Dongyoung
• Kim Sanguk
• Kim Jongdoo
• Moon Yohan
• Lee Hanyeop
• Choi Taihwan
• Na Hyoseok
• Lim Gun

Classifications

• G06F1/3234

  Power saving characterised by the action undertaken · CPC title

• H04W52/0254 Primary

  detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device · CPC title

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/52

  Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure (absorbing means H01Q17/00) · CPC title

• H03K17/955

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title