Electronic device comprising antenna module disposed in camera module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12316947-B2
Application number	US-202218077804-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2022
Priority date	Jun 8, 2020
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

An electronic device includes: a housing; a first camera module disposed in the housing, the first camera module including: a first camera housing; a prism disposed in the first camera housing and configured to refract light received from outside of the electronic device; and an image sensor disposed in the first camera housing and configured to obtain the light through the prism; and an antenna module configured to transmit or receive a signal, wherein at least a portion of the antenna module is disposed on the first camera module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing;
a first camera module at least partially disposed in the housing, the first camera module comprising:
a camera window forming at least a portion of an exterior of the electronic device;
a first camera housing disposed below the camera window;
a prism disposed in the first camera housing and configured to refract light received from outside of the electronic device; and
an image sensor disposed in the first camera housing and configured to obtain the light through the prism; and

an antenna module comprising a plurality of patch antennas configured to transmit or receive a signal, the plurality of patch antennas disposed between the camera window and the first camera housing.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of patch antennas are disposed on the first camera housing of the first camera module.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the first camera module comprises a first lens assembly disposed between the prism and the image sensor and facing the image sensor, and
wherein the electronic device further comprises a second camera module facing the camera window.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the camera window comprises:
a first transparent area configured to provide a path of light towards the first lens assembly;
at least one second transparent area configured to provide a path of light towards the second camera module; and
a printing area surrounding the first transparent area and the at least one second transparent area, and
wherein at least the portion of the antenna module is disposed between the printing area and the first camera module.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a front plate and a rear plate, and
wherein at least the portion of the antenna module is disposed between the rear plate and the first camera module.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the first camera module comprises a first camera supporting member supporting the first camera module, and
wherein the antenna module is disposed on the first camera supporting member.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of patch antennas of the antenna module comprises a first patch antenna and a second patch antenna that is spaced apart from the first patch antenna.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the antenna module further comprises a third patch antenna that is spaced apart from the first patch antenna, and
wherein the second patch antenna and the third patch antenna are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first patch antenna.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sensor module configured to detect an angle of the electronic device from a ground;
a processor configured to determine a mounting mode of the electronic device based on the angle;
an antenna circuit electrically connected with the processor; and
a switching circuit configured to selectively connect the second patch antenna or the third patch antenna to the antenna circuit,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
control the switching circuit in a first connection state of being electrically connected with the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna in a first mounting mode; and
control the switching circuit in a second connection state of being electrically connected with the first patch antenna and the third patch antenna in a second mounting mode.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the third patch antenna is on the first camera module.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display; and
a processor configured to:
control the first camera module to obtain an image;
broadcast a ranging request message through the antenna module;
receive, through the antenna module, a ranging response message from a first external electronic device that received the ranging request message;
identify a relative position of the first external electronic device with respect to the electronic device, based on the ranging response message;
identify a first area corresponding to the first external electronic device in the image, based on the relative position of the first external electronic device with respect to the electronic device; and
control the display to display a graphic object corresponding to the first external electronic device overlaid on the first area of the image.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jeongsik
• Lee Muyeol
• Park Eunsoo
• Cho Yonglak
• Lee Jiwoo

Classifications

• H01Q21/00

  Antenna arrays or systems (arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00) · CPC title

• H01Q9/0407

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

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• G01S5/0284

  Relative positioning · CPC title

• G01S5/0205

  Details · CPC title