Electronic device and method including antenna for adjusting focus of camera

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12495207-B2
Application number	US-202318474674-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2023
Priority date	Sep 23, 2022
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

An electronic device includes a first antenna element, an array antenna including a plurality of second antenna elements spaced apart from each other, a camera, and a processor. The processor is configured to identify a field of view (FoV) of the camera, identify a distance from an external object within the FoV by using the first antenna element and a first set of at least one antenna element of the plurality of second antenna elements, based on the FoV as a first value, identify a distance from the external object by using the first antenna element and a second set of at least one antenna element of the plurality of second antenna elements, based on the FoV as a second value, adjust a focus distance of the camera based on the identified distance, and obtain an image for the external object through the camera having the adjusted focus distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a first antenna element configured to transmit signals; an array antenna, configured to receive signals reflected by an external object, including a plurality of second antenna elements spaced apart from each other; a camera; memory storing instructions; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the first antenna element, the array antenna, the camera, and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:
identify information on a field of view (FoV) of the camera,
determine a distance from the external object within the FoV of the camera by using:
the first antenna element and a first set of at least one antenna element of the plurality of the second antenna elements, in a case that the FoV of the camera corresponds to a first value, and
the first antenna element and a second set of at least one antenna element of the plurality of the second antenna elements in a case that the FoV of the camera corresponds to a second value different from the first value, wherein the second set is different from the first set,

adjust a focus distance of the camera based on the determined distance, and
obtain an image for the external object through the camera having the adjusted focus distance.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the FoV of the camera corresponds to at least one of:
a first area where a first coverage of a first beam formed based on the first set of at least one antenna element and a second coverage of a second beam formed based on the first antenna element overlap, or a second area where a third coverage of a third beam formed based on the second set of at least one antenna element and the second coverage of the second beam formed based on the first antenna element overlap.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first antenna element and the plurality of second antenna elements is disposed along with a virtual line passing through a center of the camera.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the distance from the external object is determined based on:
first information on a distance between the first antenna element and the camera, second information on a distance between the camera and the first set of at least one antenna element or the second set of at least one antenna element, a first angle of arrival (AoA) to the external object from the camera, and a second AoA to the external object from the first set of at least one antenna element or the second set of at least one antenna element.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display, wherein the first antenna element, the camera, and the array antenna are disposed on a surface of the display, and wherein each of the first antenna element and the plurality of second antenna elements is configured in a mesh pattern.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display, wherein each of the first antenna element and the plurality of second antenna elements is configured as an ultra-wideband (UWB) module disposed on a surface opposite to another surface of the electronic device in which the display is disposed.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display, wherein the camera is configured as an under display camera (UDC) disposed on a lower surface of the display, and wherein at least a part of the first antenna element is disposed to overlap the camera or at least a part of the plurality of second antenna elements is disposed to overlap the camera.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, further cause the electronic device to:
determine whether a coverage of each of beams formable by the plurality of second antenna elements is smaller than the FoV of the camera, and in accordance with a determination that the coverage is smaller than the FoV of the camera, determine the distance from the external object within the FoV of the camera by using the beams and a beam formed by the first antenna element.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
another array antenna different from the array antenna, wherein the first antenna element is included in the another array antenna, and wherein an area where a first coverage of a first beam formed based on the first set of at least one antenna element and a fourth coverage of a fourth beam formed based on the another array antenna overlap corresponds to the FoV of the camera.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the FoV of the camera comprises a first FoV for a horizontal component and a second FoV for a vertical component, and wherein the array antenna is determined based on the first FoV and the second FoV.

11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
another camera, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, further cause the electronic device to:
determine whether the camera operates or the another camera operates, and
in accordance with a determination that the another camera operates, determine the distance from the external object within the FoV of the another camera by using the first antenna element and a third set of at least one antenna element of the plurality of second antenna elements, based on the FoV of the another camera.

12 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the FoV of the camera has the first value in accordance with a first magnification of the camera, and wherein the FoV of the camera has the second value in accordance with a second magnification of the camera different from the first magnification of the camera.

13 . A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:
identifying information on a field of view (FoV) of a camera of the electronic device; determining a distance from an external object within the FoV of the camera by using:
a first antenna element and a first set of at least one antenna element of a plurality of second antenna elements included in an array antenna of the electronic device in a case that the FoV of the camera corresponds to a first value, and
the first antenna element and a second set of at least one antenna element of the plurality of the second antenna elements in a case that the FoV of the camera corresponds to a second value different from the first value,
wherein the second set is different from the first set; adjusting a focus distance of the camera based on the determined distance; and obtaining an image for the external object through the camera having the adjusted focus distance, wherein the first antenna element is configured to transmit signals, and wherein the array antenna is configured to receive signals reflected by the external object.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the FoV of the camera corresponds to at least one of:
a first area where a first coverage of a first beam formed based on the first set of at least one antenna element and a second coverage of a second beam formed based on the first antenna element overlap, or a second area where a third coverage of a third beam formed based on the second set of at least one antenna element and the second coverage of the second beam formed based on the first antenna element overlap.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the first antenna element and the plurality of second antenna elements is disposed along w

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yun Sumin
• Seo Dongil
• Lee Jeongwon
• Kim Hosaeng
• Park Seongjin
• Jo Jaehoon

Classifications

• G03B13/36 Primary

  Autofocus systems · CPC title

• H04N23/69

  Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming · CPC title

• H01Q1/247

  with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar · CPC title

• H04N23/673

  based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method · CPC title

• H04N23/672

  based on the phase difference signals · CPC title