Method for operating antenna and electronic device implementing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016013548-A1
Application number	US-201514799035-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for operating an antenna and an electronic device implementing the method are provided. The electronic device includes a power feed module including a first power feed terminal and a second power feed terminal, a current supply module configured to select one of the first power feed terminal and the second power feed terminal and to supply an electric current to the selected power feed terminal, and an antenna module including a first antenna and a second antenna. The electronic device further includes a connection module configured to connect the power feed module and the antenna module, and a control module configured to control the current supply module. The connection module includes a plurality of wirings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a power feed module including a first power feed terminal and a second power feed terminal; a current supply module configured to:
select one of the first power feed terminal and the second power feed terminal, and
supply an electric current to the selected power feed terminal;
an antenna module including a first antenna and a second antenna; a connection module configured to connect the power feed module and the antenna module; and a control module configured to control the current supply module, wherein the connection module includes a plurality of wirings, wherein the plurality of wirings are disposed such that a first path of the current from the first power feed terminal to the first antenna and a second path of the current from the second power feed terminal to the first antenna have substantially the same length, especially have the same length within a given margin of error, and wherein the plurality of wirings are disposed such that a third path of the current from the first power feed terminal to the second antenna and a fourth path of the current from the second power feed terminal to the second antenna have different lengths.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the connection module comprises a first wiring connecting the second power feed terminal and the second antenna, a third wiring connected with the second antenna at one end thereof, a fourth wiring connecting the other end of the third wiring and the first antenna, and a second wiring connecting the first power feed terminal and the fourth wiring, and wherein the first path is formed of the second wiring and the fourth wiring, the second path is formed of the first wiring, the third wiring and the fourth wiring, the third path is formed of the second wiring and the third wiring, and the fourth path is formed of the first wiring.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured:
to ascertain information about a communication operator through a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) card, to identify a frequency band offered by the communication operator based on the ascertained information, and to control the current supply module based on the identified frequency band.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 ,
wherein the control module is further configured to:
ascertain the USIM card inserted in a slot, and
ascertain the communication operator information based on information stored in the USIM card, and
wherein, if the USIM card is selectable from multiple USIM cards, the control module is further configured to:
select the USIM card through switching, and
ascertain the communication operator information through the selected USIM card.

5 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein, if the communication operator information is stored in a memory, the control module is further configured to ascertain the communication operator information stored in the memory.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the current supply module further comprises a switch for selecting at least one of the first power feed terminal or the second power feed terminal, and wherein the control module is further configured to control the switch to select at least one of the first power feed terminal or the second power feed terminal.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, if the current supply module selects the first power feed terminal from the first power feed terminal and the second power feed terminal, the current supply module is further configured to supply the current from the first power feed terminal to the first antenna through the first path or to supply the current from the first power feed terminal to the second antenna through the third path.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, if the current supply module selects the second power feed terminal from the first power feed terminal and the second power feed terminal, the current supply module is further configured:
to supply the current from the second power feed terminal to the first antenna through the second path, or to supply the current from the second power feed terminal to the second antenna through the fourth path.

9 . The electronic device of claim 3 ,
wherein the frequency band comprises one or more frequency bands, and wherein the USIM card stores therein user identification information, device identification information, and user additional information.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the antenna module is composed of conductive components of the electronic device, wherein the conductive components include a connector member mounted on a conductive layer disposed on a circuit board of the electronic device, and wherein the connector member is connected to at least one the first antenna and the second antenna.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , further comprising a slit formed by partially removing the conductive layer from an area surrounding the connector member.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising a power feeding line formed across the slit,
wherein the connector member is connected to the first power feed terminal and to the second power feed terminal through the power feeding line.

13 . A method for operating an antenna in an electronic device, the method comprising:
controlling a current supply module to supply an electric current to one of a first power feed terminal and a second power feed terminal, wherein an antenna module includes a first antenna and a second antenna, wherein a connection module connects the current supply module and the antenna module and includes a plurality of wirings, wherein the plurality of wirings are disposed such that a first path of the current from the first power feed terminal to the first antenna and a second path of the current from the second power feed terminal to the first antenna have substantially the same length, especially have the same length within a given margin of error, and wherein the plurality of wirings are disposed such that a third path of the current from the first power feed terminal to the second antenna and a fourth path of the current from the second power feed terminal to the second antenna have different lengths.

14 . The method of claim 13 ,
wherein the connection module comprises a first wiring connecting the second power feed terminal and the second antenna, a third wiring connected with the second antenna at one end thereof, a fourth wiring connecting the other end of the third wiring and the first antenna, and a second wiring connecting the first power feed terminal and the fourth wiring, and wherein the first path is formed of the second wiring and the fourth wiring, the second path is formed of the first wiring, the third wiring and the fourth wiring, the third path is formed of the second wiring and the third wiring, and the fourth path is formed of the first wiring.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the controlling of the current supply module comprises:
ascertaining information about a communication operator through a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) card; identifying a frequency band offered by the communication operator based on the ascertained information; and controlling the current supply module based on the identified frequency band.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ascertaining of the communication operator information comprises:
ascertaining the USIM card inserted in a slot; and ascertaining the

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jongkui
• Kim Yongtae
• Cho Sunghee

Classifications

• H01Q9/40

  Element having extended radiating surface · CPC title

• H01Q13/10 Primary

  Resonant slot antennas · CPC title

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01Q5/371

  Branching current paths · CPC title