Electronic device comprising antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018337697-A1
Application number	US-201615777026-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	Nov 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device includes a housing, a communication circuit positioned inside the housing, and including a first port for a first frequency band and a second port for a second frequency band, a first antenna positioned inside the housing or forming a part of the housing, a second antenna positioned inside the housing or forming a part of the housing, a test port positioned inside the housing or at least partially exposed through the housing, and a switching circuit configured to selectively connect one or more of the first port or the second port to one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, or the test port.

First claim

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a housing; a communication circuit positioned inside the housing and including a first port for a first frequency band and a second port for a second frequency band; a first antenna positioned inside the housing or forming a part of the housing; a second antenna positioned inside the housing or forming a part of the housing; a test port positioned inside the housing or at least partially exposed through the housing; and a switching circuit configured to selectively connect one or more of the first port or the second port to one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, or the test port.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected to the switching circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores an instruction that, when executed, causes the processor to connect one or more of the first port or the second port to the test port during manufacturing.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected to the switching circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores an instruction that, when executed, causes the processor to connect selectively one or more of the first port or the second port to one or more of the first antenna or the second antenna during an operation of the electronic device.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:
the communication circuit further includes a third port for a third frequency band, and the switching circuit is configured to selectively connect each of the first port, the second port, or the third port individually to one of the first antenna, the second antenna, or the test port.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected to the switching circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores an instruction that, when executed, causes the processor to connect one or more of the first port, the second port, or the third port to the test port during manufacturing.

6 . The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected to the switching circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores an instruction that, when executed, causes the processor to selectively connect one or more of the first port, the second port, or the third port to one or more of the first antenna or the second antenna during an operation of the electronic device.

7 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein:
the third frequency band is higher than the second frequency band, and the second frequency band is higher than the first frequency band.

8 . The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising a signal distribution unit that is electrically connected to two ports of the first port, the second port, and the third port and the switching circuit and is configured to selectively transmit one signal among signals received from each of the two ports to the switching circuit.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a load electrically connected to the switching circuit, wherein the switching circuit is configured to selectively connect the load to the first antenna or the second antenna.

10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected to the switching circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores an instruction that, when executed, causes the processor to connect the load to an antenna, which is disconnected to the communication circuit, among the first antenna or the second antenna.

11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ground part electrically connected to the switching circuit, wherein the switching circuit is configured to selectively connect the ground part to the first antenna or the second antenna.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected to the switching circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores an instruction that, when executed, causes the processor to connect the ground part to an antenna, which is disconnected to the communication circuit, among the first antenna or the second antenna.

13 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the switching circuit is configured to selectively connect the test port to the first antenna or the second antenna.

14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein:
the switching circuit includes an opened terminal, and the switching circuit is configured to connect the test port to the first antenna or the second antenna through a path extending from the opened terminal.

15 . The electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a processor electrically connected to the switching circuit; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein:
the test port is electrically connected to a test device that tests the first port, the second port, the first antenna, or the second antenna, and
the memory stores an instruction that, when executed, causes the processor to:
connect the test port to one of the first port, the second port, the first antenna, or the second antenna;
receive a control command generated based on an operation of one connected to the test port among the first port, the second port, the first antenna, or the second antenna, from the test device or an external device connected to the test device; and
when the control command is received, perform the connection on another among the first port, the second port, the first antenna, or the second antenna.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Young Ju
• Kim Jong Hyuk
• Park Sung Chul

Classifications

• H04B17/16

  Test equipment located at the transmitter · CPC title

• H04B17/11

  for calibration · CPC title

• H04B7/0602

  using antenna switching (H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24) · CPC title

• H01Q1/24

  with receiving set · CPC title

• H04B1/44

  Transmit/receive switching · CPC title