Electronic device for processing wireless signals for satellite communication and operating method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024267062-A1
Application number	US-202418594187-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 4, 2024
Priority date	Nov 15, 2022
Publication date	Aug 8, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to certain embodiments of the disclosure, a communication circuit of an electronic device, comprises: a plurality of antennas; an antenna switch configured to match a radio frequency (RF) signal of a designated frequency band with at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas; a first amplifier configured to amplify the RF signal in the designated frequency band, thereby resulting in a first amplified signal; a first antenna switch connected to the first amplifier; a first filter configured to allow the first amplified signal in the designated frequency band, the first filter connected to the antenna switch, wherein the first antenna switch is configured to selectively form a first connection path to the antenna switch via the first filter or a second connection path to the antenna switch bypassing the first filter; a second amplifier configured to amplify the radio frequency (RF) signal in the designated frequency band, thereby resulting in a second amplified signal; a second antenna switch connected to the second amplifier; a second filter configured to allow the RF signal in the designated frequency band, the second filter connected to the antenna switch, wherein the second antenna switch is configured to selectively form a third connection path to the antenna switch via the second filter or a fourth connection path to the antenna switch bypassing the first filter; and a processor configured to control the first antenna switch to form the second connection path and the second antenna switch to form the fourth connection path during communication with a satellite.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A communication circuit of an electronic device, the communication circuit comprising:
a plurality of antennas; an antenna switch configured to match a radio frequency (RF) signal of a designated frequency band with at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas; a first amplifier configured to amplify the RF signal in the designated frequency band, thereby resulting in a first amplified signal; a first antenna switch connected to the first amplifier; a first filter configured to allow the first amplified signal in the designated frequency band, the first filter connected to the antenna switch, wherein the first antenna switch is configured to selectively form a first connection path to the antenna switch via the first filter or a second connection path to the antenna switch bypassing the first filter; a second amplifier configured to amplify the RF signal in the designated frequency band, thereby resulting in a second amplified signal; a second antenna switch connected to the second amplifier; a second filter configured to allow the second amplified signal in the designated frequency band, the second filter connected to the antenna switch, wherein the second antenna switch is configured to selectively form a third connection path to the antenna switch via the second filter or a fourth connection path to the antenna switch bypassing the first filter; and a processor configured to control the first antenna switch to form the second connection path and the second antenna switch to form the fourth connection path during communication with a satellite.

2 . The communication circuit of claim 1 , wherein the designated frequency band comprises a frequency band used for communication with a cellular network and communication with the satellite.

3 . The communication circuit of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the first antenna switch and the second antenna switch based on control signals.

4 . The communication circuit of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
cause the first antenna switch to form the first connection path and cause the second antenna switch to form the third connection path during communication with a cellular network based a first control signal; and cause the first antenna switch to form the second connection path and cause the second antenna switch form the fourth connection path during communication with a satellite based a second control signal.

5 . The communication circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a first phase shifter disposed on the second connection path.

6 . The communication circuit of claim 5 , further comprising a second phase shifter disposed on the fourth connection path.

7 . The communication circuit of claim 6 , wherein the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter are configured to, when the second connection path and the fourth connection path are formed, change phases of the first amplified signal and second amplified signal, thereby resulting in substantially identical RF signals, and wherein the antenna switch combines the substantially identical RF signals.

8 . The communication circuit of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the first antenna switch to form the first connection path and the second antenna switch to form the third connection path during communication with a cellular network.

9 . The communication circuit of claim 1 , wherein the antenna switch is configured to match the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal with at least one corresponding antenna of the plurality of antennas.

10 . An electronic device comprising:
a first antenna module configured to transmit a first transmission signal; a second antenna module configured to transmit a second transmission signal; a communication circuit connected to the first antenna module and the second antenna module, the communication circuit configured to perform signal processing, thereby providing the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal; and a processor connected to the communication circuit, wherein the processor is configured to: identify a type of communication based on detecting a start of a communication service; when the type of communication is cellular communication, generate a first control signal establishing a first connection path through the communication circuit for RF signal transmission; and when the type of communication is satellite communication, generate a second control signal establishing a second connection path through the communication circuit for RF signal transmission.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first connection path passes through a filter.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the second connection path bypasses the filter.

13 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the communication circuit comprises designated switches configured to form the first connection path and the second connection path, and wherein the processor transmits the first control signal and the second control signal to the designated switches.

14 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal has a frequency in a frequency band used for the cellular communication and the satellite communication.

15 . An operating method of an electronic device, comprising:
identifying a type of communication based on detecting a start of a communication service; when the type of communication is cellular communication, generating a first control signal establishing a first connection path through a communication circuit for Radio Frequency (RF) signal transmission; and when the type of communication is satellite communication, generate a second control signal for establishing a second connection path through the communication circuit for RF signal transmission.

16 . The operating method of claim 15 , wherein the first connection path passes through a filter.

17 . The operating method of claim 16 , wherein the second connection path bypasses the filter.

18 . The operating method of claim 15 , the cellular communication and the satellite communication utilizes at least one common frequency band.

19 . The operating method of claim 15 , wherein the first control signal is transmitted to a switch, causing the switch to establish the first connection path.

20 . The operating method of claim 19 , wherein the second control signal is transmitted to the switch, causing the switch to establish the second connection path.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yang Dongil
• Moon Yohan
• Na Hyoseok
• Yoo Jonghun

Classifications

• H04B1/44

  Transmit/receive switching · CPC title

• H04B7/18513

  Transmission in a satellite or space-based system · CPC title

• H04B1/401

  for selecting or indicating operating mode · CPC title

• H04B1/00

  Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission · CPC title

• H04B1/006 Primary

  using switches for selecting the desired band (H04B1/0057 takes precedence) · CPC title