Electronic device including antenna device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9859612-B2
Application number	US-201615234708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device and a method of operating an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a first face and a second face that faces in a direction opposite to the first face; a display exposed through the first face of the housing; a ground member disposed between the first face and the second face; an antenna radiator at least partially disposed within the housing and/or on a portion of the housing; a communication circuit electrically connected to the antenna radiator; a conductive member disposed within the housing or forming a portion of the second face of the housing; and a control circuit electrically connected to the ground member and the conductive member, wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively connect the conductive member to the ground member if the antenna radiator and the communication circuit are electrically connected to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing including a first face and a second face that faces in a direction opposite to the first face;
a display exposed through the first face of the housing;
a ground member disposed between the first face and the second face;
an antenna radiator at least partially disposed within the housing and/or on a portion of the housing;
a communication circuit electrically connected to the antenna radiator;
a conductive member disposed within the housing or forming a portion of the second face of the housing; and
a control circuit electrically connected to the ground member and the conductive member,
wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively connect the conductive member to the ground member if the antenna radiator and the communication circuit are electrically connected to each other.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit selectively provides one of:
a first state, in which the antenna radiator is electrically connected to the ground member, but is not electrically connected to the conductive member, and
a second state, in which the antenna radiator is electrically connected to the ground member and the conductive member.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively provide the first state and the second state at least partially based on whether a user is positioned close to the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is configured to monitor a reception sensitivity of the antenna radiator, and selectively provide one of the first state and the second state at least partially based on the monitored reception sensitivity.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising a sensor configured to generate a signal that indicates whether a user is positioned close to the electronic device,
wherein the control circuit selectively provides one of the first state and the second state at least partially based on the signal from the sensor.

6. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising a user interface,
wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively provide one of the first state and the second state at least partially based on a user input received through the user interface.

7. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising a wireless charging circuit,
wherein the control circuit is configured to electrically connect the wireless charging circuit and the conductive member in the first state, and wirelessly receive power externally by using the conductive member and the wireless charging circuit.

8. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the communication circuit includes a short range communication circuit, and
wherein the control circuit is configured to electrically connect the communication circuit and the conductive member in the first state, and perform communication with an external device by using the short range communication circuit.

9. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the communication circuit includes a communication circuit based on a magnetic signal, and
wherein the control circuit is configured to electrically connect the communication circuit based on the magnetic signal and the conductive member in the first state, and perform communication with an external device by using the communication circuit based on the magnetic signal.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive member includes at least one of a metal plate, a coil type metal pattern, and an annular metal member.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna radiator has a shape that surrounds at least a portion of the display.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive member includes a conductive pattern that includes a first end and a second end, and
wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively electrically connect the first end and the second end on the conductive member to the ground member.

13. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive member includes a conductive pattern that includes a first end and a second end, and
wherein the control circuit is configured to electrically connect the first end and the second end in a state where the conductive member is not connected to the ground member.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a wearing instrument attached to the housing and configured to be detachable from/attachable to a portion of a user's body.

15. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the ground member includes a portion of the PCB.

16. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the display includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display,
the OLED display includes a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and
the FPCB includes a portion to be connected to a structure that includes the ground member.

17. A method of operating an electronic device, comprising:
electrically connecting, by the electronic device, an antenna radiator of the electronic device and a communication circuit; and
selectively connecting, by the electronic device, a conductive member of the electronic device to a ground member if the antenna radiator and the communication circuit are electrically connected to each other.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein selectively connecting, by the electronic device, the conductive member of the electronic device to the ground member comprises selectively connecting, by the electronic device, the conductive member of the electronic device to the ground member to provide one of:
a first state, in which the antenna radiator is electrically connected to the ground member, but is not electrically connected to the conductive member; and
a second state, in which the antenna radiator is electrically connected to the ground member and the conductive member.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein selectively connecting, by the electronic device, the conductive member of the electronic device to the ground member comprises:
determining whether the electronic device is positioned close to a user; and
selectively providing one of the first state and the second state based on the determination of whether the electronic device is positioned close to the user.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein selectively connecting, by the electronic device, the conductive member of the electronic device to the ground member comprises:
determining whether the electronic device is positioned close to a user; and
selectively providing one of the first state and the second state based on the determination of whether the electronic device is positioned close to the user.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein selectively connecting, by the electronic device, the conductive member of the electronic device to the ground member comprises:
monitoring a reception sensitivity of the antenna radiator; and
selectively providing one of the first state and the second state at least partially based on the monitored reception sensitivity.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein selectively connecting, by the electronic device, the conductive member of the electronic device to the ground member comprises:
receiving a user input; and
selectively providing one of the first state and the second state based on the user input.

23. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
prov

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jung Jinwoo
• Kim Taeyoung
• Lee Inyoung
• Jeong Wonseok
• Chun Jae-Bong

Classifications

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H01Q1/273 Primary

  Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• H01Q9/42

  with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength · CPC title