ANTENNA AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20200136231A1
• Filed: 10/17/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Jonghyuck, KIM, Taeik, KIM, Haeyeon, PARK, Sehyun, OH, Dongjun, YOON, Shinho, OH, Myeongsu
• Granted Patent: US 11,664,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/314 using frequency dependent circuits or components, e.g. trap circuits or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/14 Length of element or elements adjustable telescopic elements H01Q1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/118 specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a foldable housing, a flexible display, at least one printed circuit board (PCB), and a wireless communication circuit. The foldable housing includes a hinge structure, a first housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a first lateral member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface, and a second housing structure connected to the hinge structure and including a third surface facing in a second direction, a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to the second direction, and a second lateral member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a foldable housing;

a flexible display;

at least one printed circuit board (PCB); and

a wireless communication circuit,

wherein the foldable housing comprises;

a hinge structure,

a first housing structure connected to the hinge structure and comprising a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a first lateral member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface, and

a second housing structure connected to the hinge structure and comprising a third surface facing in a second direction, a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to the second direction, and a second lateral member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface,

wherein the first lateral member comprises;

a first conductive portion extending along the hinge structure,

a second conductive portion extending substantially perpendicular to the first conductive portion,

a third conductive portion extending substantially parallel to the first conductive portion,

a first non-conductive portion connected between the first and second conductive portions, and

a second non-conductive portion connected between the second and third conductive portions,

wherein the first and second housing structures are configured to fold along the hinge structure such that the first surface faces the third surface in a folded state and the second direction is equal to the first direction in an unfolded state,

wherein the flexible display comprises a first conductive layer that extends from the first surface to the third surface,

wherein the at least one PCB is disposed in the first space and comprises a second conductive layer forming an annular path together with a part of the first conductive portion, the first non-conductive portion, and a part of the second conductive portion, and

wherein the wireless communication circuit is disposed on the at least one PCB and electrically connected to a first point of the first conductive portion on the annular path and to a second point of the second conductive portion outside the annular path.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge structure comprises a conductive material.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein at least a part of the hinge structure is electrically connected to the first housing structure.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a switching element electrically connected between the second conductive layer and a third point of the second conductive portion,

wherein the third point is disposed closer to the first non-conductive portion than the second point.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to at least one of transmit or receive a first signal of a first frequency band through the first point and the annular path when the second conductive layer and the third point are electrically connected through the switching element.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to at least one of transmit or receive a second signal of a second frequency band through the first point when the second conductive layer and the third point are electrically disconnected through the switching element.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first frequency band is relatively higher than the second frequency band.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are disposed at positions capacitively coupled to each other by the first non-conductive portion.

9. The electronic device of claim 1,

wherein the second conductive layer comprises a ground plane of the at least one PCB, and

wherein the second conductive layer is electrically connected to a fourth point of the first conductive portion.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the fourth point is disposed farther from the first non-conductive portion than the first point.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second housing structure further includes a third non-conductive portion and a fourth non-conductive portion which are disposed at positions facing the first and second non-conductive portions of the first housing structure, respectively, when the first and second housing structures are in the folded state.

12. An electronic device comprising:

a foldable housing;

a display;

at least one printed circuit board (PCB);

a wireless communication circuit;

a switching element; and

at least one processor,

wherein the foldable housing comprises;

a conductive hinge structure,

a first housing structure connected to the conductive hinge structure and comprising a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a first lateral member surrounding a first space between the first surface and the second surface, and

a second housing structure connected to the conductive hinge structure and comprising a third surface facing in a second direction, a fourth surface facing in a direction opposite to the second direction, and a second lateral member surrounding a second space between the third surface and the fourth surface,

wherein the first lateral member comprises;

a first conductive portion extending along the conductive hinge structure at least in part,

a second conductive portion extending from the first conductive portion,

a third conductive portion extending from the second conductive portion,

a first non-conductive portion connected between the first and second conductive portions, and

a second non-conductive portion connected between the second and third conductive portions,

wherein the first and second housing structures are foldable such that the first surface faces the third surface in a folded state and the second direction is equal to the first direction in an unfolded state,

wherein the display extends from at least a part of the first surface to at least a part of the third surface,

wherein the at least one PCB is disposed in the first space and comprises a conductive layer forming an annular path together with a part of the first conductive portion, the first non-conductive portion, and a part of the second conductive portion,

wherein the wireless communication circuit is disposed on the at least one PCB and electrically connected to a first point of the first conductive portion on the annular path and to a second point of the second conductive portion outside the annular path,

wherein the switching element is disposed on the at least one PCB and selectively and electrically connected between the conductive layer and a third point of the second conductive portion to selectively form the annular path, and

wherein the at least one processor controls the switching element to selectively determine the annular path according to state information of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein at least a part of the conductive hinge structure is electrically connected to the first housing structure.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the third point is disposed closer to the first non-conductive portion than the second point.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to one of transmit or receive a first signal of a first frequency band through the first point and the annular path when the conductive layer and the third point are electrically connected through the switching element.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication circuit is further configured to one of transmit or receive a second signal of a second frequency band through the first point when the conductive layer and the third point are electrically disconnected through the switching element.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first frequency band is relatively higher than the second frequency band.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are disposed at positions capacitively coupled to each other by the first non-conductive portion.

19. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the conductive layer comprises a ground plane of the at least one PCB, and

wherein the conductive layer is electrically connected to a fourth point of the first conductive portion.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the fourth point is disposed farther from the first non-conductive portion than the first point.