Electronic device case with antenna and electronic device for use therewith

• US 9,853,355 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Chi Jeong, Lee, Yun Bum
• Primary Examiner(s): Karacsony, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/678,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 4555758
• 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 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities

Abstract

A case for an electronic device is provided. The case includes a rear cover configured to attach to at least a portion of a rear side of the electronic device, and a front cover configured to removably cover at least a portion of a front side of the electronic device. The case also includes a connection portion that connects the front cover and the rear cover, and includes an antenna structure for transmitting and receiving signals in at least one frequency band.

Claims

1. A case for an electronic device, the case comprising:

a rear cover configured to attach to at least a portion of a rear side of the electronic device;

a front cover configured to removably cover at least a portion of a front side of the electronic device; and

a connection portion that connects the front cover and the rear cover, and includes a radiator portion of an antenna structure for transmitting and receiving signals in at least one frequency band,

wherein the antenna structure comprises a detachable feeding terminal that is disposed directly in the rear cover in order to be connected to the rear side of the electronic device.

2. The case according to claim 1, wherein the rear cover comprises a plurality of attachment structures for attaching to the rear side of the electronic device, and the detachable feeding terminal is disposed in at least one of the plurality of attachment structures.

3. The case according to claim 1, wherein the antenna structure is a monopole antenna structure.

4. The case according to claim 1, wherein the antenna structure further comprises a ground terminal, the ground terminal is disposed in a second region of the rear cover, and the ground terminal is connected to a ground at a rear side of the electronic device.

5. The case according to claim 1, wherein the antenna structure is a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) structure.

6. The case according to claim 1, wherein the antenna structure is configured to receive a frequency in a first frequency band that differs from a second frequency band received by an antenna built in the electronic device.

7. The case according to claim 1, wherein the antenna structure is configured to receive frequencies that overlap at least a portion of a frequency band received by an antenna built in the electronic device.

8. The case according to claim 1, wherein the antenna structure is configured to receive a frequency band corresponding to at least one long term evolution (LTE) band.

9. The case according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion further comprises an additional antenna structure different from the antenna structure.

10. An electronic device configured to be removably attached to a case including a front cover, a connection portion, and a rear cover, the electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a chipset configured for use with at least one antenna in the connection portion of the case; and

at least one feeding unit configured to connect to the at least one antenna in the connection portion of the case,

wherein at least a portion of a rear side of the electronic device is attached to at least a portion of the rear cover of the case, and the at least one feeding unit is disposed at the rear side of the electronic device and connected to at least one feeding terminal of the at least one antenna disposed in the rear cover of the case, and

wherein the at least one antenna comprises the at least one detachable feeding terminal that is disposed directly in the rear cover in order to be connected to the rear side of the electronic device.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the rear side of the electronic device comprises a plurality of attachment structures attachable to the rear cover of the case, and the at least one feeding unit is disposed in at least one of the plurality of attachment structures.

12. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the electronic device includes at least one built-in antenna, wherein the built-in antenna is configured to receive at least one of wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) band, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

13. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the chipset is configured to support at least one long term evolution (LTE) band.

14. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the chipset is configured to support at least one of terrestrial-digital multimedia broadcasting (T-DMB) and satellite-digital multimedia broadcasting (S-DMB).

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to receive a frequency signal corresponding to the at least one LTE band in response to recognition of the at least one antenna in the case, when the case is attached to the electronic device.

16. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to perform a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) service in response to recognition of the at least one antenna in the case, when the case is attached to the electronic device.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to recognize a frequency band supported by the at least one antenna in the case based on impedance information on the at least one antenna.

18. An encased electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a chipset configured for use with at least one antenna;

at least one feeding unit configured to connect to the at least one antenna;

a rear cover disposed on a rear side of the encased electronic device;

a front cover configured to removably cover at least a portion of a front side of the encased electronic device; and

a connection portion that connects the front cover and the rear cover, and includes the at least one antenna for transmitting and receiving signals in at least one frequency band,

wherein the at least one antenna comprises a detachable feeding terminal that is disposed directly in the rear cover in order to be connected to the rear side of the encased electronic device.

19. The encased electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to function in a frequency band of a country in which an antenna of the encased electronic device does not function.