Electronic device including antenna

• US 9,998,576 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Ho Saeng, Lee, Sang Youn, Choi, Young Sik, Choi, Seung Min, Hyun, Seung Jun, Kim, Seung Nyun, Son, Dong Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US15/491,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20170302771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 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 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 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0277 for a printed circuit board assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device including a housing having a first surface, a second surface and a side surface, a touch screen display including a conductive plane substantially parallel with the first surface, a printed circuit board positioned between the touch screen display and the second surface substantially parallel with the conductive plane; a wireless communication circuit, and a side member forming at least a portion of the side surface, which includes a first elongated part surrounding at least a portion of the conductive plane and formed of a non-conductive material, and a second elongated part surrounding at least a portion of the printed circuit board, but no portion of the conductive plane, and extending in parallel with the first elongated part. The second elongated part is formed of a conductive material, and is electrically coupled to the wireless communication circuit.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing including a first surface facing a first direction, a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a side surface surrounding a space between the first surface and the second surface;

a touch screen display including a screen exposed through the first surface, wherein the touch screen display includes a conductive plane which is substantially parallel with the first surface;

a printed circuit board positioned between the touch screen display and the second surface and being substantially parallel with the conductive plane;

a wireless communication circuit positioned on the printed circuit board; and

a side member forming at least a portion of the side surface,

wherein the side member includes;

a first elongated part that surrounds at least a portion of the conductive plane and is formed of a non-conductive material; and

a second elongated part surrounding at least a portion of the printed circuit board and substantially none of the conductive plane, and extending in parallel with the first elongated part,

wherein the second elongated part is formed of a conductive material, and wherein the second elongated part is electrically coupled to the wireless communication circuit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first surface includes a first side having a first length, a second side having a second length longer than the first length, a third side having the first length, and a fourth side having the second length, wherein the first side is parallel with the third side and is perpendicular to the second side and the fourth side, and

wherein the side member extends along at least one of the first side or the third side.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the side member includes an inner surface facing a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction,

wherein the printed circuit board includes a peripheral surface facing a fourth direction different from the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction, and

wherein the electronic device further includes a conductive connecting member electrically coupled between the inner surface of the side member and the peripheral surface of the printed circuit board.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the conductive connecting member includes at least one of a flexible conductive connector and a rigid conductive connector.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive plane includes a touch sensing panel.

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

at least one slit part which segments a portion of the second elongated part surrounding a top end or a bottom end of the electronic device, and is adjacent to the first elongated part in a layer-wise direction of the electronic device.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a glass cover configured to cover at least a portion of a front surface of the electronic device;

a display panel disposed under the glass cover;

a non-conductive member configured to cover at least a portion of a side surface of the electronic device;

an antenna radiator configured to cover another portion of the side surface of the electronic device;

a printed circuit board disposed under the display panel; and

a wireless communication circuit disposed on the printed circuit board and electrically connected with the antenna radiator,

wherein the non-conductive member is adjacent to the glass cover and is disposed to laterally surround at least a portion of the display panel, and

wherein the antenna radiator is disposed under the non-conductive member, is spaced apart from the display panel in a layer-wise direction, and is electrically connected with the printed circuit board.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the glass cover is formed integrally with the non-conductive member.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, further comprising:

a buffer member interposed between the non-conductive member and the antenna radiator.

10. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one slit part which segments the antenna radiator into a plurality of radiators,

wherein each of the plurality of radiators is electrically connected with at least one feeding unit and at least one ground unit.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a metallic sheet disposed under the display panel;

a first connecting member configured to electrically connect the metallic sheet with the antenna radiator; and

a second connecting member configured to electrically connect the metallic sheet with the antenna radiator at a position different from a position of the first connecting member,

wherein the metallic sheet, the first connecting member, the antenna radiator, and the second connecting member form an electrical path for radiating or receiving a radio frequency signal.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the antenna radiator is spaced apart from the display panel in a width-wise direction and a length-wise direction.

13. The electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

a conductive connecting member that contacts the printed circuit board and is inserted into a groove formed in a portion of the antenna radiator, which is adjacent to the printed circuit board,

wherein the conductive connecting member is disposed on an electrical path between the wireless communication circuit and the antenna radiator.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the conductive connecting member includes a first end portion that contacts the printed circuit board and a second end portion that contacts the antenna radiator, and

wherein an area of the second end portion is narrower than an area of the first end portion.

15. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein a portion of the printed circuit board adjacent to the antenna radiator has an L shape,

wherein the electronic device further includes a conductive connecting member that contacts the printed circuit board and an inner surface of the antenna radiator, and

wherein the conductive connecting member is disposed on an electrical path between the wireless communication circuit and the antenna radiator.

16. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board laterally contacts the antenna radiator,

wherein a portion of the printed circuit board adjacent to the antenna radiator has an L shape,

wherein the electronic device further includes a conductive connecting member inserted into a groove formed in the antenna radiator through the printed circuit board, and

wherein the conductive connecting member is disposed on an electrical path between the wireless communication circuit and the antenna radiator.

17. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the antenna radiator is electrically connected with a feeding unit and a ground unit,

wherein the display panel includes a first region and a second region,

wherein the first region is wider than the second region, and

wherein the second region extends along a portion of an electrical path between the feeding unit and the ground unit, the portion of the electrical path being shorter than a specified distance from the second display panel.

18. An electronic device comprising:

a glass cover configured to cover a front surface and at least a first portion of a side surface of the electronic device;

a display panel disposed under the glass cover;

an antenna radiator configured to cover a second portion of the side surface

a printed circuit board disposed under the display panel; and

a wireless communication circuit disposed on the printed circuit board and electrically connected with the antenna radiator,

wherein the antenna radiator is disposed under the glass cover, is spaced apart from the display panel in a layer-wise direction, and is electrically connected with the printed circuit board.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:

a buffer member interposed between the glass cover and the antenna radiator.

20. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the display panel is curved, and

wherein the glass cover is curved along the display panel.