Folding/sliding mobile terminal with separate antennas in two separate casings
View Patent ↗A mobile terminal comprises at last a first casing ( 7 ) and a second casing ( 8 ). First casing ( 7 ) and second casing ( 8 ) are coupled together in a manner such that the combined configuration of the first and second casings can be varied. First casing ( 7 ) has at least a radio circuit ( 5 ) and a first antenna ( 1 ) connected to the radio circuit, and second casing ( 8 ) has at least a second antenna ( 3 ). First casing ( 7 ) has a feed element ( 2 ) connected to the radio circuit. When the combined configuration of the first and second casings is a predetermined configuration, feed element ( 2 ) of the first casing and the second antenna of second casing ( 8 ) are close to each other to be capacitively coupled together, so that second antenna is connected with radio circuit through feed element via high-frequency waves.
1. A mobile terminal comprising:
at least a first casing and a second casing which are coupled together in a manner in which a combined configuration of said first and second casings can be varied, said first casing having at least a radio circuit and a first antenna connected to said radio circuit, and said second casing having at least a second antenna,
wherein said first casing has a feed element connected to said radio circuit,
wherein when the combined configuration of said first and second casings is a predetermined configuration, said feed element of said first casing and said second antenna of said second casing are close to each other and are capacitively coupled together, so that said second antenna is connected with said radio circuit through said feed element via high-frequency waves,
wherein said first casing has a configuration detection section for detecting the combined configuration of said first and second casings, and a switching circuit for, based on a control signal from said configuration detection section, connecting said radio circuit either to said first antenna or to said feed element, and
wherein said switching circuit connects said radio circuit with said feed element when the combined configuration of said first and second casings is the predetermined configuration, and connects said radio circuit with said first antenna when the combined configuration of said first and second casings is a configuration other than the predetermined configuration.
2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the combined configuration of said first and second casings includes a first combined configuration wherein said first and second casings overlap each other, and a second combined configuration wherein said first and second casings are positioned such that they are generally orthogonal to each other.
3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the combined configuration of said first and second casings includes a first combined configuration wherein said first and second casings overlap each other, and a second combined configuration wherein said first and second casings are developed by means of a hinge structure.
4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the combined configuration of said first and second casings includes a first combined configuration wherein said first and second casings overlap each other, and a second combined configuration wherein either said first or second casing slides relative to the other casing.
5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 , wherein said feed element of said first casing and said second antenna of said second casing are capacitively coupled together without a wire.