IP Library Granted Patent US 12,445,549
Granted Patent B2
US 12,445,549 · App. 18/197,480 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Antenna structure for improving radiation performance and electronic device including same

Inventors: Nakchung Choi (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Himchan Yun (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Jaebong Chun (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Soonho Hwang (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H04M1/72454H01Q1/242H01Q1/48H04M1/0216
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,445,549
App. No.
18/197,480
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a foldable electronic device including an antenna structure having an adjustable electric length by way of a switch circuit, thereby reducing antenna performance degradation in the foldable electronic device.

Claims (71)

1. A foldable electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising a first housing configured to form a first lateral surface of the electronic device, a second housing configured to form a second lateral surface corresponding to the first lateral surface, and a hinge structure configured to connect the first housing and the second housing, the housing being convertible to a folded state or an unfolded state around the hinge structure,

the first lateral surface comprising a first edge and a second edge extending perpendicularly from the first edge,

the second lateral surface comprising a third edge corresponding to the first edge and a fourth edge corresponding to the second edge and extending perpendicularly from the third edge,

the first housing comprising a first segmentation part formed at a first point on the first edge, a second point connected to a ground on the second edge, and a first conductive part configured to connect the first segmentation part and the second point along the first lateral surface,

the second housing comprising a third point connected to the ground on the fourth edge, a second segmentation part formed at one point on the fourth edge, a second conductive part extending from the second segmentation part to the third edge along the second lateral surface, and a third conductive part spaced apart from the second conductive part by the second segmentation part;

a switch circuit configured to connect the second conductive part and the third conductive part; and

at least one processor electrically connected to the switch circuit,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

transmit or receive a first signal by feeding power to the first conductive part through a fourth point adjacent to the first segmentation part of the first conductive part, and

when grip of the housing is detected, electrically connect the second conductive part and the third conductive part by controlling the switch circuit.

2. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one sensor,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect a user's grip of the housing by using the at least one sensor.

3. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the third point of the second housing is disposed adjacent to the second segmentation part.

4. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first signal comprises a frequency band of 800 megahertz (MHz).

5. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a tuner adjacent to the fourth point to be connected to the first conductive part,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control a phase of the first signal by controlling the tuner.

6. The foldable electronic device of claim 5 ,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect a user's grip of the housing by measuring a reflection coefficient through the tuner.

7. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first housing comprises a fifth conductive part spaced apart from the first conductive part by the first segmentation part, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit or receive a second signal by feeding power to one point of the fifth conductive part.

8. The foldable electronic device of claim 7 ,

wherein the first housing comprises a third segmentation part disposed at one end of the fifth conductive part on the first edge.

9. The foldable electronic device of claim 7 ,

wherein the ground is electrically connected to one point on the fifth conductive part.

10. The foldable electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein, when the housing is converted from the unfolded state to the folded state, the at least one processor is further configured to electrically separate the second conductive part and the third conductive part by controlling the switch circuit.

11. A foldable electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising a first housing configured to form a first lateral surface of the electronic device, a second housing configured to form a second lateral surface corresponding to the first lateral surface, and a hinge structure configured to connect the first housing and the second housing, the housing being convertible to a folded state or an unfolded state around the hinge structure,

the first lateral surface comprising a first edge and a second edge extending perpendicularly from the first edge,

the second lateral surface comprising a third edge corresponding to the first edge and a fourth edge corresponding to the second edge and extending perpendicularly from the third edge,

the first housing comprising a first segmentation part formed at a first point on the first edge, a fourth segmentation part formed at a second point on the second edge, a first conductive part configured to connect the first segmentation part and the fourth segmentation part along the first lateral surface, and a fourth conductive part spaced apart from the first conductive part by the fourth segmentation part,

the second housing comprising a second segmentation part formed at one point on the fourth edge, a second conductive part extending from the second segmentation part to the third edge along the second lateral surface, and a third conductive part spaced apart from the second conductive part by the second segmentation part;

a ground electrically connected to the second edge and the fourth edge;

a first switch circuit configured to connect the first conductive part and the fourth conductive part;

a second switch circuit configured to connect the second conductive part and the third conductive part; and

at least one processor electrically connected to the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

detect a user's grip of the housing,

when the grip of the first housing is detected, electrically connect the first conductive part and the fourth conductive part by controlling the first switch circuit, and

when the grip of the second housing is detected, electrically connect the second conductive part and the third conductive part by controlling the second switch circuit.

12. The foldable electronic device of claim 11 ,

wherein the ground is adjacent to the second segmentation part to be connected to the fourth edge and adjacent to the fourth segmentation part to be connected to the second edge.

13. The foldable electronic device of claim 11 , further comprising

at least one sensor,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to detect the user's grip of the housing by using the at least one sensor.

14. The foldable electronic device of claim 13 ,

wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a grip sensor and a proximity and ambient light sensor.

15. The foldable electronic device of claim 11 ,

wherein the first housing comprises a fifth conductive part spaced apart from the first conductive part by the first segmentation part, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit or receive a signal in a designated frequency band by feeding power to one point of the fifth conductive part.

16. The foldable electronic device of claim 15 ,

wherein the first housing comprises a third segmentation part disposed at one end of the fifth conductive part on the first edge.

17. The foldable electronic device of claim 11 ,

wherein the second housing comprises a fifth segmentation part extending from the second conductive part and a sixth conductive part extending from the fifth segmentation part,

wherein the foldable electronic device further comprises a third switch circuit configured to connect the second conductive part and the sixth conductive part, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to electrically connect the second conductive part and the sixth conductive part by controlling the third switch circuit.

18. The foldable electronic device of claim 11 ,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit or receive a signal in a designated frequency band by feeding power to the first conductive part through a fourth point adjacent to the first segmentation part of the first conductive part.

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

a tuner adjacent to the fourth point to be connected to the first conductive part,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control a phase of the signal by controlling the tuner.

20. The foldable electronic device of claim 11 ,

wherein, when the housing is converted from the unfolded state to the folded state, the at least one processor is further configured to:

electrically separate the first conductive part and the fourth conductive part by controlling the first switch circuit, and

electrically separate the second conductive part and the third conductive part by controlling the second switch circuit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2023
From: CHOI, NAKCHUNG; YUN, HIMCHAN; CHUN, JAEBONG; HWANG, SOONHO
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063827/0935 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0052431 · Apr 22, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2022005800 · Apr 22, 2022
Related Publication 20230283708A1 · Sep 7, 2023
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