Antenna device and antenna control method

Abstract

An antenna device is arranged in a keyboard of an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a top cover, a bottom cover, a screen and a keyboard, comprising: a first antenna arranged in the top cover for transmitting data; a plurality of second antennas arranged on different keys of the keyboard respectively for transmitting data; a control unit electrically connected to the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas, for controlling the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas to perform a scanning signal strength operation to select an antenna with the strongest signal direction for high-speed data transmission when the electronic device detects that high-speed data transmission is required, improving user experience and solving the problem of limitations of original antenna signal reception.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an antenna device and an antenna control method. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the development of technology, terminal devices, such as 5G terminal devices, have become increasingly powerful, placing higher demands on their antennas. For example, 5G millimeter wave wavelengths are relatively short, making them prone to fading during transmission. A single antenna is unlikely to achieve long-distance transmission, so a matrix antenna design is usually adopted. However, the signal reception limitations caused by the high directivity of millimeter wave matrix antennas have become a primary problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, it is necessary to provide an antenna device that places the antenna on different keys of the keyboard to receive signals from different directions, thereby improving the limitations of the original antenna signal reception.

[0004] An antenna device provided in one embodiment of the present invention is disposed in the keyboard of an electronic device, the electronic device including a top cover, a bottom cover, a screen, and a keyboard, comprising:

[0005] A first antenna, mounted on the top cover, is used for data transmission.

[0006] Multiple second antennas are respectively set on different keys of the keyboard for transmitting data;

[0007] The control unit, electrically connected to the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas, is used to control the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas to perform a signal strength scanning operation to select the antenna with the strongest signal direction for high-speed data transmission when the electronic device detects that high-speed data transmission is required.

[0008] Preferably, the plurality of second antennas includes:

[0009] The left-side antenna is located on one of the left-side movable keys of the keyboard.

[0010] The right-side antenna is located on one of the right-side movable keys of the keyboard.

[0011] Preferably, the control unit is further configured to, when the electronic device detects the need for high-speed data transmission, control the first antenna, the left antenna, and the right antenna to perform a signal strength scanning operation in the following order:

[0012] The first antenna scans the signal strength in a direction perpendicular to the top cover;

[0013] The left antenna scans the signal strength at the horizontal position;

[0014] The left-side active button pops up, allowing the left-side antenna to scan the signal strength in the left direction;

[0015] The left antenna was restored to a horizontal position;

[0016] The right-side antenna scans the signal strength at the horizontal position;

[0017] The right-side active button pops up, allowing the right-side antenna to scan the signal strength in the right direction.

[0018] Preferably, it further includes a detection unit electrically connected to the control unit, used to detect the change in angle of the electronic device, and also used to re-execute the scan signal strength operation when the change in angle is greater than a preset angle.

[0019] Preferably, the control unit is further configured to:

[0020] When the electronic device detects a halt in high-speed data transmission, it controls the left and right antennas to return to their horizontal positions.

[0021] Preferably, the control unit is further configured to:

[0022] When the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, the left and right antennas are controlled to return to their horizontal positions.

[0023] In view of this, the present invention also provides an antenna control method applied to an antenna device, the antenna device being disposed in the keyboard of an electronic device, the electronic device including a top cover, a bottom cover, a screen, and a keyboard, the method comprising:

[0024] Detect whether high-speed data transmission is required;

[0025] When high-speed data transmission is required, control the first antenna and multiple second antennas to perform signal strength scanning operations;

[0026] Based on the scanning results, the antenna in the direction of the strongest signal is selected for high-speed data transmission.

[0027] Preferably, the plurality of second antennas includes a left antenna disposed on a left-side movable key of the keyboard; and a right antenna disposed on a right-side movable key of the keyboard. The step of controlling the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas to perform a signal strength scanning operation when high-speed data transmission is required specifically includes:

[0028] Control the signal strength of the first antenna scanning in the direction perpendicular to the top cover;

[0029] Control the signal strength of the left antenna scanning the horizontal position;

[0030] The left-side active button is popped up to allow the left-side antenna to scan the antenna intensity in the left direction;

[0031] Control the left antenna to return to a horizontal position;

[0032] Control the signal strength of the right antenna scanning the horizontal position;

[0033] The right-side active button is popped up to allow the right-side antenna to scan the antenna intensity in the right direction.

[0034] Preferably, the antenna device further includes a detection unit, and the method further includes:

[0035] Detect the change in angle of the electronic device;

[0036] When the change angle is greater than the preset angle, the signal strength scanning operation is re-executed.

[0037] Preferably, the method further includes:

[0038] When the electronic device detects a halt in high-speed data transmission, it controls the left and right antennas to return to their horizontal positions.

[0039] When the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, the left and right antennas are controlled to return to their horizontal positions.

[0040] Compared to existing technologies, the antenna device provided by the embodiments of the present invention improves user experience and overcomes the limitations of existing antenna signal reception by setting a first antenna and a plurality of second antennas on different keys of a keyboard, and controlling the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas to perform a signal strength scanning operation when high-speed data transmission is required, thereby selecting the antenna with the strongest signal direction for high-speed data transmission. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a module of one embodiment of the antenna device of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of electronic device 1.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the antenna device of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the antenna control method of the present invention.

[0045] Explanation of main component symbols

[0046] Electronic device 1

[0047] Top cover 11

[0048] Bottom cover 12

[0049] Screen 13

[0050] Keyboard 14

[0051] Multifunction key 140

[0052] Antenna device 10

[0053] First antenna 100, 100a

[0054] Second antenna 101, 101a

[0055] Control units 102, 102a

[0056] Detection unit 103a

[0057] The following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will further illustrate the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0058] See Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the antenna device 10 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the antenna device 10 is applied to an electronic device 1. The electronic device 1 may be, but is not limited to, a laptop, etc. See also... Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of electronic device 1. In this embodiment, electronic device 1 includes a top cover 11, a bottom cover 12, a screen 13, and a keyboard 14.

[0059] Back Figure 1 In this embodiment, the antenna device 10 includes a first antenna 100, a plurality of second antennas 101, and a control unit 102. The first antenna 100 is disposed on the top cover 11 of the electronic device 1 and is used for data transmission. The plurality of second antennas 101 are disposed on different keys of the keyboard 14 and are used for data transmission. The first antenna 100 and the plurality of second antennas 101 are millimeter-wave antennas used for data transmission, especially high-speed data transmission. The control unit 102 is electrically connected to the first antenna 100 and the plurality of second antennas 101, and is used to control the first antenna 100 and the plurality of second antennas 101 to perform a signal strength scanning operation to select the antenna with the strongest signal direction for high-speed data transmission when the electronic device 1 detects the need for high-speed data transmission.

[0060] See Figure 2In this embodiment, two second antennas are used as an example, but this is not a limitation. Specifically, a plurality of second antennas 101 may include a left antenna 1011 and a right antenna 1012. The left antenna 1011 is disposed on a left-side movable key of the keyboard 14, and the right antenna 1012 is disposed on a right-side movable key of the keyboard 14. The movable key can be popped up at a preset angle, the preset angle being the angle between the key and the horizontal position, for example, 45 degrees, thereby popping up the second antenna 101 on it at the preset angle. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the left antenna 1011 is disposed on the Table key, and the right antenna 1012 is disposed on the Backspace key. The user can dispose of the left antenna 1011 and the right antenna 1012 on other keys according to actual application needs.

[0061] In this embodiment, the keyboard 14 may also include a multi-function key 140, which can be used as a substitute when the antenna of either the Table key or the Backspace key is used as a transceiver antenna.

[0062] In this embodiment, the processing unit inside the electronic device 1 can detect the data transmission of the electronic device 1 in real time. When the processing unit inside the electronic device 1 detects that the electronic device 1 needs to transmit data, it can send a control signal to the control unit 102. The control unit 102 is also used to control the first antenna 100, the left antenna 1011, and the right antenna 1012 to perform a signal strength scanning operation in the following order when the electronic device 1 detects that high-speed data transmission is required:

[0063] The first antenna 100 scans the signal strength in the direction perpendicular to the top cover 11;

[0064] The left antenna 1011 scans the signal strength at the horizontal position;

[0065] The left-side active button, such as the Table button, pops up to allow the left-side antenna 1011 to scan the signal strength in the left direction.

[0066] The left antenna 1011 has been restored to its horizontal position;

[0067] The right antenna 1012 scans the signal strength at the horizontal position;

[0068] The right-side active buttons, such as the Backspace button, are activated to allow the right-side antenna 1012 to scan the signal strength in the right direction.

[0069] Specifically, buttons equipped with antennas, such as the Table button and Backspace button mentioned above, have retractable and pop-up structures below them. The control unit 102 controls the left antenna 1011 or the right antenna 1012 to pop up to a preset angle or return to a horizontal position by controlling the retraction or pop-up of these structures.

[0070] When both the Table and Backspace keys are in the horizontal position, the user presses one of the keys, and the control unit 102 switches to the antenna on the other key to receive the signal.

[0071] See Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the antenna device of the present invention. In this embodiment, the antenna device 10a includes a first antenna 100a, a plurality of second antennas 101a, a control unit 102a, and a detection unit 103a. The working principle of the first antenna 100a, the plurality of second antennas 101a, and the control unit 102a is similar to that of the first antenna 100, the plurality of second antennas 101, and the control unit 102a in the above embodiment, and will not be described again here.

[0072] In this embodiment, the detection unit 103a is electrically connected to the control unit 102a and is used to detect the change in angle of the electronic device 1. It is also used to re-execute the signal strength scanning operation when the change in angle is greater than a preset angle, so as to reselect the antenna with the strongest signal direction for high-speed data transmission.

[0073] In this embodiment, the control unit 102a is further configured to restore the left antenna 1011 and the right antenna 1012 to a horizontal position when the electronic device 1 detects that high-speed data transmission has stopped; and to control the left antenna 1011 and the right antenna 1012 to a horizontal position when the electronic device 1 is powered off or in sleep mode.

[0074] See Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the antenna control method. The antenna control method is applied to the antenna device 10a described above. The antenna device 10a is applied to an electronic device 1, which includes a top cover 11, a bottom cover 12, a screen 13, and a keyboard 14.

[0075] In this embodiment, the antenna control method includes the following steps:

[0076] Step S41: Detect whether high-speed data transmission is required.

[0077] The processing unit inside the electronic device 1 can detect the data transmission of the electronic device 1 in real time. When the processing unit inside the electronic device 1 detects that the electronic device 1 needs to transmit data, it can send a control signal to the control unit 102.

[0078] Step S42: When high-speed data transmission is required, control the first antenna 100a and a plurality of second antennas 101a to perform a signal strength scan operation.

[0079] Specifically, the plurality of second antennas 101a includes a left antenna 1011, disposed on a left movable key of the keyboard 14; and a right antenna 1012, disposed on a right movable key of the keyboard 14. The step of controlling the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas to perform a signal strength scanning operation when high-speed data transmission is required specifically includes:

[0080] Control the signal strength of the first antenna scanning in the direction perpendicular to the top cover;

[0081] Control the signal strength of the left antenna scanning the horizontal position;

[0082] The left-side active button is popped up to allow the left-side antenna to scan the antenna intensity in the left direction;

[0083] Control the left antenna to return to a horizontal position;

[0084] Control the signal strength of the right antenna scanning the horizontal position;

[0085] The right-side active button is popped up to allow the right-side antenna to scan the antenna intensity in the right direction.

[0086] Step S43: Select the antenna with the strongest signal direction for high-speed data transmission based on the scanning results.

[0087] In this embodiment, the method further includes:

[0088] Detect the change in angle of the electronic device;

[0089] When the change angle is greater than the preset angle, the signal strength scanning operation is re-executed.

[0090] In this embodiment, the method further includes:

[0091] When electronic device 1 detects that high-speed data transmission has stopped, it controls the left antenna 1011 and the right antenna 1012 to return to their horizontal positions.

[0092] When electronic device 1 is powered off or in sleep mode, it controls the left antenna 1011 and the right antenna 1012 to return to their horizontal positions.

[0093] Compared to existing technologies, the antenna device provided by the embodiments of the present invention improves user experience and overcomes the limitations of existing antenna signal reception by setting a first antenna and a plurality of second antennas on different keys of a keyboard, and controlling the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas to perform a signal strength scanning operation when high-speed data transmission is required, thereby selecting the antenna with the strongest signal direction for high-speed data transmission.

[0094] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any appropriate changes and modifications made to the above embodiments within the essential spirit and scope of the present invention fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. An antenna control method applied to an antenna device, the antenna device being disposed in an electronic device, the electronic device including a top cover, a bottom cover, a screen, and a keyboard, the antenna device including a first antenna disposed on the top cover and a plurality of second antennas disposed on the keyboard, the plurality of second antennas including a left antenna disposed on a left movable key of the keyboard and a right antenna disposed on a right movable key of the keyboard, the method comprising: Detect whether high-speed data transmission is required; When high-speed data transmission is required, the first antenna is controlled to scan the signal strength in the direction perpendicular to the top cover; Control the signal strength of the left antenna scanning the horizontal position; Control the left-side active button to pop up to a first preset angle so that the left-side antenna scans the antenna intensity in the left direction; Control the left antenna to return to a horizontal position; Control the signal strength of the right antenna scanning the horizontal position; Control the right-side active button to pop up to a second preset angle so that the right-side antenna scans the antenna intensity in the right direction; Based on the scanning results, the antenna in the direction of the strongest signal is selected for high-speed data transmission.

2. The antenna control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The antenna device further includes a detection unit, and the method further includes: Detect the change in angle of the electronic device; When the change angle is greater than the preset angle, the signal strength scanning operation is re-executed.

3. The antenna control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: When the electronic device detects a halt in high-speed data transmission, it controls the left and right antennas to return to their horizontal positions. When the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, the left and right antennas are controlled to return to their horizontal positions.

4. An antenna device disposed in an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a top cover, a bottom cover, a screen, and a keyboard, characterized in that, The antenna device includes: A first antenna, mounted on the top cover, is used for data transmission. Multiple second antennas, including a left antenna disposed on a left active key on the keyboard and a right antenna disposed on a right active key on the keyboard; The control unit, electrically connected to the first antenna and the plurality of second antennas, is used to control the first antenna to scan the signal strength in the direction perpendicular to the top cover when the electronic device detects that high-speed data transmission is required, control the left movable button to pop up at a first preset angle so that the left antenna scans the signal strength in the left direction of the horizontal position, and control the right movable button to pop up at a second preset angle so that the right antenna scans the signal strength in the right direction of the horizontal position, so as to select the antenna with the strongest signal for high-speed data transmission.

5. The antenna device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a detection unit electrically connected to the control unit, used to detect changes in the angle of the electronic device, and to re-execute the signal strength scan operation when the changes in angle are greater than a preset angle.

6. The antenna device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The control unit is also used for: When the electronic device detects a halt in high-speed data transmission, it controls the left and right antennas to return to their horizontal positions.

7. The antenna device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, The control unit is also used for: When the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, the left and right antennas are controlled to return to their horizontal positions.

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