Antenna filter in a wireless communication system and electronic device including the same

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a fifth-generation (5G) or pre-5G communication system to support a high data transmission rate beyond that of a fourth-generation (4G) communication system such as long term evolution (LTE). According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a radio frequency (RF) filter in a wireless communication system includes a structure including a resonance unit, and a cover plate at which a tuning structure is formed, wherein the tuning structure can be configured to have a flexible arrangement with respect to the cover plate through an opening in the cover plate.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates generally to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to an antenna filter in a wireless communication system and an electronic device including the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] To meet the demand for wireless data traffic because of the deployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made to develop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5G or pre-5G communication system is also called a "beyond 4G network" or a "post long term evolution (post-LTE) system."

[0003] The 5G communication system is considered to be implemented in a super high frequency (mmWave) band (e.g., 60 GHz band) so as to accomplish higher data rates. To mitigate a propagation loss of radio waves and increase a transmission distance in a super high frequency band, beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antennas, analog beam forming, large scale antennas techniques are discussed in the 5G communication system.

[0004] In addition, in the 5G communication system, development for system network improvement is under way based on advanced small cells, cloud radio access networks (cloud RAN), ultra-dense networks, a device to device (D2D) communication, a wireless backhaul, a moving network, cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (CoMP), reception-end interference cancellation and the like.

[0005] In the 5G system, hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and a sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as an advanced access technology have been developed.

[0006] Products equipped with multiple antennas each have been developed to enhance communication performance, and it is expected that devices each having a much larger number of antennas will be used by taking advantage of massive MIMO technology. As the number of antenna elements used in a communication device increases, the number of RF components (e.g., filters and the like) inevitably increases accordingly. SUMMARY

[0007] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0008] Based on the above discussion, the disclosure provides an apparatus and method for tuning a radio frequency (RF) filter in a wireless communication system.

[0009] In addition, the disclosure provides a tuning structure of an RF filter in a wireless communication system.

[0010] Further, the disclosure provides a cover structure including a tuning structure for tuning characteristics of a filter in a wireless communication system.

[0011] Further, the disclosure provides an apparatus and method for performing tuning through a seesaw structure of a cover plate of an RF filter in a wireless communication system.

[0012] Technical solutions

[0013] According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a radio frequency (RF) filter in a wireless communication system can include a structure including a resonance unit, and a cover plate at which a tuning structure is formed, wherein the tuning structure is configured to have a flexible arrangement with respect to the cover plate through an opening in the cover plate.

[0014] According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) unit (MMU) apparatus in a wireless communication system can include at least one processor configured to process a signal, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) filters configured to filter a signal, and an antenna array configured to radiate a signal, wherein an RF filter among the plurality of RF filters includes a structure including a resonance unit, and a cover plate at which a tuning structure is formed, and the tuning structure is configured to have a flexible arrangement with respect to the cover plate through an opening in the cover plate.

[0015] Advantageous effects

[0016] Through a cover structure of a radio frequency (RF) filter including a tuning structure, the apparatus and method according to various embodiments of the disclosure can provide a wide tuning range for characteristics improvement and realize a reduction in volume and weight of the RF filter.

[0017] The advantageous effects obtainable from the disclosure can not be limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1a A wireless communication system according to various embodiments of the disclosure is illustrated;

[0019] Figure 1b An example of an antenna array in a wireless communication system according to various embodiments of the disclosure is illustrated;

[0020] Figure 2 A tuning principle of a radio frequency (RF) filter according to various embodiments of the disclosure is described;

[0021] Figure 3a An example of a cover plate having a tuning structure formed thereat according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0022] Figure 3b Another example of a cover plate having a tuning structure formed thereat according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0023] Figure 3c A tuning principle according to an arrangement of a tuning structure provided at a cover plate according to various embodiments of the disclosure is described;

[0024] Figure 4a An example of a tuning range based on an arrangement of a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0025] Figure 4b A performance based on an arrangement of a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0026] Figure 5a An example of a structure of an RF filter including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0027] Figure 5b A performance of an RF filter including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0028] Figure 6 An example of an application of an RF filter including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0029] Figure 7 Another example of an application of an RF filter including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0030] Figure 8 An example of a position of a tuning structure on a cover plate and a resulting tuning performance according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown; and

[0031] Figure 9 A functional configuration of an electronic device including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The terms used in the present disclosure are used only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular expressions can include plural expressions, unless they are clearly different in the context. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical terms and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Such terms as defined in general dictionaries can be interpreted as having the same meaning as the contextual meaning in the relevant art, and will not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless clearly defined in the present disclosure. In some cases, even the terms defined in the present disclosure should not be interpreted to exclude embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on a hardware-based approach. However, various embodiments of the present disclosure include a technology using both hardware and software, and thus various embodiments of the present disclosure can not exclude a software perspective.

[0034] For the convenience of description, the terms used in the following description are illustrated: terms referring to parts of an electronic device (e.g., substrate, board, printed circuit board (PCB), flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), module, antenna, antenna element, circuit, processor, chip, component, device); terms referring to the shape of a part (e.g., tuning member, tuning structure, tuning structure body, structure, support, contact, protrusion, opening); terms referring to connection between structure bodies (e.g., connection, contact, support, contact structure, conductive member, assembly); terms referring to a circuit (e.g., transmission line, PCB, FPCB, signal line, feed line, data line, RF signal line, antenna line, RF path, RF module, RF circuit) and the like. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the following terms, and other terms having equivalent technical meanings can be used. In addition, terms such as "… part", "… group", "… material", and "… body" used below can mean at least one shape structure or unit for processing functions.

[0035] Further, as used in the present disclosure, the expressions "greater than" or "less than" are used to determine whether a certain condition is satisfied or fulfilled, but this is only intended to show an example and does not exclude "greater than or equal to" or "equal to or less than". A condition indicated by the expression "greater than or equal to" can be replaced with a condition indicated by "greater than", a condition indicated by the expression "equal to or less than" can be replaced with a condition indicated by "less than", and a condition indicated by "greater than and equal to or less than" can be replaced with a condition indicated by "greater than and less than".

[0036] Also, in the disclosure, terms adopted in some communication standards (for example, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)) will be used to describe various embodiments, but the various embodiments are only for illustration. Embodiments of the disclosure can also be easily applied to other communication systems by modification.

[0037] Hereinafter, the disclosure relates to an antenna filter in a wireless communication system and an electronic device including the same. Specifically, the disclosure describes a technology for achieving a wide tuning range and reducing the volume and weight of a product by forming a tuning structure having a flexible arrangement at a cover of an RF filter as a tuning operation for controlling characteristics of a radio frequency (RF) filter in a wireless communication system, instead of using a tuning bolt and nut to be screwed.

[0038] Figure 1a A wireless communication system according to various embodiments of the disclosure is illustrated. Figure 1a A wireless communication environment 100 in FIG. 1 illustrates a base station 110 and a terminal 120 as part of nodes using a wireless channel.

[0039] The base station 110 is a network infrastructure that provides a wireless connection to the terminal 120. The base station 110 has a coverage area defined as a specific geographic area based on a distance capable of transmitting a signal. In addition to the base station, the base station 110 can be referred to as a "massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) unit (MMU)", an "access point (AP)", an "eNodeB (eNB)", a "fifth generation node (5G node)", a "5G NodeB (5G NB)", a "wireless point", a "transmission / reception point (TRP)", an "access unit", a "distributed unit (DU)", a "radio unit (RU)", a "remote radio head (RRH)", or another term having an equivalent technical meaning. The base station 110 can transmit a downlink signal or receive an uplink signal.

[0040] The terminal 120, which is a device used by a user, performs communication with the base station 110 through a wireless channel. In some cases, the terminal 120 can be operated without user intervention. That is, the terminal 120 serving as a device performing machine type communication (MTC) can not be carried by a user. In addition to the terminal, the terminal 120 can be referred to as "user equipment (UE)", "mobile station", "subscriber station", "customer premises equipment (CPE)", "remote terminal", "wireless terminal", "electronic device", or "vehicle terminal", "user device", or another term having an equivalent technical meaning.

[0041] Figure 1bAn example of an antenna array in a wireless communication system according to various embodiments of the disclosure is illustrated. A beamforming technique is used as one of techniques for reducing a propagation path loss and increasing a propagation distance. In general, beamforming concentrates a wave arrival area by using a plurality of antennas, or increases a directivity of reception sensitivity in a specific direction. Accordingly, in order to form a beamforming coverage, rather than forming a signal in an isotropic pattern by using a single antenna, the base station 110 can include a plurality of antennas. Hereinafter, an antenna array including a plurality of antennas will be described. Figure 1b The example of the antenna array illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely an example for describing embodiments of the disclosure, and is not to be construed as limiting other embodiments of the disclosure.

[0042] Referring to Figure 1b , the base station 110 can include an antenna array 130. According to an embodiment, the base station 110 can include a massive MIMO unit (MMU) including the antenna array 130. Each antenna included in the antenna array 130 can be referred to as an array element or an antenna element. In Figure 1b In FIG. 1, the antenna array 130 is illustrated as a two-dimensional planar array, but this is merely an example and does not limit other embodiments of the disclosure. According to another embodiment, the antenna array 130 can be constructed in various forms such as a linear array. The antenna array can be referred to as a massive antenna array.

[0043] A main technique for improving data capacity of 5G communication is a beamforming technique using an antenna array connected with a plurality of RF paths. In order to have higher data capacity, it is necessary to increase the number of RF paths or to increase power per RF path. The size of a product becomes larger as the number of RF paths increases, and it is currently not possible to increase the number of base stations due to space constraints when installing actual base station equipment. In order to increase antenna gain by high output without increasing the number of RF paths, a plurality of antenna elements can be connected to an RF path using a splitter (or a distributor), thereby increasing antenna gain.

[0044] In order to improve communication performance, the number of antennas (or antenna elements) of a device (e.g., the base station 110) performing wireless communication is constantly increasing. In addition, the number of RF components (e.g., amplifiers, filters) and components for processing RF signals received or transmitted through the antenna elements has also increased, and thus, a communication device must be constructed to have spatial gain and cost efficiency while satisfying communication performance. As the number of paths increases, the number of filters for processing signals in each antenna element also increases.

[0045] An RF filter can include a circuit that performs filtering by forming resonance to transmit a wireless signal of a desired frequency. That is, the RF filter can perform a function for selectively recognizing a frequency. Such an RF filter used as an important component for selecting and attenuating a frequency is used in most communication devices. There are filters such as ceramic filters and bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters, which have many advantages in terms of volume reduction. However, since a cavity filter has excellent performance in terms of power handling and capacity / insertion loss / roll-off, a cavity filter is used in various communication devices. Even though ceramic filters and BAW filters can be used in MMU / small cells requiring a small power specification, a cavity filter continues to be required in high-performance MMUs and all remote radio units (RRUs). Accordingly, volume / weight reduction and unit cost of the cavity filter are very important factors in securing competitiveness of communication devices.

[0046] Figure 2 A tuning principle of a radio frequency (RF) filter according to various embodiments of the disclosure is illustrated. A cavity filter mainly used in communication devices adopts a processed product such as a housing and a resonator as a main component. Characteristics of the RF filter are determined by the shape and structure of the component. However, when the cavity filter (for example, a metal cavity filter) is manufactured, there is a difference between the component in a simulation state and an actual component implemented. Due to the processing tolerance of the component and the difference in material information, there are factors that are difficult to grasp through simulation. In addition, since there is a manufacturing limit in improving the precision of the component, it is economically advantageous to tune the characteristics of the filter through a tuning operation for high performance. At this time, since the processing tolerance of the component affects the electrical performance, a tuning process for correcting the processing tolerance is required when the cavity filter is manufactured. Time and a tuning structure depending on the tuning process are important factors in determining volume / weight reduction and unit cost of the RF filter.

[0047] Reference Figure 2 The RF filter can include a resonator 240 (for example, a coaxial resonator) disposed in a cavity. According to an embodiment, the RF filter can include a cavity filter. The resonator 240 can form resonance by a distance between a conductor (for example, a cover plate or a tuning unit 220) and another conductor (for example, a coaxial transmission line 230). Specifically, the coaxial transmission line 230 of the resonator 240 can function as an inductor. The coaxial transmission line 230 and the conductor spaced apart from an upper portion of the coaxial transmission line 230 can function as a capacitor. That is, the RF filter can be expressed as a tuning circuit 210 of an LC circuit. A tuning operation for tuning the characteristics of the RF filter includes correcting a resonance frequency according to the processing tolerance of the housing and the resonator. Since the resonance frequency of the LC circuit depends on the capacitance value, the resonance frequency can be adjusted by adjusting the capacitance value. In general, the capacitance value of the capacitor can be determined based on the following equation.

[0048] [Formula 1]

[0049] Here, C denotes a capacitance value, ε denotes a dielectric constant, A denotes an area of a conductor, and d denotes a distance between conductors. By the above principle, the capacitor has a different capacitance value depending on the distance between the two conductors (i.e., the distance between the tuning unit 220 and the resonator 240 (more specifically, the coaxial transmission line 230)) or the area of the conductors disposed opposite to each other (e.g., the area in which the tuning unit 220 and the resonator 240 face each other). In order to tune the characteristics of the RF filter, the height of the tuning unit 220 is adjusted. The distance between the tuning unit 220 and the resonator 240 can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the tuning unit 220. For example, when the height of the tuning unit 220 increases, the distance between the tuning unit 220 and the resonator 240 increases, and this change causes a change in the capacitance value. When the height of the tuning unit 220 decreases, the distance between the tuning unit 220 and the resonator 240 is adjusted to decrease, and thus the capacitance value changes.

[0050] As a method for adjusting the height of the tuning unit 220, there are included forming a groove in the cover of the filter, inserting a tuning bolt into the formed groove, and spacing them apart. The resonant frequency is adjusted by adjusting the capacitance value due to the spacing between the resonator and the tuning bolt. However, this method requires an additional space for the screw and nut of the tuning bolt (e.g., about 20% of the space outside the design in the case of a 25 mm thick filter), and distortion of characteristics due to tightening of the nut occurs. In addition, as another method for adjusting the height of the tuning unit 220, there is included a tuning method of narrowing the distance to the resonator by hitting the cover itself. However, since the cover needs to be manually raised to correct when excessive hitting occurs during automatic tuning, this method is also not suitable for automatic tuning.

[0051] The tuning structure by means of a bolt has a relatively large size, and because manual recovery is involved in its tuning process, the production efficiency of the board with reduced volume is low. The low production rate leads to an increase in unit price. In addition, when the tuning structure by means of a bolt is used, a separate material (e.g., a nut) is required to secure the bolt, and each resonator is sensitive, thus requiring individual tuning by a screw. Such tuning is a factor that reduces mass productivity, causes a high defect rate, and increases the price of the filter. To solve these problems and replace the existing tuning structure (e.g., a tuning bolt) and tuning method (e.g., automatic adjustment of the tuning bolt), the present disclosure proposes a structure having a tuning unit provided at a cover.

[0052] Figure 3aExamples of a cover plate in which a tuning structure is formed are shown according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The tuning structure is a structure that generates a distance difference from a resonator due to adjustment of a position, which is attached to the cover plate. The tuning structure can be provided on a member of the cover plate. According to an embodiment, the tuning structure can be formed of a portion of a metal plate forming the cover plate. Hereinafter, in the disclosure, a structure connected to the cover plate to tune a resonance frequency by flexible arrangement is referred to as a tuning structure or a tuning member. However, in addition to the above terms, various terms meaning equivalent functions, such as a tuning plate, a tuning structure, a metal protrusion, and a fluid conductor, can be used interchangeably. In addition, a single plate or a bent plate is exemplarily shown as an example of a shape of the tuning structure, but the shape of the tuning member can be implemented in various shapes (for example, a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, a protrusion) and by various methods.

[0053] Reference Figure 3a The cover plate 330 can be provided on an upper surface of the resonator filter. According to an embodiment, the cover plate 330 can be formed of a metal plate. A portion of the cover plate 330 can be cut. An opening can be formed in the cover plate 330 by cutting a portion of the cover plate 330. The tuning structure 320 is disposed in at least a portion of the formed opening. The cut opening 310 is formed according to the arrangement of the opening and the tuning structure 320. The tuning structure 320 can be formed of a portion of the metal plate constituting the cover plate 330. The volume of the tuning structure 320 can be reduced by a thin filter cover plate having a hole structure without using a tuning bolt.

[0054] According to various embodiments, the material of the tuning structure 320 can be metal. For example, the material of the tuning structure 320 can include at least one of aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), or brass. A region of the cover plate 330 can be cut, and at least a portion of the cut portion can be formed as the tuning structure 320. According to an embodiment, the tuning structure 320 can be made of the same material (for example, metal) as the cover plate 330. Since the tuning structure 320 is manufactured integrally with the cover plate 330, a separate part such as a bolt or a nut is not required, and a groove does not need to be formed in the metal plate, and thus the tuning structure 320 is capable of reducing production costs. In addition, because the cover plate 330 and the tuning structure 320 are formed together in the metal plate, manufacturing tolerance is reduced. The reduced manufacturing tolerance can improve the performance of an antenna in which a plurality of filters are used. The disclosure describes an embodiment in which the tuning structure is integrally formed with the cover plate member, but embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto. The tuning structure of the disclosure formed by separately attaching the tuning structure to the cover plate member including a hole can also be understood as an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0055] According to various embodiments, the tuning structure 320 can be flexibly disposed. The tuning structure 320 can be flexibly disposed with respect to the cover plate 330. In the present disclosure, the flexible disposition refers to a structure that enables insertion (disposition in which the tuning structure 320 is positioned between the surface of the cover plate 330 and the resonator of the resonant unit) and restoration (disposition in which the tuning structure 320 is again disposed toward the surface of the cover plate 330 after the insertion). Through an adjustment operation such as a tap or a press, the tuning structure 320 can be disposed at various positions. According to an embodiment, the adjustment operation can be performed by an automatic adjustment device for an RF filter. A partial area of the tuning structure 320 can be fixed to the cover plate 330 so that the tuning structure 320 is more easily disposed at various positions by a physical external force. The various positions can provide various separation distances between the resonator and the tuning structure.

[0056] Figure 3b Another example of a cover plate in which a tuning structure is formed is shown according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Unlike the tuning structure shown in Figure 3a , Figure 3b The tuning structure in the present disclosure can include a structure having a seesaw structure. Insertion and restoration can be more freely performed through the tuning structure having the seesaw structure.

[0057] Referring to Figure 3b , the cover plate can include a fixed unit 323 as a fixed area for balancing the seesaw structure. The seesaw structure refers to a structure in which, at both ends with respect to the fixed unit 323, when one end 321 rises, the other end 322 falls, and when the other end 322 rises, the one end 321 falls. Through the seesaw structure, insertion and restoration can be more freely configured, and automatic tuning structure can be easily secured through a tap.

[0058] Figure 3c A tuning principle according to disposition of a tuning structure provided at a cover plate is shown according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The tuning structure can be configured to tune a resonance frequency characteristic of an RF filter. Although Figure 3c A tuning structure having a seesaw structure shown in Figure 3b , the tuning principle described through Figure 3c is not limited to the seesaw structure.

[0059] Referring to Figure 3cThe tuning structure 350 can be attached to the cover plate 330 to have a flexible arrangement. The tuning structure 350 can be positioned such that the left side of the tuning structure 350 rises and the right side of the tuning structure 350 falls, or such that the right side of the tuning structure 350 rises and the left side of the tuning structure 350 falls. A spacing 361 is formed between the tuning structure 350 and the resonator 370. The spacing 361 can provide a capacitance 362 because both the tuning structure 350 and the resonator 370 are formed as conductors. The resonator 370 provides an inductance through a transmission line.

[0060] Through the capacitance 362 and the inductance, the tuning structure of the RF filter can act as an LC circuit. The RF filter can select a particular frequency and pass it through by resonance of the LC circuit. In this case, the particular frequency is referred to as a resonance frequency. The characteristics of the RF filter can include the resonance frequency. As the tuning structure 350 is positioned closer to the resonator 370, the length of the spacing 361 decreases. The decreased length provides a high capacitance value, which forms a resonance at a higher frequency. The tuning structure 350 can move the resonance frequency up or down through the spacing 361, which is the distance from the resonator 370 to the tuning structure. The magnetic field of the RF filter is tuned.

[0061] Instead of the existing tuning structure and method of tuning the resonance frequency through a screw of a tuning bolt, the tuning structure of the present disclosure provided at the cover plate can be used to tune the resonance frequency. By lowering or raising the position of the tuning structure 350 provided within the hole of the cover plate (i.e., insertion or recovery), the spacing between the tuning structure 350 and the resonator is adjusted. The adjustment of the spacing can provide tuning of the resonance frequency. Since one area of the cover plate serves as the tuning structure 350 in addition to the cover, nut, and the thickness of the cover for the tuning bolt is not required, the volume of the filter can be reduced.

[0062] Figure 4a Examples of a tuning range based on the arrangement of the tuning structure according to various embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated. The tuning structure is provided in a hole formed by cutting of the cover plate and can be flexibly arranged. The spatial arrangement of the tuning structure is determined by an adjustment operation such as a hit or a press. According to embodiments, the tuning structure can be manufactured and formed integrally with the cover plate (e.g., molded). According to the position and degree of pressure applied to the tuning structure, the tuning characteristics of the tuning structure can be determined. As an example, the tuning plate is described as having a seesaw structure as illustrated in FIG. 4B, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited thereto. Figure 3b The seesaw structure illustrated in FIG. 4B, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited thereto.

[0063] Reference Figure 4aIn the first example 410, the tuning structure can be disposed at a position that is rotated clockwise by about (-) 8 degrees with respect to the fixed unit (e.g., the fixed unit 323). A tap or a press can be applied to the left side region of the tuning structure. As the left side region of the tuning structure goes down, the right side region can go up. The distance between the tuning structure and the resonator can increase due to the up movement of the right side region. The increase in the distance between the tuning structure and the resonator can cause a decrease in the capacitance of the RF filter. The decrease in the capacitance provides a downward movement of the resonant frequency. To tune the resonant frequency low, the arrangement of the tuning structure according to the first example 410 can be used.

[0064] In the second example 420, the tuning structure can be disposed at a position that is rotated clockwise by about (-) 4 degrees with respect to the fixed unit (e.g., the fixed unit 323). A tap or a press can be applied to the left side region of the tuning structure. At this time, a less intense tap or press can be applied to the tuning structure compared to the first example 410. As the left side region of the tuning structure goes down, the right side region can go up. The distance between the tuning structure and the resonator can increase due to the up movement of the right side region. The increase in the distance between the tuning structure and the resonator can cause a decrease in the capacitance of the RF filter. The decrease in the capacitance provides a downward movement of the resonant frequency. However, since the decrease in the capacitance is relatively less compared to the decrease in the capacitance provided in the first example 410, the tuning structure according to the second example 420 can provide a smaller magnitude of the downward movement of the resonant frequency compared to the downward movement of the resonant frequency tuned according to the first example 410.

[0065] In the third example 430, the tuning structure can be disposed at a position that is substantially parallel to the cover plate with respect to the fixed unit (e.g., the fixed unit 323). The tuning structure can not be subjected to an adjustment operation such as an additional tap or press. This is because, when the distance between the resonator and the cover plate including the tuning structure according to the manufacturing process provides a desired resonant frequency characteristic, additional tuning can not be necessary.

[0066] In the fourth example 440, the tuning structure can be disposed at a position that is rotated clockwise by about (+) 4 degrees with respect to the fixed unit (e.g., the fixed unit 323). A tap or a press can be applied to the right side region of the tuning structure. At this time, a less intense tap or press can be applied to the tuning structure compared to the first example 410. The same or a similar intensity of tap or press can be applied to the tuning structure as in the second example 420. As the right side region of the tuning structure goes down, the left side region can go up. Due to the down movement of the right side region, the distance between the tuning structure and the resonator can decrease. The decrease in the distance between the tuning structure and the resonator can cause an increase in the capacitance of the RF filter. The increase in the capacitance provides an upward movement of the resonant frequency. To tune the resonant frequency high, the arrangement of the tuning structure according to the fourth example 440 can be used.

[0067] Figure 4b The performance of the tuning structure-based arrangement according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown. According to the variation of the resonance frequency characteristics of the RF filter depending on the operating range of the tuning structure (e.g., the angular range of the tuning structure with the seesaw structure in the Figure 3b The performance of the tuning structure can be identified from the variation of the resonance frequency characteristics of the RF filter depending on the angular range of the tuning structure with the seesaw structure and the depth range of the bolt of the existing tuning bolt in the

[0068] Referring to Figure 4b The first graph 455 shows the performance of the RF filter 450 by means of the tuning structure provided at the cover plate proposed in the disclosure. The horizontal axis of the first graph 455 represents the tuning range of the tuning structure, and the vertical axis represents the range of the resonance frequency of the tuning structure. For the resonance frequency range of 18 MHz, the rotation range of the tuning structure has a movement range of (-) 8 degrees to (+) 4 degrees. The second graph 465 shows the RF filter 460 by means of the existing tuning bolt. The horizontal axis of the second graph 465 represents the movement range of the tuning bolt, and the vertical axis represents the range of the resonance frequency of the tuning bolt. For the resonance frequency range of 18 MHz, the movement range of the existing tuning bolt is 2 mm to 3 mm. It is noted from the first graph 455 and the second graph 465 that the resonance frequency tuning of the tuning bolt level is possible by means of the tuning structure with the seesaw structure. Specifically, since the thickness difference can be reduced by about 1 mm by a rotation range of about 12 degrees, the volume of the RF filter can be reduced during the tuning operation using the tuning structure provided at the cover plate.

[0069] Figure 5a An example of the structure of the RF filter including the tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown. In order to describe the tuning structure according to the embodiments of the disclosure and the design of the RF filter by means of the tuning structure, the RF filter including the existing tuning structure employing the tuning bolt is used as a comparison object.

[0070] Referring to Figure 5a The first RF filter 510 can include a tuning structure according to a tuning bolt. The tuning bolt is positioned by a screw of a groove in a cover. At this time, the thickness of the cover is increased to secure a thread and a spiral groove structure 511 (about 1.2 mm). In addition, a predetermined space (e.g., about 2.5 mm) is additionally required for a structure 512 of the tuning bolt on the upper surface of the cover and a nut for fixing the same.

[0071] The second RF filter 520 can include a tuning structure according to a tuning structure provided at a cover plate. Instead of a tuning bolt, a tuning structure having an adaptive arrangement by pressure can be used. Since the tuning structure is formed as one conductor together with the cover plate, the tuning structure does not require a special structure such as a thread and a helical groove of the tuning bolt. The cover plate of the second RF filter 520 can be thinner than the cover plate of the first RF filter 510. That is, the thickness 521 of the cover can be reduced (e.g., about 0.5 mm in thickness). In addition, since the second RF filter 520 does not require an additional structure (a bolt and a nut), the size of the filter can be reduced compared to the first RF filter 510.

[0072] The third RF filter 530 can include a tuning structure according to a tuning structure provided at a cover plate. A reduction in the size of the upper surface of the cover of the RF filter can enable an increase in the size of the resonator region 531 (i.e., the size of the resonant cell). The increase in the resonator region 531 can increase the degree of freedom in designing a cavity and a resonator. A high degree of freedom can provide an improvement in the quality factor. Thus, for the same space, a relatively free space region can be utilized by performing a tuning operation through a tuning structure provided at a cover plate. Through this, the performance of the RF filter can be improved by securing an additional quality factor.

[0073] Figure 5b The performance of an RF filter including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown. In Figure 5b The performance of an RF filter including a tuning bolt (e.g., the first RF filter 510) and the performance of an RF filter including a tuning structure (e.g., the third RF filter 530) are shown.

[0074] Reference Figure 5bFirst graph 560 shows a relationship between insertion loss, return loss, and frequency with respect to first RF filter 510. Second graph 570 shows a relationship between insertion loss, return loss, and frequency with respect to third RF filter 530. From first graph 560 and second graph 570, it is noted that the insertion loss is reduced by about 0.2 dB at a frequency of about 3.5 GHz and a frequency of about 3.6 GHz of third RF filter 530. This is because, in the case of the tuning structure using the cover plate in the same space and the tuning structure provided at the cover plate, the degree of freedom in designing the resonator is increased due to the decrease in the thickness of the cover and the absence of additional structures. When designing the circuit of the resonator, the range of values of factors affecting the quality factor (e.g., line length, resistance, inductor components, etc.) is increased. This increase in the range can be designed to further improve the quality factor within the allowable range (e.g., region). That is, when performing additional design for improving the quality factor in the resonator of the cavity filter, the quality factor can be improved.

[0075] Figure 6 An example of an application of an RF filter including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown. A resonator in a metal cavity is described as an example of a resonator of an RF filter.

[0076] Reference Figure 6 A perspective view, a side view, and an exploded view of each of an RF filter 600 including a tuning bolt and nut and an RF filter 650 including a cover plate at which a tuning structure is formed are shown, respectively.

[0077] From perspective view 610, it is noted that the thickness of RF filter 650 can be reduced by a pitch 612 based on a height 611 of RF filter 600. As described above, RF filter 650 does not include additional structures formed due to the tuning bolt and nut, and thus can be constructed to have a relatively lower height than the height of RF filter 600. In addition, since the cover for covering the cavity resonator also does not need a screw (threaded / helical groove), the cover thickness of RF filter 650 can be thinner than the cover thickness of RF filter 600.

[0078] Referring to the exploded view 620, the RF filter 600 can include a cover 603, a housing 604, and resonators 605a to 605f. Each resonator can be disposed in a cavity formed in the housing. The cover 603 includes a recessed area for receiving a tuning bolt. During assembly, each recessed area is disposed on the cover 603 to correspond to the location of each resonator. The RF filter 650 can include a cover 653, a housing 654, and resonators 655a to 655f. Each resonator can be disposed in a cavity formed in the housing. The cover 653 can include a tuning structure (e.g., a tuning structure having a seesaw structure and including both ends) for performing tuning by adjusting the distance from each resonator. During assembly, each tuning structure is disposed on the cover 603 to correspond to the location of each resonator.

[0079] Figure 7 Another example of application of an RF filter including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is illustrated. In Figure 6 , a metal cavity filter with resonators disposed in a cavity is described as an example, but the cover plate including a tuning structure of the disclosure can be applied to other types of resonators. According to an embodiment, a substrate type resonator having a hanging structure can be used instead of the resonant circuit of the metal cavity filter (i.e., the resonator corresponding to the respective metal cavity) in Figure 6 . The hanging structure refers to a structure in which a single substrate is disposed between a filter plate and a cover, whereby an air layer is formed on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the single substrate. Each resonator formed by the single substrate can include a resonator having a T shape (hereinafter, referred to as a T-shaped resonator). By forming a plurality of resonators using a single substrate, an additional effect of simplifying the assembly process can be provided.

[0080] Referring to Figure 7 a perspective view, a side view, and an exploded view of each of an RF filter 700 including a tuning bolt and a tuning nut and an RF filter 750 including a cover plate having a tuning structure formed thereat are illustrated, respectively.

[0081] From the perspective view 710, it is noted that the thickness of the RF filter 750 can be reduced by a pitch 712 based on the height 711 of the RF filter 700. As described above, the RF filter 750 does not include additional structures formed due to the tuning bolt and nut, and thus can be constructed to have a relatively lower height than the height of the RF filter 700. In addition, since the resonators implemented by the hanging substrate and the cover forming an air layer also do not require a screw (threaded / helical groove), the cover thickness of the RF filter 750 can be thinner compared to the cover thickness of the RF filter 700. Although in Figure 7The tuning structure in the cover of the RF filter 750 can be disposed at positions on the suspended substrate corresponding to the resonators, although not shown, according to embodiments. The positions of the tuning structure can correspond to the positions of each resonator such that capacitance is formed according to the spacing between the resonator and the tuning unit. The positions of the tuning structure on the cover plate can be the same as or related to the positions of the resonators on the surface of the cover plate parallel to the plane.

[0082] Figure 8 Examples of the positions of the tuning structure on the cover plate and the resulting tuning performance according to various embodiments of the disclosure are shown. According to the positions of the tuning structure on the cover plate, the tuning range is determined. The tuning range is determined to include Figure 7 The RF filter of the T-shaped resonator of the suspended substrate structure shown in FIG. 1 is described as an example.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 1, Figure 8 The first RF filter 801 can include a cover plate including a tuning structure. On the cover plate, the tuning structure can be disposed at a position corresponding to the head (wider width portion) of the T-shaped resonator. Referring to the side view 803, the tuning structure of the first RF filter 801 can be repeatedly inserted or recovered. The tuning structure of the first RF filter 801 can be disposed between the cover plate and the resonator. As the height of the tuning structure varies with respect to the resonator, the range of variation of the resonance frequency can also vary. The first graph 805 shows the range of the resonance frequency depending on the rotation angle of the tuning structure around the fixed unit. The tuning structure of the first RF filter 801 has a resonance frequency variation range of about 305 MHz in the range of (-) 4 degrees to (+) 4 degrees.

[0084] The second RF filter 811 can include a cover plate including a tuning structure. On the cover plate, the tuning structure can be disposed at a position corresponding to the tail (narrower width portion) of the T-shaped resonator. Referring to the side view 813, the tuning structure of the first RF filter 811 can be repeatedly inserted or recovered. The tuning structure of the second RF filter 811 can be disposed between the cover plate and the resonator. As the height of the tuning structure varies with respect to the resonator, the range of variation of the resonance frequency can also vary. The second graph 815 shows the range of the resonance frequency depending on the rotation angle of the tuning structure around the fixed unit. Because the tuning structure is disposed at a relatively long distance from the head of the T-shaped resonator, the range for tuning the resonance frequency can be relatively narrow compared to the first RF filter 801. The tuning structure of the second RF filter 811 has a resonance frequency variation range of about 5 MHz in the range of (-) 4 degrees to (+) 4 degrees.

[0085] The third RF filter 821 can include a cover plate including a tuning structure. On the cover plate, the tuning structure can be disposed at positions corresponding to the head (wider width portion) of the T-shaped resonator and the tail (narrower width portion) of the T-shaped resonator, respectively. That is, the third RF filter 821 can include a tuning structure having a seesaw structure as shown in Figure 3b Referring to the side view 823, the tuning structure of the third RF filter 821 can be repeatedly inserted or recovered. The tuning structure of the third RF filter 821 can be disposed between the cover plate and the resonator. As the height of the tuning structure varies with respect to the resonator, the range of the resonance frequency can also vary. The effect of changing the resonance frequency due to the movement of the tuning structure can be further enhanced because when one end of the tuning structure rises, the other end thereof falls. The third graph 825 shows the range of variation of the resonance frequency depending on the rotation angle of the tuning structure around the fixed unit. With two tuning structures having a seesaw structure that are controllable together, coupled, and attached to the cover plate, the range of variation of the resonance frequency depending on the range of movement of the tuning structure can become wider compared to the range of variation of the resonance frequency in the case where the tuning structure is disposed on only one side thereof. The tuning structure of the third RF filter 821 has a resonance frequency variation range of about 320 MHz (= 315 MHz + 5 MHz) in the range of (-) 4 degrees to (+) 4 degrees.

[0086] Figure 9 A functional configuration of an electronic device including a tuning structure according to various embodiments of the disclosure is shown. The electronic device 910 can be a base station 110 or a terminal 120 in Figure 1a According to an embodiment, the electronic device 910 can be an MMU. In addition to the antenna structure itself mentioned through Figures 1a to 8 In addition to the antenna structure itself mentioned through

[0087] Referring to Figure 9 An exemplary functional configuration of the electronic device 910 is shown. The electronic device 910 can include an antenna unit 911, a filter unit 912, a radio frequency (RF) processing unit 913, and a controller 914.

[0088] The antenna unit 911 can include a plurality of antennas. The antennas perform a function for transmitting and receiving a signal through a wireless channel. The antennas can include a conductor disposed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB) or a radiator formed of a conductive pattern. The antennas can radiate an up-converted signal on a wireless channel or acquire a signal radiated by another device. Each antenna can be referred to as an antenna element or an antenna device. In some embodiments, the antenna unit 911 can include an antenna array in which a plurality of antenna elements form an array. The antenna unit 911 can be electrically connected to the filter unit 912 through an RF signal line. The antenna unit 911 can be mounted on a PCB including a plurality of antenna elements. The PCB can include a plurality of RF signal lines connecting filters of the filter unit 912 to each of the antenna elements. The RF signal line can be referred to as a feed network. The antenna unit 911 can provide a received signal to the filter unit 912 or can radiate a signal provided from the filter unit 912 into the air.

[0089] The filter unit 912 can perform filtering to transmit a signal of a desired frequency. The filter unit 912 can form a resonance to perform a function for selectively recognizing a frequency. According to various embodiments, the filter unit 912 can include a cover in which a tuning structure is formed according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The filter unit 912 can include a cavity filter (e.g., a filter in which a resonator is disposed in a metal cavity or a filter including a T-shaped resonator of a hanging substrate) and a cover. At this time, one area of the cover can be cut, and a tuning member serving as a tuning structure can be disposed in a hole formed by the cutting. Alternatively, according to an embodiment, a partial area of the same cover member can be formed as a tuning structure. The tuning structure can be a structure that has an adaptive arrangement with respect to a fixed unit that is a part of the cover according to pressure. In other words, a tuning member that is inserted or restored can be configured in one body with the cover (the tuning structure included in the hole of the cover can also be understood as an embodiment of the disclosure). The resonance frequency can be determined according to a position with respect to the resonator depending on the movement of the tuning structure. The resonance frequency can be adjusted by adjusting a capacitance value via the tuning structure that is movable with respect to the cover (e.g., when the cover is fixed). According to an embodiment, the filter unit 912 can include an RF filter 650 in FIG. 6. In addition, according to an embodiment, the filter unit 912 can include an RF filter 750 in FIG. 7. Figure 6 Figure 7

[0090] The filter unit 912 can include at least one of a bandpass filter, a lowpass filter, a highpass filter, and a bandstop filter. That is, the filter unit 912 can include an RF circuit for obtaining a signal of a frequency band for transmission or a frequency band for reception. The filter unit 912 according to various embodiments can electrically connect the RF processor 913 to the antenna unit 911.​​

[0091] The RF processing unit 913 can include a plurality of RF paths. The RF path can be a unit of a path through which a signal received through an antenna or a signal to be radiated through an antenna passes. At least one RF path can be referred to as an RF chain. The RF chain can include a plurality of RF elements. The RF elements can include an amplifier, a mixer, an oscillator, a DAC, an ADC, etc. For example, the RF processing unit 913 can include an up-converter that up-converts a baseband digital transmission signal to a transmission frequency and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that converts the up-converted digital transmission signal to an analog RF transmission signal. The up-converter and the DAC form a part of a transmission path. The transmission path can further include a power amplifier (PA) or a coupler (or a combiner). Also, for example, the RF processing unit 913 can include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts an analog RF reception signal to a digital reception signal and a down-converter that converts the digital reception signal to a baseband digital reception signal. The ADC and the down-converter form a part of a reception path. The reception path can further include a low noise amplifier (LNA) or a coupler (or a divider). The RF components of the RF processing unit can be implemented on a PCB. The base station 910 can include a structure including a structure stacked in the order of the antenna unit 911, the filter unit 912, and the RF processing unit 913. The RF components of the antenna and the RF processing unit can be implemented on a PCB, and the filter can be repeatedly fastened between the PCB and another PCB to form a plurality of layers.

[0092] The controller 914 can control the overall operation of the electronic device 910. The controller 914 can include various modules for performing communication. The controller 914 can include at least one processor such as a modem. The controller 914 can include a module for digital signal processing. For example, the controller 914 can include a modem. During data transmission, the control unit 914 generates a complex symbol by encoding and modulating a transmitted bit stream. Also, for example, when data is received, the controller 914 recovers the received bit stream by demodulating and decoding a baseband signal. The controller 914 can perform the functions of a protocol stack required by a communication standard.

[0093] In Figure 9 , the functional configuration of the electronic device 910 is described as a device that can utilize the antenna structure of the present disclosure. However, Figure 9 the examples shown in Figures 1a to 8 described above are merely examples of the configuration of the RF filter structure according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, and the embodiments of the present disclosure shown are not limited to Figure 9The antenna module including the antenna structure, the communication device having a different configuration, and the antenna structure itself can also be understood as embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0094] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a radio frequency (RF) filter in a wireless communication system can include a structure including a resonance unit, and a cover plate at which a tuning structure is formed and configured to have a flexible arrangement with respect to the cover plate through an opening in the cover plate.

[0095] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tuning structure can be formed of at least a portion of a member corresponding to the opening in the cover plate, wherein the member has at least one region connected to the cover plate.

[0096] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tuning structure can be integrally formed with the cover plate.

[0097] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover plate can be formed of a metal plate, and the tuning structure can be formed of at least a portion of the metal plate corresponding to the opening.

[0098] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flexible arrangement can include one of a plurality of arrangements with respect to the cover plate, and the plurality of arrangements respectively correspond to distances between different tuning structures and resonators of the resonance unit.

[0099] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tuning structure can be disposed in at least a partial region of the opening in the cover plate, and can have an arrangement movable up and down with respect to the cover plate.

[0100] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure can include one or more metal cavities and a resonator disposed in each of the one or more metal cavities.

[0101] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the structure can include a resonance substrate in which one or more resonators are formed as a single layer, and the resonance substrate is disposed between the cover plate and a filter plate.

[0102] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tuning structure on the cover plate can be disposed in a region corresponding to a position of the resonator of the resonance unit on the filter plate.

[0103] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tuning structure can be connected to the cover plate through a fixing unit, and the tuning structure can have a movable arrangement with respect to the fixing unit.

[0104] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the tuning structure can include a structure having a seesaw structure including a first end and a second end, and the first end of the tuning structure can be disposed symmetrically with respect to the second end of the tuning structure from the fixed unit.

[0105] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a resonance frequency of the RF filter can depend on a distance between the tuning structure and the resonator of the resonance unit.

[0106] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the tuning structure can correspond to one area of the cover plate, and the one area can be flexibly disposed so that the distance to the resonator of the resonance unit is variable.

[0107] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) unit (MMU) apparatus in a wireless communication system can include at least one processor configured to process a signal, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) filters configured to filter a signal, and an antenna array configured to radiate a signal, wherein an RF filter among the plurality of RF filters can include a structure including a resonance unit, and a cover plate at which a tuning structure is formed, wherein the tuning structure can be configured to have a flexible arrangement with respect to the cover plate through an opening in the cover plate.

[0108] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cover plate can be formed of a metal plate, and the tuning structure can be formed of at least a portion of the metal plate corresponding to the opening.

[0109] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the structure can include one or more metal cavities and a resonator disposed in each of the one or more metal cavities.

[0110] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the structure can include a resonance substrate in which one or more resonators are formed as a single layer, and the resonance substrate can be disposed between the cover plate and a filter plate.

[0111] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the tuning structure on the cover plate can be disposed in an area corresponding to a position of the resonator of the resonance unit on the filter plate.

[0112] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a resonance frequency of the RF filter can depend on a distance between the tuning structure and the resonator of the resonance unit.

[0113] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the tuning structure can correspond to one region of the cover plate, and the one region can be flexibly disposed so that the distance to the resonator of the resonant unit is variable.

[0114] By Figures 1a to 9 The existing tuning operation using a tuning bolt and nut and the tuning operation using the tuning structure formed on the cover plate according to embodiments of the present disclosure are compared. Since the tuning operation according to the tuning bolt having a groove of a specified size is possible in the case of the tuning operation using the tuning bolt and nut, the control range of the resonance frequency depending on the movement of the tuning bolt is somewhat limited. However, in the method for forming the tuning structure on the cover plate according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the shape, area, position, and arrangement of the tuning structure can be easily (e.g., linearly) designed according to the tuning range of the desired resonance frequency and the spatial constraint, and thus the degree of freedom and range of tuning are wider than those of the existing tuning bolt method. According to embodiments, such a high degree of freedom can enable more efficient tuning operation through an automatic adjustment device. Meanwhile, as described above, it should be noted that the tuning structure according to embodiments of the present disclosure can be constructed in various shapes as well as the illustrated shapes. Any shape (such as a circular plate or a columnar plate as well as a stepped plate) that enables adjustment of the distance to the resonator that is a part of the cover plate through flexible arrangement can be understood as embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0115] Since the communication device is implemented in a form in which a plurality of RF components are assembled, the tolerance that occurs each time the RF component is assembled increases, which can cause performance degradation. Even if the same function is performed, the cost required to satisfy the communication performance due to the structural difference and the electrical characteristic difference can be manifested as an overhead. In order to reconcile the spatial constraint, the cost limitation due to mass production and accumulated tolerance, the connection structure between the plurality of filters and the plurality of RF components becomes a very important factor in the electronic / mechanical / price competitiveness of the product. Through the cover plate structure in which the tuning structure is formed according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a wider tuning range is secured and the tuning operation is easier compared to the tuning operation using the tuning bolt and nut. Accordingly, the ease and versatility considered in the arrangement of the tuning structure considering the distance between the resonator and the tuning structure in three-dimensional space can further improve the performance of the communication device including a large number of RF components.

[0116] The method for reducing the volume / weight of an RF filter and improving its performance by the simplicity of a unique tuning structure has been described through various embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted from each figure that the filter can have a reduced volume and weight, and its characteristics can be improved by including a tuning structure and can be formed as a relatively thin cover. The cover including a tuning member disposed on the cover plate, rather than the existing tuning structure including various complex components (e.g., tuning bolts, nuts, grooves), can provide a volume / weight reduction and enable relatively free adjustment of the interval due to insertion / restoration, and thus can provide a wide tuning range and improve the characteristics.

[0117] The method according to the embodiments described in the claims or specification of the present disclosure can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0118] When the method is implemented by software, a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more programs (software modules) can be provided. The one or more programs stored in the computer-readable storage medium can be configured for execution by one or more processors within the electronic device. At least one program can include instructions that cause the electronic device to execute the methods according to various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and / or disclosed herein.

[0119] The programs (software modules or software) can be stored in non-volatile memories including a random access memory and a flash memory, a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a magnetic disc storage device, an optical compact disc-ROM (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or other type of optical storage device, or a magnetic cassette. Alternatively, some or all of the programs can be formed of any combination of the program modules. Further, a plurality of such memories can be included in the electronic device.

[0120] In addition, the programs can be stored in an attachable storage device which can access the electronic device through communication networks such as the Internet, Intranet, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide LAN (WLAN), and Storage Area Network (SAN), or a combination thereof. Such a storage device can access the electronic device via an external port. Further, a separate storage device on the communication network can access the portable electronic device.

[0121] In the above detailed embodiments of the present disclosure, elements included in the present disclosure are expressed in singular or plural according to the detailed embodiments presented. However, for the convenience of description, the singular form or the plural form is appropriately selected according to the situation presented, and the present disclosure is not limited to the elements expressed in singular or plural. Therefore, the elements expressed in plural can also include a single element, or the elements expressed in singular can also include a plurality of elements.

[0122] Although specific embodiments have been described in the detailed description of the present disclosure, various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments, but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) filter in a wireless communication system, the RF filter comprising: a structure including a resonance unit; and a cover plate at which a tuning structure is formed, wherein the tuning structure is disposed in at least a partial area of an opening in the cover plate, wherein the tuning structure is configured to move up and down with respect to the cover plate through the opening in the cover plate, wherein the tuning structure is connected with the cover plate by a fixing unit, and the tuning structure has an arrangement movable with respect to the fixing unit, wherein the tuning structure includes a first end and a second end with respect to the fixing unit, when the first end rises, the second end falls, and when the second end rises, the first end falls.

2. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the tuning structure is formed of at least a portion having one area connected to the cover plate cut from the opening in the cover plate.

3. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the tuning structure is integrally formed with the cover plate.

4. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the cover plate is formed of a metal plate, and the tuning structure is formed of at least a portion of the metal plate corresponding to the opening.

5. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the tuning structure includes one of a plurality of arrangements with respect to the cover plate, and the plurality of arrangements respectively correspond to different distances between the tuning structure and resonators of the resonance unit.

6. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the structure includes one or more metal cavities and a resonator disposed in each of the one or more metal cavities.

7. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the structure includes a resonance substrate in which one or more resonators are formed as a single layer, and the resonance substrate is disposed between the cover plate and a filter plate.

8. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the tuning structure on the cover plate is disposed in an area corresponding to a position of a resonator of the resonance unit on a filter plate.

9. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the tuning structure includes a structure having a seesaw structure including the first end and the second end, and the first end of the tuning structure is arranged to be symmetrical with respect to the fixing unit and the second end of the tuning structure.

10. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, a resonance frequency of the RF filter depends on a distance between the tuning structure and resonators of the resonance unit.

11. The RF filter of claim 1, wherein, the tuning structure corresponds to one area of the cover plate, and the one area is flexibly disposed so that the distance to the resonators of the resonance unit is variable. 12.A massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) unit (MMU) apparatus in a wireless communication system, the MMU apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to process a signal; a plurality of radio frequency (RF) filters configured to filter a signal, wherein each of the plurality of RF filters is an RF filter according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and an antenna array configured to radiate a signal.

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