Battery-Aware Antenna Tuning With Switched Passive Elements

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable electronic devices face challenges in maintaining optimal communication performance in a low frequency band due to changes in battery capacity affecting the ground condition and electrical characteristics, particularly between the radiator and the printed circuit board, leading to deteriorated communication performance.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a retaining member functioning as an antenna radiator and a printed circuit board, equipped with a switch module and passive elements, adjusts the connection of passive elements to the antenna based on battery capacity to maintain optimal communication performance in the first frequency band.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery capacity changes, then the ground condition and electrical characteristics between the radiator and printed circuit board change, but the communication performance in the low frequency band deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidground condition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic switching mechanism that automatically adjusts the connection state of passive elements (capacitors and inductors) between the radiator and ground based on real-time battery capacity detection. The processor monitors battery capacity and controls the switch module to connect different passive elements, thereby dynamically adapting the ground condition to maintain optimal communication performance across varying battery states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the electrical parameters of the ground connection by selectively connecting passive elements with different capacitance and inductance values. Based on battery capacity thresholds, the system adjusts the total capacitance value (e.g., connecting C1 alone, C1+C2, or C1+C2+C3) and inductance value to compensate for ground condition variations caused by battery capacity changes, thereby maintaining stable communication performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If passive elements are connected to the antenna radiator, then communication performance is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the switch module and passive elements serve multiple functions: they act as both ground connections for the radiator and as tuning elements for communication performance optimization. The same switch module and passive elements that manage ground conditions also serve to adjust the resonant frequency and impedance matching, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated components and minimizing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the passive elements into multiple discrete units (capacitors C1, C2, C3 and inductors L1, L2, L3) that can be independently connected or disconnected through the switch module. This segmentation allows the system to achieve multiple different electrical configurations using a single set of components, avoiding the need for multiple complete sets of passive elements and reducing overall component count and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4654383A1Electronic device and method for connecting passive element to antenna using same
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4654383A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4654383A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4654383A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an embodiment, an electronic device may include: a battery, a retaining member comprising a support disposed on one surface of the battery and configured to function as an antenna corresponding to a first frequency band, and a printed circuit board disposed on an other surface of the battery, the printed circuit board including a communication circuit electrically connected to the retaining member. The electronic device may include a switch configured to electrically connect at least one passive element among multiple passive elements and the retaining member, a memory, and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, operatively connected to the communication circuit, the switch, and the memory. According to an embodiment, at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to: identify a remaining capacity of the battery; identify information regarding a passive element to be connected to the retaining member, based on the identified remaining capacity of the battery and the first frequency band; select at least one passive element among the multiple passive elements, based on the identified information regarding a passive element; and control the switch such that the at least one selected passive element and the retaining member are electrically connected.