Foldable Housing Antenna Control for Angle-Dependent Wireless Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
In foldable or rollable electronic devices, the changing distance between antennas due to the angle or position of the housing affects the performance of short-range wireless communication, leading to reduced transmission and reception rates and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a hinge structure and foldable or rollable housing, equipped with two antennas and a processor that adjusts communication modes, modulation and coding schemes, and bandwidth based on the angle between housing structures to maintain optimal wireless communication performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the housing is folded or rolled to change its configuration, then the device achieves compact form factor or portability, but the distance between antennas changes causing interference and degraded wireless communication performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna arrangement adaptive to the housing configuration. The system dynamically adjusts the operating mode of short-range wireless communication based on the angle between housing structures detected by the angle sensor. When the angle indicates a folded or rolled state, the system switches to a mode that prevents interference between antennas, thereby maintaining communication reliability despite the changing physical configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the angle sensor that continuously monitors the angle between the first and second housing structures. This feedback information is provided to the processor, which uses it to determine the appropriate operating mode for the communication circuit. The feedback loop ensures that the wireless communication performance is maintained by adjusting the mode based on real-time detection of housing configuration changes.
2Productivity
If multiple antennas are disposed in different housings to improve wireless communication performance, then the transmission and reception rates are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the antenna system to serve multiple functions through a single integrated communication circuit that supports both first and second operating modes. The same physical antenna structure can operate in different modes depending on the housing configuration, eliminating the need for separate antenna systems for different communication scenarios and thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by switching between different operating modes of the communication circuit based on the detected angle. Instead of physically rearranging antennas or adding complex switching mechanisms, the system changes operational parameters (mode selection) to adapt to different spatial relationships between antennas, thereby maintaining high data transmission rates without increasing structural complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the distance between antennas is reduced to accommodate folded housing, then the device achieves compact form, but interference between antennas increases reducing communication reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful interference caused by reduced antenna distance into a beneficial control mechanism. The angle sensor detects the folded configuration that causes interference, and the processor uses this information to switch to an operating mode that actively manages the interference. By detecting the harmful effect (interference) and responding with appropriate mode switching, the system turns the problematic close proximity into a controlled condition that maintains communication reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes: a hinge structure; a foldable housing including a first housing structure and a second housing structure that are configured to be foldable relative to each other around the hinge structure; a first antenna provided in the first housing structure; a second antenna provided in the second housing structure; a communication circuit electrically connected to the first antenna and the second antenna, and configured to transmit and receive data through a first link and a second link established between an external electronic device and the electronic device; and a processor operatively connected to the communication circuit, wherein the processor is configured to: identify whether an angle between the first housing structure and the second housing structure satisfies a specified condition; and control the communication circuit to transmit, through at least one of the first link and the second link, a signal related to a change in an operation of short-range wireless communication, based on whether the angle satisfies the specified condition.