Foldable Antenna Array Reconfiguration for mmWave Beam Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with foldable designs face challenges in efficiently reconfiguring antenna arrays to maintain effective signal transmission and reception across different device states, particularly in millimeter wave bands, due to the limitations of existing antenna structures and their inability to adapt to varying device configurations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a foldable electronic device with a hinge structure and flexible board connecting two antenna arrays, allowing them to reconfigure into different antenna arrays (third and fourth antenna arrays) based on the device's state, thereby enhancing transmission power, signal reception sensitivity, and beam scan capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed antenna array structure is used in foldable devices, then the device structure is simple, but the communication performance cannot be maintained across different device states
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array structure is made dynamic by enabling reconfiguration between different states (unfolded and folded). The antenna elements can change their relative positions and orientations based on the device state, allowing the system to adapt to different communication requirements while maintaining reliable signal transmission in both configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The same antenna array structure serves multiple functions by operating in different configurations. The antenna elements can form different radiation patterns and beam directions depending on whether the device is unfolded or folded, making the antenna system universal across different device states without requiring separate antenna structures for each state.
2Power
If antenna elements are increased to improve transmission power and signal reception, then communication performance is enhanced, but the device area and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna elements are arranged in a three-dimensional space rather than being confined to a single plane. By utilizing the folding mechanism, the antenna structure extends into multiple spatial dimensions, allowing more antenna elements to be packed into a smaller overall device footprint while maintaining the necessary spacing for effective radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna array structure utilizes the nested configuration of the foldable device. When folded, the antenna elements are compacted into a smaller space; when unfolded, they expand to provide larger separation between elements. This nesting approach allows a high number of antenna elements to be accommodated without permanently increasing the device's minimum footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes: a first housing including a first surface and a second surface connected to the first surface and having an area that is smaller than an area of the first surface; a second housing including a third surface and a fourth surface connected to the third surface and having an area that is smaller than an area of the third surface; a hinge structure connecting the first housing and the second housing to be foldable relative to each other at a folding axis between a folded state of the electronic device and an unfolded state of the electronic device; a first antenna array provided at the first surface; and a second antenna array provided at the fourth surface; and a flexible board connecting the first antenna array and the second antenna array, wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array are configured to form a third antenna array and to form a fourth antenna array, according to whether the electronic device is in the unfolded state or in the folded state.