Foldable Hinge Antenna Switching for Stable Radiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with rotatable housings face performance degradation in antenna radiation due to overlapping metal components, which affects communication efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A foldable housing design with conductive portions integrated into the hinge and side members, allowing the conductive portions to function as antennas depending on the device's state (unfolded or folded), ensuring consistent radiation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a rotatable housing structure is used to enable folding operations, then the device achieves compact form factor and design flexibility, but the antenna radiation performance is degraded due to overlapping metal components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic antenna system where the antenna's electrical connection state changes based on the housing's folding state. When the housing is unfolded, the antenna is electrically connected and can radiate signals. When the housing is folded, the antenna is electrically disconnected to avoid performance degradation from overlapping metal components. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by adapting the antenna's operational state to the housing configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical connection parameter of the antenna based on the housing folding state. By controlling whether the antenna is electrically connected or disconnected, the system optimizes radiation performance for each configuration state. This parameter change approach allows the same physical antenna structure to perform optimally in both unfolded and folded states.
2Device complexity
If conductive portions are integrated into hinge and side members for structural functionality, then the device achieves design integration and compactness, but the overlapping conductive portions degrade antenna radiation performance when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conductive portions into functionally independent elements: structural conductive portions (hinge and side members) and a separate antenna element. This segmentation allows the structural components to maintain their integrated design while the antenna can be independently controlled through electrical connection/disconnection, preventing the overlapping conductive portions from degrading radiation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the antenna function from the overlapping conductive portions by making the antenna electrically disconnectable from the conductive portions when the housing is folded. This extraction separates the structural conductivity needed for the foldable mechanism from the antenna radiation function, allowing both to coexist without performance degradation.
3Ease of operation
If the antenna is always electrically connected for continuous communication capability, then communication readiness is maintained, but radiation performance degrades when the device is in folded state due to metal overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the antenna's electrical connection based on the housing folding state detection. The system automatically switches the antenna between connected and disconnected states, providing communication readiness when unfolded and preventing performance degradation when folded. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between continuous readiness and state-dependent performance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If space is allocated for antenna components in a foldable housing, then communication functionality is enabled, but the overlapping components in folded state cause radiation performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the antenna to dynamically switch between operational and non-operational states based on the housing configuration. When unfolded, the antenna is electrically connected and provides communication functionality. When folded, the antenna is electrically disconnected to prevent performance degradation. This dynamic state management allows the system to maintain adaptability while avoiding the harmful effects of overlapping components.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device may include: a foldable housing including a hinge structure, a first housing structure, and a second housing structure, wherein the hinge structure includes at least one first conductive portion, the first housing structure is connected to the hinge structure and includes a first surface oriented in a first direction, a second surface oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a first side member surrounding at least a part of a space between the first surface and the second surface and including at least one second conductive portion, the second housing structure is connected to the hinge structure, includes a third surface oriented in a third direction, a fourth surface oriented in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, and a second side member surrounding at least a part of a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, and is folded onto the first housing structure about the hinge structure, the first surface faces the third surface in a folded state of the foldable housing, and the third direction is identical to the first direction in an unfolded state of the foldable housing; a flexible display extending from the first surface to the third surface; and a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the first conductive portion in the folded state of the foldable housing, and electrically connected to the second conductive portion in the unfolded state of the foldable housing, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to transmit and/or receive a signal having a selected frequency. Various other embodiments may be possible.