Foldable Hinge Antenna Structure for mmWave Radiation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices with mmW antenna structures face radiation performance degradation due to physical deformation between housing structures, leading to reduced antenna performance and increased complexity in mounting the main circuit board.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an antenna structure within the hinge of a foldable electronic device, where the antenna elements are disposed on an antenna circuit board and can pivot with the housing structures, allowing for directional beam radiation regardless of the device's folded or unfolded state, thus minimizing interference and enhancing mounting space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna structure is disposed on the rear surface of the electronic device, then the antenna can radiate to the rear surface, but the radiation performance deteriorates due to blockage by surrounding structures when the device folds or unfolds
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure is divided into multiple antenna elements disposed at different locations and orientations on the rear surface. This segmentation allows each element to radiate in different directions, ensuring that at least some elements maintain effective radiation paths regardless of the device's folded or unfolded state, thereby resolving the blockage issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna elements are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration on the rear surface rather than a single planar layer. By utilizing vertical and angular dimensions, the antenna structure creates multiple radiation paths through different spatial zones, reducing interference from surrounding structures that block two-dimensional radiation paths.
2Reliability
If the antenna structure is disposed on the rear surface of the electronic device, then the antenna can radiate to the rear surface, but the mounting area of the main circuit board is reduced due to horizontal mounting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure transitions from horizontal mounting on the circuit board to vertical mounting on the rear surface housing. This dimensional change releases horizontal mounting space on the circuit board while providing adequate vertical space on the rear surface for antenna element placement, thereby increasing the mounting area for other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure is extracted from the main circuit board mounting area and relocated to the rear surface housing structure. This separation removes the antenna from the constrained horizontal mounting space on the circuit board, freeing up that area for additional components while maintaining antenna functionality on the rear surface.
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an electronic device may comprise: a first housing including a first insulating portion, a second housing including a second insulating portion adjacent to the first insulating portion, a hinge connecting the first housing and the second housing to be pivotable from a folded state to an unfolded state with respect to a pivot shaft, a hinge cover exposed to an outside and covering the hinge in the folded state and including a third insulating portion in at least a partial area thereof, a flexible display configured to be deformable in response to relative motion of the second housing with respect to the first housing, and an antenna structure including an antenna circuit board disposed in at least a partial area of the hinge and a plurality of antenna elements comprising at least one antenna forming an array on or in the antenna circuit board. In the unfolded state, the plurality of antenna elements may be disposed to overlap the first insulating portion and/or the second insulating portion, and in the folded state, the plurality of antenna elements may be disposed to overlap the third insulating portion of the hinge cover.