Foldable Terminal Antenna Layout for 5G Signal Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable electronic devices face challenges in arranging multiple low-frequency antennas due to limited inner space and signal degradation from metal components, affecting 5G signal strength.

Innovation Solution

A terminal device design featuring a rotating shaft with four antennas, two on each body, symmetrically arranged and with the same radiation frequency band, which can be unfolded and folded to improve signal isolation and quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the number of low-frequency antennas is increased to improve signal strength, then the signal quality improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidantenna arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device is divided into a first body and a second body connected by a rotating shaft part, with antennas distributed on both bodies. This segmentation allows four antennas to be arranged in a limited space by utilizing both sides of the foldable structure, resolving the contradiction between signal quality and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the three-dimensional space created by the foldable structure, arranging antennas on both the first body and second body at different spatial positions. This dimensional approach allows multiple antennas to coexist without excessive complexity, as they are distributed in different spatial zones rather than crowded in a single plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple antennas are arranged in a foldable device with limited space, then signal coverage improves, but metal interference from the folding structure degrades signal performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal coverageVSAvoidmetal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs different antenna types (inverted-F antenna and T-antenna) with different current directions at different locations. The first antenna uses one current direction while the second antenna uses an opposite current direction, creating local quality variations that reduce mutual interference and mitigate the harmful effects of metal components in the folding structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna arrangement exhibits asymmetry in current directions - the first antenna and second antenna have opposite current directions. This asymmetric design helps cancel out interference effects from the metal rotating shaft part, improving signal coverage while mitigating metal interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP4443646A1Terminal device
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4443646A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4443646A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4443646A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a terminal device, belongs to the field of communication. The terminal device includes: a rotating shaft part (12); a first body (11) connected to one side of the rotating shaft part (12); a second body (13) connected to the other side of the rotating shaft part (12), the first body (11) and the second body (13) being capable of being unfolded and folded by the rotating shaft part (12); a first antenna (3) on the first body (11), a second antenna (4) on the first body (11); a third antenna (5) on the second body (13); and a fourth antenna (6) on the second body (13); and the first antenna (3), the second antenna (4), the third antenna (5) and the fourth antenna (6) having the same radiation frequency band.