Foldable Antenna Layout With Capacitive Radiator Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foldable electronic devices face radiation performance degradation due to conductive members when in the folded state, as conductive layers and structures near the antenna interfere with signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a conductive pattern in one housing and a conductor in the opposing housing, with capacitive coupling and a tunable circuit, allowing the antenna to function effectively even when the device is folded by using the conductor as an additional radiator and adjusting impedance to maintain optimal radiation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the device is folded to achieve compact form factor, then portability is improved, but radiation performance of the antenna is degraded due to conductive members shielding the antenna
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system dynamically changes its configuration based on the device's folded or unfolded state. In the unfolded state, the antenna uses the conductive pattern on the display as its radiating element. In the folded state, the system switches to using a separate conductor that is capacitively coupled to the conductive pattern, allowing the antenna to maintain radiation performance despite the presence of shielding conductive members in the folded configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system changes its electrical parameters by switching between different radiating configurations. The capacitively coupled conductor is positioned at a specific distance from the conductive pattern to create the desired capacitive coupling effect, which transforms the antenna's radiation characteristics to compensate for the shielding effect of folded conductive members.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conductive members are placed near the antenna to provide structural support and electrical connectivity, then device functionality is improved, but antenna radiation performance is degraded due to shielding effects
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitively coupled conductor acts as an intermediary element between the conductive pattern on the display and the external environment. This intermediary conductor is positioned to be capacitively coupled to the conductive pattern, allowing it to serve as the effective radiating element while being electrically isolated, thus avoiding direct interference with the conductive members that provide structural and functional support.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the radiating function from the conductive pattern that is necessarily present on the display (which serves dual purposes as both display component and potential antenna element). By using a separate capacitively coupled conductor as the primary radiating element in the folded state, the conductive pattern on the display can focus on its primary function of displaying information while still contributing to the antenna system through capacitive coupling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures that the antenna's radiation performance in the folded state is comparable to or better than in the unfolded state, preventing degradation and maintaining signal integrity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one conductor disposed at a position in the second space corresponding to the at least one conductive pattern such that the at least one conductor is capacitively coupled to the at least one conductive pattern when the electronic device is in the folded state
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a
AI summary
In an embodiment, an electronic device may include a housing including a hinge module, a first housing, and second housing. The first and second housings are rotatably coupled to each other via the hinge module to be in a folded state or an unfolded state. The electronic device may further include a flexible display, at least one conductive pattern disposed in the first housing, at least one conductor disposed at a position in the second housing corresponding to the at least one conductive pattern such that the at least one conductor is capacitively coupled to the conductive pattern when the electronic device is in the folded state, and a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the at least one conductive pattern in the first housing. Other embodiments are also possible.