Foldable Display Patch Antenna Switching for Lower 5G Power Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of antennas in electronic devices for 5G wireless communication leads to higher power consumption, particularly in foldable smartphones with large display panels, which poses a challenge in balancing performance and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a foldable display panel with a substrate divided into areas, featuring first and second patch antennas in each area, allowing the device to switch between using eight or sixteen antennas for communication based on display mode, optimizing power consumption through adaptive antenna usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of antennas is increased to support 5G wireless communication, then communication performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna selection based on display mode. When the display panel is folded (first display area only), only patch antennas in the first antenna area are activated. When unfolded (both display areas visible), all patch antennas are activated. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by adapting antenna usage to actual communication needs, reducing power consumption during folding while maintaining communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the antenna system into separate groups: patch antennas in the first antenna area and patch antennas in the second antenna area. This segmentation allows independent control of antenna groups based on display mode, enabling the system to activate only the necessary antenna subset and thereby reduce overall power consumption while maintaining required communication performance.
2Area of stationary object
If the area of display panel is increased to achieve wide display screen, then display performance is improved, but current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna selection based on display mode. When the display panel is folded (first display area only), only patch antennas in the first antenna area are activated. When unfolded (both display areas visible), all patch antennas are activated. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by adapting antenna usage to actual communication needs, reducing power consumption during folding while maintaining communication performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes: a display panel including a first display area at a first area, and a second display area at a second area; a plurality of first patch antennas in the first area; a plurality of second patch antennas in the second area; a display driving unit to drive the display panel; a radio frequency (RF) driving unit to drive the first and the second patch antennas; and a main processor to control the display driving unit and the RF driving unit to perform wireless data communication by using the first or the second patch antennas in a first mode in which an image is displayed through the first or second display areas, and to perform wireless data communication by using the first and the second patch antennas in a second mode in which an image is displayed through the first and second display areas.