Pen Input Housing Layout for Antenna Radiation Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

A pen input device attached to an electronic device, such as a smartphone, can negatively affect the antenna's radiation performance due to electromagnetic interference, particularly when transmitting or receiving high-frequency signals like millimeter waves.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device is designed with a non-conductive portion in the rear plate to accommodate the pen input device, allowing electromagnetic coupling while minimizing interference with the antenna, thereby maintaining radiation performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a pen input device is attached to an electronic device, then input functionality is improved, but antenna radiation performance deteriorates due to electromagnetic interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput functionalityVSAvoidantenna radiation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A non-conductive portion is introduced as an intermediary between the conductive pen input device and the antenna, allowing the pen to be attached for input functionality while preventing direct electromagnetic interference with the antenna, thus maintaining radiation performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rear plate is designed with differentiated local properties: conductive portions for magnetic attachment of the pen and a non-conductive portion specifically at the antenna location to prevent interference, allowing each area to have the appropriate electrical characteristic for its function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If a conductive rear plate is used for magnetic attachment of the pen, then attachment strength is improved, but electromagnetic interference with the antenna increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rear plate incorporates both conductive portions (for strong magnetic attachment of the pen) and a non-conductive portion (at the antenna location to prevent electromagnetic interference), allowing the plate to have different electrical properties in different locations to satisfy conflicting requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The rear plate is segmented into conductive and non-conductive regions, separating the attachment function (requiring conductivity) from the antenna protection function (requiring non-conductivity), allowing both functions to coexist without interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design ensures that the pen input device does not significantly degrade the antenna's radiation performance, enabling effective electromagnetic coupling and maintaining communication coverage.

Implementation Method 1

allowing electromagnetic coupling while minimizing interference with the antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the rear plate may include a first area and a second area... the second area may be an area to which the pen input device is attached

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4137921B1Electronic device comprising pen input device
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4137921B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4137921B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4137921B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a housing comprising a conductive part, and a first nonconductive part connected to the conductive part; an antenna structure positioned inside the housing and comprising a printed circuit board and at least one antenna element, the printed circuit board comprising a first surface, and a second surface facing the opposite direction from the first surface, and the at least one antenna element being positioned inside the printed circuit board closer to the first surface than the second surface, or on the first surface; and a pen input device attachable/detachable to/from the housing, wherein, when considering the direction in which a main beam of the antenna structure is radiated, in a state where the pen input device is attached to the housing, the pen input device comprises a second nonconductive part having at least a portion thereof overlapping with the first nonconductive part, and at least a portion of the at least one antenna element may overlap with the first nonconductive part and the second nonconductive part. Other various embodiments are possible.