Rotatable Antenna Modules for Foldable RF Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable electronic devices face challenges in maintaining consistent wireless communication performance due to changes in alignment and orientation of rotatable antenna modules during folding and unfolding, particularly in high-frequency bands like 60 GHz, which affects signal strength and directionality.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of rotatable antenna modules with dedicated link assemblies that adjust the orientation of antenna arrays to maintain alignment and ensure consistent wireless communication performance across different device configurations, using link assemblies to rotate the antenna modules synchronously with the housing parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the housing parts are folded or unfolded by rotating with respect to each other, then the device achieves compact form factor and wide display, but the alignment and orientation of antenna modules change, affecting wireless communication performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice configurationVSAvoidwireless communication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna modules are made rotatable relative to their respective housing parts through link assemblies. This dynamic adjustment allows the antenna radiation directions to be actively changed to maintain facing alignment between antenna modules during folding and unfolding operations, thereby maintaining reliable wireless communication performance across different device configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the antenna modules are fixed in the housing parts, then the device structure is simple, but the radiation direction of the antenna modules cannot be adjusted during folding, affecting signal strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal strengthVSAvoidantenna module structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna modules are made rotatable relative to their respective housing parts through link assemblies. This dynamic adjustment allows the antenna radiation directions to be actively changed to maintain facing alignment between antenna modules during folding and unfolding operations, thereby maintaining reliable wireless communication performance across different device configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4637124A1Foldable electronic device comprising rotatable antenna modules
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4637124A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4637124A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4637124A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The electronic device includes a first housing part, a second housing part rotatably coupled to the first housing part, a first antenna module located in the first housing part, a first wireless communication circuit disposed in the first housing part, and electrically connected to the first antenna module, a second antenna module located in the second housing part, a second wireless communication circuit disposed in the second housing part, and electrically connected to the second antenna module, a first link assembly configured to rotate the first antenna module, and a second link assembly configured to rotate the second antenna module. While the first housing part rotates with respect to the second housing part, a radiation direction of the first antenna module and a radiation direction of the second antenna module face each other. The first wireless communication circuit is configured to transmit or receive a radio frequency (RF) signal through the first antenna module. The second wireless communication circuit is configured to receive or transmit the RF signal through the second antenna module.