US-20260128501-A1 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING ANTENNA

US20260128501A1US 20260128501 A1US20260128501 A1US 20260128501A1US-20260128501-A1

Abstract

An electronic device including an antenna is provided. A side member of the electronic device includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a non-conductive portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion. The electronic device may comprise: the side member; a wireless communication circuit which is electrically connected to the first conductive portion and provides an RF signal of a designated frequency; and a first tuning unit which is electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first tuning unit includes: a variable capacitor which is electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion; and a plurality of switches for switching electrical connections between both ends of the variable capacitor and at least one lumped element.

Inventors

Sungkoo PARK
Sewoong KIM
Haeyeon KIM
Hojung NAM
KYUNGJAE LEE
Kookjoo LEE
Soonho Hwang

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230
Priority Date: 20230630

Claims (20)

1 . An electronic device comprising: a front surface plate facing a front side of the electronic device; a rear surface plate facing a rear side of the electronic device; a side surface member comprising a conductive material disposed between the front surface plate and the rear surface plate, the side surface member including a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a non-conductive portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion; a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the first conductive portion and configured to provide an RF signal of a specified frequency; and a first tuning unit electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first tuning unit comprises: a variable capacitor electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, and a plurality of switches configured to switch an electrical connection between opposite ends of the variable capacitor and at least one lumped element comprising circuitry, and wherein, based on a capacitance of the variable capacitor being adjusted, a length of a radiator including the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is configured to be adjusted.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein one end of the variable capacitor is electrically connected to the first conductive portion through a first capacitor connected between the one end of the variable capacitor and a first switch among the plurality of switches, and wherein another end of the variable capacitor is electrically connected to the second conductive portion through a second capacitor connected between the other end of the variable capacitor and a second switch among the plurality of switches.
3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein, based on controlling the first switch, the second switch, and the variable capacitor, the length of the radiator including the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is configured to be adjusted.
4 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein a third capacitor connected in parallel with the first capacitor is disposed between the one end of the variable capacitor and the first conductive portion, and wherein a fourth capacitor connected in parallel with the second capacitor is disposed between the other end of the variable capacitor and the second conductive portion.
5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a third switch among the plurality of switches is disposed between the one end of the variable capacitor and the third capacitor, and wherein a fourth switch among the plurality of switches is disposed between the other end of the variable capacitor and the fourth capacitor.
6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the length of the radiator including the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is configured to be adjusted based on controlling the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, and the variable capacitor.
7 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein a fifth switch configured to switch a connection between the one end and the other end of the variable capacitor is disposed between the one end and the other end of the variable capacitor.
8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the length of the radiator including the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is configured to be adjusted based on controlling the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, and the fifth switch.
9 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the one end of the variable capacitor is connected to the first conductive portion through at least one electronic element configured to protect the tuning unit, and wherein the other end of the variable capacitor is connected to the second conductive portion through at least one electronic element configured to protect the tuning unit.
10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the tuning unit comprises as an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and the IC chip is disposed adjacent to the non-conductive portion.
11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the side surface member includes a third conductive portion and another non-conductive portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the third conductive portion, and wherein the electronic device further comprises a second tuning unit comprising circuitry electrically connected to the third conductive portion and the first conductive portion.
12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the second tuning unit further comprises: another variable capacitor electrically connected to the third conductive portion and the first conductive portion; and another plurality of switches configured to switch an electrical connection between opposite ends of the other variable capacitor and at least one lumped element.
13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein, based on a capacitance of the variable capacitor and a capacitance of the other variable capacitor being adjusted, a length of a radiator including the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the third conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is configured to be adjusted.
14 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein one end of the first conductive portion is connected to the first tuning unit.
15 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein another end of the first conductive portion is connected to the second tuning unit.
16 . An electronic device comprising: a front surface plate facing a front side of the electronic device; a rear surface plate facing a rear side of the electronic device; a side surface member comprising a conductive material disposed between the front surface plate and the rear surface plate, the side surface member including a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a non-conductive portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion; a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the first conductive portion and configured to provide an RF signal of a specified frequency; and a first tuning unit electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first tuning unit comprises: a variable capacitor electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, and a plurality of switches configured to switch an electrical connection between opposite ends of the variable capacitor and at least one lumped element comprising circuitry, and wherein one end of the variable capacitor is electrically connected to the first conductive portion through a first capacitor connected between the one end of the variable capacitor and a first switch among the plurality of switches, and wherein another end of the variable capacitor is electrically connected to the second conductive portion through a second capacitor connected between the other end of the variable capacitor and a second switch among the plurality of switches
17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein, based on controlling the first switch, the second switch, and the variable capacitor, the length of the radiator including the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is configured to be adjusted.
18 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein a third capacitor connected in parallel with the first capacitor is disposed between the one end of the variable capacitor and the first conductive portion, and wherein a fourth capacitor connected in parallel with the second capacitor is disposed between the other end of the variable capacitor and the second conductive portion.
19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein a third switch among the plurality of switches is disposed between the one end of the variable capacitor and the third capacitor, and wherein a fourth switch among the plurality of switches is disposed between the other end of the variable capacitor and the fourth capacitor.
20 . The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the length of the radiator including the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is configured to be adjusted based on controlling the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, and the variable capacitor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2024/007874 designating the United States, filed on Jun. 10, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0084949, filed on Jun. 30, 2024, and 10-2023-0104652, filed on Aug. 10, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. BACKGROUND Field The disclosure relates to an electronic device including an antenna and, for example, to an electronic device in which an exterior metal frame operates as an antenna radiator. Description of Related Art The use of electronic devices such as bar-type, foldable-type, rollable-type, and sliding-type smartphones or tablet PCs is increasing, and various functions are being provided by the electronic devices. An electronic device may perform wireless communication with another electronic device using at least one antenna. For example, the electronic device may have at least a portion of a housing formed of a conductive member (e.g., metal), and at least a portion of the housing formed of the conductive member may be used as an antenna (or a radiator, or an antenna radiator) for performing wireless communication. The electronic device may adjust an operating frequency band using a tuner or a switch. SUMMARY An example embodiment of the disclosure provides an electronic device including: a front surface plate facing a front side of the electronic device, a rear surface plate facing a rear side of the electronic device, a side surface member comprising a conductive material disposed between the front surface plate and the rear surface plate, the side surface member including a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and a non-conductive portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the first conductive portion and configured to provide an RF signal of a specified frequency, and a first tuning unit electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first tuning unit includes: a variable capacitor electrically connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, and a plurality of switches configured to switch an electrical connection between opposite ends of the variable capacitor and at least one lumped element, wherein, as a capacitance of the variable capacitor is adjusted, a length of a radiator including the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and configured to radiate the RF signal is adjusted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments. FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of an example electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 2A, according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating various regions around a side surface member that operates as an antenna radiator of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tuning unit according to various embodiments. FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating antenna characteristics of a radiator according to various embodiments. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tuning unit connected to electronic elements according to various embodiments. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tuning unit connected to electronic elements for ESD protection according to various embodiments. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tuning unit including a plurality of capacitors according to various embodiments. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating various regions around a side surface member operating as an antenna radiator of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating radiation efficiency of a radiator according to various embodiments. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating various regions around a side surface member operating as an antenna radiator of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating an example of an antenna structure including a plurality of tuning units according to various embodiments. FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating an example of an antenna structure including a plurality of tuning units according to various embodiments. FIG. 12C is a diagram illustrating an example of an antenna structure including a plurality of tuning units according to various embodiments. F