CN113678425A

CN113678425A - Electronic device including antenna device

Info

Publication number: CN113678425A
Application number: CN202080028270.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 尹慎浩; 吴东俊; 李钟赫; 黄淳晧
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-19
Filing date: 2020-02-19
Publication date: 2021-11-19
Also published as: KR102182633B1; KR20200101253A; KR20230146499A

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a first housing structure including a first side surface member, a second housing structure including a second side surface member, a hinge structure configured to rotatably connect the first housing structure and the second housing structure and configured to provide a folding axis about which the first housing structure and the second housing structure rotate, and at least one printed circuit board, wherein the first side surface member or the second side surface member includes a first side surface portion, a second side surface portion, a third side surface portion, a fourth side surface portion, a fifth side surface portion, a first slit, a second slit, a third slit, a fourth slit, and a fifth slit, and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the second side surface portion, the third side surface portion, and the fourth side surface portion is formed of a radiation conductor and is electrically connected to the at least one printed circuit board.

Description

Electronic device including antenna device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device having an antenna device.

Background

Electronic information communication technology has been developed to integrate various functions into a single electronic device. For example, a smart phone integrates functions of a sound player, an imaging device, and a scheduler, and a communication function, and in addition thereto, more various functions can be realized by installing an application thereon.

A user of an electronic device may search, filter, and acquire more information by accessing a network, rather than simply using functions or information (e.g., applications) of the electronic device. Direct access to the network (e.g., wired communication) may enable fast and stable communication setup, but its availability may be limited to fixed locations or spaces. Wireless network access is less location or space constrained, provides a speed and stability level that approaches the speed and stability of direct network access, and is expected to establish communications faster and more stably than direct network access.

With the popularization of smart phones or other personal/portable communication devices, user demands for portability and convenience of use are rising. For example, a foldable or rollable electronic device may be easily portable and provide an enhanced multimedia environment, with a larger screen.

The above information is provided merely as background information to aid in understanding the present disclosure. No determination is made, nor is an assertion made, as to whether any of the above may apply to the prior art of this disclosure.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

In a compact electronic device, it may be difficult to secure communication environments of different frequency bands. For example, it may be desirable to provide a separate operating environment (e.g., sufficient space) for each antenna, but this may not be achievable in such small electronic devices. The foldable or rollable electronic device has a further reduced structure or space for placing an antenna. The housing is thinned for greater flexibility and therefore does not provide enough space to arrange the antenna. In embodiments, a foldable or rollable electronic device may experience changes in the operating environment of the antenna when rolled or folded. For example, in a folded or rolled state, the arrangement of the structures around the antenna may change, as may the operational performance of the antenna.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an electronic device having an antenna device that provides stable operation performance even when a structure is folded or rolled.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device having an antenna device that can be easily equipped in a slim, compact structure and provide stable operation performance.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device having a plurality of first and second connection members for making electrical connection between a switching unit and each radiation conductor (e.g., antenna) arranged in a structure.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device having an antenna device that provides stable operation performance according to hand-holding on a structure in a folded state or an unfolded state of the structure.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

Technical scheme

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic apparatus having an antenna device. The electronic device includes: a first housing structure including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a first side surface member at least partially surrounding a space between the first surface and the second surface, the first housing structure being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a second housing structure including a third surface facing in a third direction, a fourth surface facing in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, and a second side surface member at least partially surrounding a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, the second housing structure being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a hinge structure configured to rotatably connect the first housing structure and the second housing structure and provide a folding axis about which the first housing structure and the second housing structure rotate; and at least one printed circuit board disposed between the first surface and the second surface or between the third surface and the fourth surface. The first and second side surface members include: a first side surface portion disposed parallel to the folding axis; a second side surface portion extending from one end of the first side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; a third side surface portion extending from the other end of the first side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis; a fourth side surface portion connected to the third side surface portion and extending from the third side surface portion in a direction crossing the folding axis; a fifth side surface portion connecting the second side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion and extending in parallel with the folding axis, the fifth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure; a first slit formed between one end of the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion; a second slit formed between the second side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion; a third slit formed between the other end of the first side surface portion and the third side surface portion; a fourth slit formed between the third side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion; and a fifth slit formed between the fourth side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion. At least a portion of at least one of the second side surface portion, the third side surface portion, and the fourth side surface portion is formed of a radiation conductor and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device having an antenna device is provided. The electronic device includes: a first housing structure including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a first side surface member at least partially surrounding a space between the first surface and the second surface, the first housing structure being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a second housing structure including a third surface facing in a third direction, a fourth surface facing in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, and a second side surface member at least partially surrounding a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, the second housing structure being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a hinge structure configured to rotatably connect the first housing structure and the second housing structure and provide a folding axis about which the first housing structure and the second housing structure rotate; and at least one printed circuit board disposed between the first surface and the second surface or between the third surface and the fourth surface. The first side surface member includes: a first side surface portion disposed parallel to the folding axis; a second side surface portion extending from one end of the first side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; a third side surface portion extending from the other end of the first side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis; a fourth side surface portion connected to the third side surface portion and extending from the third side surface portion in a direction crossing the folding axis; a fifth side surface portion connecting the second side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion and extending in parallel with the folding axis, the fifth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure; a first slit formed between one end of the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion; a second slit formed between the second side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion; a third slit formed between the other end of the first side surface portion and the third side surface portion; a fourth slit formed between the third side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion; and a fifth slit formed between the fourth side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion. The second side surface member includes: a sixth side surface portion disposed in parallel with the folding axis; a seventh side surface portion extending from one end of the sixth side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; an eighth side surface portion extending from the other end of the sixth side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis; a ninth side surface portion connected to the eighth side surface portion and extending from the eighth side surface portion in a direction crossing the folding axis; a tenth side surface portion connecting the seventh side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion and extending in parallel with the folding axis, the tenth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure; a sixth slit formed between one end of the sixth side surface portion and the seventh side surface portion; a seventh slit formed between the seventh side surface portion and the tenth side surface portion; an eighth slit formed between the other end of the sixth side surface portion and the eighth side surface portion; a ninth slit formed between the eighth side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion; and a tenth slit formed between the ninth side surface portion and the tenth side surface portion. At least part of at least one of the second side surface portion, the third side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion is formed of a radiation conductor provided as an antenna and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and at least part of at least one of the seventh side surface portion, the eighth side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion is formed of a radiation conductor provided as an antenna and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device having an antenna device is provided. The electronic device includes: a first housing structure including a first side surface member; a second housing structure including a second side surface member; and a hinge structure rotatably connecting the first housing structure and the second housing structure and providing a folding axis about which the first housing structure and the second housing structure rotate. The first side surface member includes at least one first radiation conductor and at least one second radiation conductor. The second side surface member includes at least one third radiation conductor and at least one fourth radiation conductor. A plurality of first connecting members are provided in at least a portion of the first housing structure to electrically connect the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor with the switching unit provided in the first housing structure, and a plurality of second connecting members are provided in at least a portion of the first and second housing structures and at least a portion of the hinge structure to electrically connect the at least one third radiation conductor and the at least one fourth radiation conductor with the switching unit.

Advantageous effects

According to various embodiments, in an electronic apparatus having an antenna device, at least parts of a first side surface member and a second side surface member of the electronic apparatus may be formed of a radiation conductor provided as an antenna. Therefore, stable operation performance (e.g., radiation efficiency) can be achieved in the unfolded state of the electronic device. Further, when the user makes a call with the electronic device in his hand (e.g., hand-held), deterioration of radiation performance due to the user's body can be reduced. For example, even in the folded state of the electronic device, the radiation conductors formed in the first and second side surface members are exposed to the external space from the side surfaces of the electronic device, allowing the radiation conductors to stably transmit/receive radio waves. As another example, the radiation conductor may implement at least a part of the first and second side surface members as an antenna, so that it can be more easily placed even in a light, thin, and compact structure.

According to various embodiments, in an unfolded state or a folded state of a first case structure and a second case structure among a plurality of cases and hinge structures supporting one display, a plurality of first and second connection members (e.g., coaxial cables, Flexible Printed Circuit Boards (FPCBs), microstrip lines, or strip lines) for connecting at least one first to fourth radiation conductors included in an electronic device with a switching unit are formed, providing better electrical connection between the switching unit and the at least one first to fourth radiation conductors, thereby enhancing an antenna function of the at least one first to fourth radiation conductors.

According to various embodiments, in the folded state or the unfolded state of the first case structure and the second case structure, switching between the first to fourth radiation conductors can be realized according to hand-grasping of the first case structure and the second case structure, stable transmission/reception is realized, and thus the antenna device has stable radiation performance.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

Drawings

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in a network environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a view illustrating an electronic device in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the electronic device of fig. 2 in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a view showing a configuration of a side surface member(s) in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of portion B of FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 is a view showing a configuration of an antenna device in an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating an electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 10 is a side view showing a third slit and an eighth slit among components of the electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 11 is a bottom view showing a fourth slit, a fifth slit, a ninth slit, and a tenth slit among components of the electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 12 is a view showing a configuration of an antenna device in an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 13 is a view showing an electromagnetic field distribution of the electronic apparatus in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 14 is a view illustrating an electromagnetic field distribution of a display ground of the electronic device in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating a radiation pattern measured for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 16A is a view illustrating a first distance, a second distance, a third distance, and a fourth distance of a slot formed in a side surface or a bottom of an electronic device in a case where the folded electronic device is located in a hand (e.g., a right hand) of a user according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 16B is a view illustrating a fourth distance of a slot formed in a side surface of an electronic device or a first distance of a slot formed in a bottom of the electronic device in a case where the folded electronic device is located in a hand (e.g., left hand) of a user according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating measured radiation efficiency for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 18 is a view showing the configuration of a first side surface member and a second side surface member that are electrically connected with a switching unit in a first case structure of an electronic device using a coaxial cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 19 is a view showing the configuration of a first side surface member and a second side surface member that are electrically connected with a switching unit in a first case structure of an electronic device using a flexible printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 20 is a view showing the configuration of first and second side surface members electrically connected with a switching unit in a first housing structure of an electronic device using a coaxial cable and a flexible printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 21 is a view showing a hand-held state of a second housing structure among components of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 22 is a view showing a hand-held state of a first housing structure among components of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

fig. 23 is a view showing a hand-held state of a first housing structure and a second housing structure among components of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numerals are used to depict the same or similar elements, features and structures.

Detailed Description

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to aid understanding, but these are to be regarded as exemplary only. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to bibliographic meanings, but are used only by the inventors to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

Various changes may be made to the disclosure, and the disclosure may take on a variety of embodiments. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described in connection with the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to those embodiments, and all changes and/or equivalents or substitutions thereto are intended to be embraced therein.

With respect to the description of the figures, like reference numerals may be used to refer to like or related elements. It will be understood that the singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more things unless the relevant context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, each of the phrases such as "a or B," "at least one of a and B," "at least one of a or B," "A, B or C," "at least one of A, B and C," and "at least one of A, B or C" may include all possible combinations of items listed together in the respective phrase of the phrase. Ordinal terms such as "first" and "second" may be used to denote various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The term is used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first component may be denoted as a second component, and vice versa, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The term "and/or" may mean multiple related items listed or any combination(s) of items. It will be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being "coupled to," "connected to" or "connected to" another element (e.g., a second element) using the terms "operable" or "communicable," or without the terms "operable" or "communicable," this means that the element can be coupled to the other element directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or via a third element.

The terms "front", "rear surface", "upper surface" and "lower surface" are relative, which may vary depending on the direction in which the drawings are viewed, and may be replaced with ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second". The order of ordinal (first and second) representation may be changed as desired.

The terminology used herein is provided to describe some embodiments thereof only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present disclosure belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

As used herein, the term "electronic device" may be any device having a touch panel, and the electronic device may also be referred to as a terminal, a portable terminal, a mobile terminal, a communication terminal, a portable mobile terminal, or a display apparatus.

For example, the electronic device may be a smart phone, a mobile phone, a navigation device, a game device, a TV, a stereo body of a vehicle, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a Personal Media Player (PMP), or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The electronic device may be implemented as a pocket-sized portable communication terminal having a radio communication function. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device may be a flexible device or a flexible display.

The electronic device may communicate with an external electronic device, such as a server, or may perform tasks by interworking with such an external electronic device. For example, the electronic device may transmit images captured by the camera and/or position information detected by the sensor to the server over the network. The network may include, but is not limited to, a mobile or cellular communication network, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), the internet, or a Small Area Network (SAN).

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to fig. 1, an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100 may communicate with an external electronic device 102 via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network) or with an external electronic device 104 or a server 108 via a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may communicate with the external electronic device 104 via the server 108. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may include a processor 120, a memory 130, an input device 150, a sound output device 155, a display device 160, an audio module 170, a sensor module 176, an interface 177, a haptic module 179, a camera module 180, a power management module 188, a battery 189, a communication module 190, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)196, or an antenna module 197. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., display device 160 or camera module 180) may be omitted from electronic device 101, or one or more other components may be added to electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as a single integrated circuit. For example, the sensor module 176 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may be implemented to be embedded in the display device 160 (e.g., a display).

The processor 120 may run, for example, software (e.g., the program 140) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware component or a software component) of the electronic device 101 connected to the processor 120, and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or calculation, processor 120 may load commands or data received from another component (e.g., sensor module 176 or communication module 190) into volatile memory 132, process the commands or data stored in volatile memory 132, and store the resulting data in non-volatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may include a main processor 121 (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or an Application Processor (AP)) and an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), an Image Signal Processor (ISP), a sensor hub processor, or a Communication Processor (CP)) that is operatively independent of or in conjunction with the main processor 121. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than the main processor 121, or be adapted specifically for a specified function. The auxiliary processor 123 may be implemented separately from the main processor 121 or as part of the main processor 121.

The auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states associated with at least one of the components of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the display device 160, the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190) when the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states associated with at least one of the components of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the display device 160, the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190) with the main processor 121 when the main processor 121 is in an active state (e.g., running an application). According to an embodiment, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module 180 or the communication module 190) that is functionally related to the auxiliary processor 123.

The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176). The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., program 140) and input data or output data for commands associated therewith. The memory 130 may include volatile memory 132 or non-volatile memory 134.

The program 140 may be stored in the memory 130 as software, and the program 140 may include, for example, an Operating System (OS)142, middleware 144, or an application 146.

The input device 150 may receive commands or data from outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., a user) to be used by other components of the electronic device 101, such as the processor 120. The input device 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The sound output device 155 may output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output device 155 may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes such as playing multimedia or playing a record and the receiver may be used for incoming calls. Depending on the embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separate from the speaker, or as part of the speaker.

Display device 160 may visually provide information to the exterior of electronic device 101 (e.g., a user). The display device 160 may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector, and control circuitry for controlling a respective one of the display, holographic device, and projector. According to embodiments, the display device 160 may include touch circuitry adapted to detect a touch or sensor circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the intensity of a force caused by a touch.

The audio module 170 may convert sound into an electrical signal and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 may obtain sound via the input device 150 or output sound via the sound output device 155 or an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device 102 such as a speaker or a headphone) directly (e.g., wired) connected or wirelessly connected with the electronic device 101.

The sensor module 176 may detect an operating state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device 101 or an environmental state (e.g., state of a user) external to the electronic device 101 and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 176 may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyroscope sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an Infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The interface 177 may support one or more particular protocols to be used to directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly connect the electronic device 101 with an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the interface 177 may include, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Secure Digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface.

The connection end 178 may include a connector via which the electronic device 101 may be physically connected with an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the connection end 178 may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module 179 may convert the electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration or motion) or an electrical stimulus that may be recognized by the user via his sense of touch or kinesthesia. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

The camera module 180 may capture still images or moving images. According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, an image signal processor, or a flash.

The power management module 188 may manage power to the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the power management module 188 may be implemented as at least part of a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), for example.

The battery 189 may power at least one component of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary cell, a rechargeable secondary cell, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 190 may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device 101 and an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device 102, the external electronic device 104, or the server 108), and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication module 190 may include one or more communication processors capable of operating independently of the processor 120 (e.g., an Application Processor (AP)) and supporting direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module 190 may include a wireless communication module 192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module 194 (e.g., a Local Area Network (LAN) communication module or a Power Line Communication (PLC) module). A respective one of these communication modules may communicate with external electronic devices via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range communication network such as bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a cellular network, the internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or Wide Area Network (WAN))). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multiple components (e.g., multiple chips) that are separate from one another. The wireless communication module 192 may identify and authenticate the electronic device 101 in a communication network, such as the first network 198 or the second network 199, using subscriber information, such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), stored in the subscriber identity module 196.

The antenna module 197 may transmit signals or power to or receive signals or power from outside of the electronic device 101 (e.g., an external electronic device). According to an embodiment, an antenna module may include one antenna including a radiator composed of a conductor or conductive pattern formed on a substrate, such as a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas. In this case, at least one antenna suitable for the communication scheme used in the communication network (such as the first network 198 or the second network 199) may be selected from the plurality of antennas by, for example, the communication module 190. Signals or power may then be transmitted or received between the communication module 190 and the external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, additional components other than the radiator, such as a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module 197.

At least some of the above components may be interconnected and communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) communicatively between them via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., bus, General Purpose Input Output (GPIO), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), or Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI)).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be sent or received between the electronic device 101 and the external electronic device 104 via the server 108 connected with the second network 199. Each of the first and second external

electronic devices

102 and 104 may be the same type of device as the electronic device 101 or a different type of device from the electronic device 101. According to embodiments, all or some of the operations to be performed at the electronic device 101 may be performed at one or more of the external electronic device 102, the external electronic device 104, or the server 108. For example, if the electronic device 101 should automatically perform a function or service or should perform a function or service in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101 may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or service instead of or in addition to performing the function or service. The one or more external electronic devices that received the request may perform the requested at least part of the functions or services or perform another function or another service related to the request and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may provide the result as at least a partial reply to the request with or without further processing of the result. To this end, for example, cloud computing technology, distributed computing technology, or client-server computing technology may be used.

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating an electronic device 200 in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the electronic device 200 of fig. 2 in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The electronic device 200 of fig. 2 and 3 may be at least partially similar to the electronic device 101 of fig. 1, or may include other features.

Referring to fig. 2, the electronic device 200 may include: a pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 coupled together via a hinge structure (e.g., hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) so as to be rotatable to fold with respect to each other; a hinge cover 265 covering foldable portions of the pair of

case structures

210 and 220; and a display 230 (e.g., a flexible display or a foldable display) disposed in a space formed by the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220. According to an embodiment, the hinge cover 265 may be part of the hinge structure 264. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a foldable housing rotatably coupled to a position where the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 are placed side by side from a position where the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 are folded to face each other. In the present disclosure, the surface on which the display 230 is located may be defined as a "front surface" of the electronic device 200, and the opposite surface thereof may be defined as a "rear surface" of the electronic device 200. A surface surrounding a space between the front surface and the rear surface may be defined as a "side surface" of the electronic device 200.

According to an embodiment, the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 may include a first housing structure 210 having a sensor region 231d, a second housing structure 220, a first back cover 240, and a second back cover 250. The pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 of the electronic device 200 are not limited to the shapes and couplings shown in fig. 2 and 3, but may be implemented in other shapes or via other combinations and/or couplings of components. For example, the first housing structure 210 and the first back cover 240 may be integrally formed with each other, and the second housing structure 220 and the second back cover 250 may be integrally formed with each other.

According to an embodiment, the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 may be located on opposite sides of the first axis (e.g., fold axis a), and they may be generally symmetrical in shape with respect to each other with respect to the fold axis a. According to an embodiment, the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may rotate about the hinge structure 264 or the hinge cover 265 with respect to different folding axes. For example, the first and

second housing structures

210, 220 may each be rotatably coupled to the hinge structure 264 or the hinge cover 265, and the first and

second housing structures

210, 220 may be rotated about the fold axis a or different fold axes from a position in which they are folded together to a position in which they are tilted or positioned side-by-side relative to each other.

As used herein, when a and B are positioned or extend side-by-side, this may mean that a and B are positioned at least partially adjacent to each other or at least partially parallel to each other. According to an embodiment, when a and B are disposed (or arranged) side by side, this may mean that a and B are disposed (or arranged) to face the same direction or directions parallel to each other. In the following description, although the example phrases "side-by-side" and "parallel to each other" may be used to describe corresponding structures, the shapes or arrangements of these structures may be readily understood from the accompanying drawings.

According to an embodiment, the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 may form different angles or distances depending on whether the electronic device 200 is in an unfolded state (or a flat state, or an open state), a folded state (or a folded state), or a state therebetween. According to an embodiment, the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may be symmetrical in shape, except that the first housing structure 210 further includes a sensor region 231d where various sensors are arranged. Alternatively, the sensor region 231d may be provided in at least a portion of the second housing structure 220 other than the first housing structure 210, or an additional sensor region may be included in the second housing structure 220.

According to an embodiment, in the unfolded state of the electronic device 200, the first case structure 210 may be connected to a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) and may include a first surface 211 disposed to face a front surface of the electronic device 200, a second surface 212 facing away from the first surface 211, and a first side surface member 213 surrounding at least a portion of a space between the first surface 211 and the second surface 212. According to an embodiment, the first side surface member 213 may include a first side surface 213a disposed parallel to the folding axis a, a second side surface 213b extending from one end of the first side surface 213a in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis a, and a third side surface 213c extending from the other end of the first side surface 213a in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis a. As used herein, the terms "perpendicular" or "parallel" may be used interchangeably with "partially perpendicular" or "partially parallel". In some embodiments, "parallel" or "perpendicular" may also mean "inclined within an angular range of 10 degrees".

According to an embodiment, the second case structure 220 may be connected to a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4), and in the unfolded state of the electronic device 200, the second case structure 220 may include a third surface 221 disposed to face a front surface of the electronic device 200, a fourth surface 222 facing away from the third surface 221, and a second side surface member 223 surrounding at least a portion of a space between the third surface 221 and the fourth surface 222. According to an embodiment, the second side surface member 223 may include a fourth side surface 223a disposed in parallel with the folding axis a, a fifth side surface 223b extending from one end of the fourth side surface 223a in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis a, and a sixth side surface 223c extending from the other end of the fourth side surface 223a in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis a. According to an embodiment, in the folded state, the third surface 221 may be disposed to face the first surface 211. According to an embodiment, the second side surface member 223 may be formed in substantially the same shape or material as the first side surface member 213, although they may be partially different in their specific shapes.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device 200 may comprise a recess 201 to accommodate the display 230 via a combination of structural shapes of the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220. The recess 201 may have substantially the same dimensions as the display 230. According to an embodiment, the recess 201 may have two or more different widths in a direction perpendicular to the folding axis a due to the sensor region 231 d. For example, the recess 201 may have a first width W1 between the first portion 220a of the second housing structure 220 parallel to the folding axis a and the first portion 210a of the first housing structure 210 formed at the edge of the sensor region 231d, and a second width W2 formed by the second portion 220b of the second housing structure 210 and the second portion 210b of the first housing structure 210 parallel to the folding axis a and not corresponding to the sensor region 231 d. In this case, the second width W2 may be greater than the first width W1. For example, the recess 201 may be formed with a first width W1 between the first portion 210a of the first housing structure 210 and the first portion 220a of the second housing structure 220 that are asymmetric in shape with each other, and a second width W1 between the second portion 210b of the first housing structure 210 and the second portion 220b of the second housing structure 220 that are symmetric in shape with each other. According to an embodiment, the first and

second portions

210a and 210b of the first case structure 210 may be formed to have different distances from the folding axis a. The width of the recess 201 is not limited thereto. According to embodiments, the recess 201 may have two or more different widths depending on the shape of the sensor region 231d or the asymmetrically shaped portions of the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220.

According to an embodiment, the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may be at least partially formed of a metal or non-metal material having a stiffness selected to support the display 230. According to an embodiment, the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may at least partially comprise an electrically conductive material. When the first and

second case structures

210 and 220 include a conductive material, the electronic device 200 may transmit/receive radio waves via the conductive portions of the first and

second case structures

210 and 220. For example, a processor (e.g., processor 120 of fig. 1) or a communication module (e.g., communication module 190) of the electronic device 200 may perform wireless communication using a portion of the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220.

According to an embodiment, the sensor region 231d may be formed adjacent to one corner of the first case structure 210 and have a predetermined area. However, the placement, shape, or size of the sensor region 231d is not limited to that shown in the drawings. For example, according to embodiments, the sensor regions 231d may be provided in different corners of the first housing structure 210 or in any region between the top and bottom corners. According to an embodiment, the sensor region 231d may be disposed in at least one region of the second housing structure 220. According to an embodiment, the sensor region 231d may be provided to extend to the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include components exposed from a front surface thereof through the sensor region 231d or one or more openings prepared in the sensor region 231d, and various functions may be performed by these components. The components disposed in the sensor region 231d may include, for example, at least one of a front camera device (e.g., the camera module 180 of fig. 1), a receiver (e.g., the audio module 170 of fig. 1), a proximity sensor, an illuminance sensor, an iris recognition sensor, an ultrasonic sensor (e.g., the sensor module 176 of fig. 1), or an indicator.

According to an embodiment, the first rear cover 240 may be disposed on the second surface 212 of the first housing structure 210 and may have a substantially rectangular periphery. According to an embodiment, the perimeter of the first back cover 240 may be at least partially surrounded by the first housing structure 210. Similarly, the second back cover 250 may be disposed on the fourth surface 222 of the second housing structure 220 and may have a perimeter at least partially surrounded by the second housing structure 220.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second back covers 240 and 250 may be substantially symmetrical in shape with respect to the folding axis a. According to embodiments, the first and second rear covers 240 and 250 may have other various shapes. According to an embodiment, the first rear cover 240 may be integrally formed with the first housing structure 210, and the second rear cover 250 may be integrally formed with the second housing structure 220.

According to an embodiment, the combined structure of the first rear cover 240, the second rear cover 250, the first case structure 210, and the second case structure 220 may provide a space in which various components of the electronic device 200 (e.g., a printed circuit board, an antenna module, a sensor module, or a battery) may be disposed. According to an embodiment, one or more components may be disposed on or visually exposed through a rear surface of the electronic device 200. For example, one or more components or sensors may be visually exposed through the first rear surface area 241 of the first rear cover 240. According to embodiments, the sensor may comprise a proximity sensor, a rear camera device and/or a flash. According to an embodiment, secondary display 252 may be at least visually exposed through second rear surface area 251 of second rear cover 250.

The display 230 may be disposed in a space formed by the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220. For example, the display 230 may be seated in a recess (e.g., recess 201 of fig. 2) formed by the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220, and the display 230 may be disposed to occupy substantially a majority of the front surface of the electronic device 200. For example, the front surface of the electronic device 200 may include the display 230, a partial region (e.g., an edge region) of the first housing structure 210 adjacent to the display 230, and a partial region (e.g., an edge region) of the second housing structure 220. According to an embodiment, the rear surface of the electronic device 200 may include the first rear cover 240, a partial region (e.g., an edge region) of the first housing structure 210 adjacent to the first rear cover 240, the second rear cover 250, and a partial region (e.g., an edge region) of the second housing structure 220 adjacent to the second rear cover 250.

According to an embodiment, the display 230 may refer to a display at least a portion of which may be transformed to be flat or curved. According to an embodiment, the display 230 may include a folding region 231c, a first region 231a disposed on one side of the folding region 231c (e.g., a right-hand region of the folding region 231c), and a second region 231b disposed on an opposite side of the folding region 231c (e.g., a left-hand region of the folding region 231 c). For example, the first region 231a may be disposed on the first surface 211 of the first case structure 210, and the second region 231b may be disposed on the third surface 221 of the second case structure 220. For example, the display 230 may extend from the first surface 211 to the third surface through the hinge structure 264 of fig. 3, and at least a region thereof corresponding to the hinge structure (e.g., the folding region 231c) may be a flexible region that may change from flat to curved.

According to an embodiment, the division of the display 230 is only an example, and the display 230 may be divided into a plurality of (e.g., four or more or two) regions depending on the structure or function of the display 230. As an example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the folding region 231c may extend on a vertical axis (e.g., the Y-axis of fig. 4) parallel to the folding axis a, and the area of the display 230 may be divided by the folding region 231c or the folding axis a. In another embodiment, the area of the display 230 may be divided by another folding portion (e.g., a folding area parallel to a horizontal axis (e.g., the X-axis of fig. 4)) or another folding axis (e.g., a folding axis parallel to the X-axis of fig. 4). The above-described area division is only a physical division by the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4), and basically, the display 230 may display a single full screen via the pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4).

According to an embodiment, the first and

second regions

231a and 231b may be entirely symmetrical in shape with respect to the folding region 231 c. However, unlike the second region 231b, the first region 231a may include a notch region (e.g., the notch region 233 of fig. 4) providing the sensor region 231d, and in the remaining region, is symmetrical in shape to the second region 231 b. For example, the first and

second regions

231a and 231b may include a symmetric portion and an asymmetric portion.

Referring to fig. 3, a hinge cover 265 may be disposed between the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 to conceal internal components (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4). For simplicity of description, the hinge cover 265 is provided separately from the hinge structure 264, however, as described above, the hinge cover 265 may be a part of the hinge structure 264 while partially forming the external appearance of the electronic device 200. According to an embodiment, the hinge cover 265 may be hidden by a portion of the first and

second case structures

210 and 220 or exposed to the outside depending on an operating state (e.g., an unfolded state or a folded state) of the electronic device 200.

As an example, as shown in fig. 2, in the unfolded state of the electronic device 200, the hinge cover 265 may be hidden by the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 so as not to be exposed. As another example, as shown in fig. 3, in a folded state (e.g., a fully folded state) of the electronic device 200, the hinge cover 265 may be exposed to the outside between the first case structure 210 and the second case structure 220. As another example, in an intermediate state of the electronic device 200 in which the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 are folded at an angle, a portion of the hinge cover 265 may be exposed to the outside of the electronic device 200 between the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220. In this case, the exposed area may be smaller than when the electronic device 200 is in the folded state. According to an embodiment, the hinge cover 265 may include a curved surface.

Described below is an operation in which each region of the first and

second case structures

210 and 220 and the display 230 depends on an operation state (e.g., an unfolded state and a folded state) of the electronic device 200.

According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 200 is in the unfolded state (e.g., the state shown in fig. 2), the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 form an angle of 180 degrees therebetween, and the first region 231a and the second region 231b of the display may be positioned to face the same direction (e.g., a direction parallel to each other), e.g., to display a screen in the same direction. The fold region 231c may be flush with the first region 231a and the second region 231 b.

According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 200 is in a folded state (e.g., the state shown in fig. 3), the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may face each other. For example, in a folded state of the electronic device 200 (e.g., the state shown in fig. 3), the first region 231a and the second region 231b of the display 230 may appear to face each other at a small angle (e.g., from 0 to 10 degrees) therebetween. In a folded state of the electronic device 200 (e.g., the state shown in fig. 3), the folded region 231c may at least partially form a curved surface having a predetermined curvature.

According to an embodiment, the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 may be angled therebetween when the electronic device 200 is in the neutral state. For example, in the intermediate state, the first and

second regions

231a, 231b of the display 230 may be angled therebetween at an angle that is greater than when it is in the folded state and less than when it is in the unfolded state. The folded region 231c may have, at least in part, a curved surface having a predetermined curvature, and in this case, the curvature may be smaller than that when it is in the folded state.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an electronic device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 4, the electronic device 200 may include a display 230, a support member assembly 260, at least one printed circuit board 270, a first housing structure 210, a second housing structure 220, a first rear cover 240, and a second rear cover 250. In the present disclosure, the display 230 may be used interchangeably with a display module or display assembly.

The display 230 may include a display panel 231 (e.g., a flexible display panel) and one or more plates 232 or layers seated on the display panel 231. According to an embodiment, the plate 232 may be disposed between the display panel 231 and the support member assembly 260. The display panel 231 may be disposed on at least a portion of a surface (e.g., a surface facing the Z-axis of fig. 4) of the plate 232. The plate 232 may have a shape corresponding to the display panel 231. For example, a portion of the plate 232 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the notch region 233 of the display panel 231.

The support member assembly 260 may include a first support member 261, a second support member 262, a hinge structure 264 provided with the first support member 261 and the second support member 262, a hinge cover 265 covering the hinge structure 264 when the hinge structure 264 is viewed from the outside, and a wiring member (e.g., a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB)) crossing the first support member 261 and the second support member 262.

According to an embodiment, the support member assembly 260 may be provided with a plate 232 and at least one printed circuit board 270. As an example, the first support member 261 may be provided with a first printed circuit board 271 and a first region 231a of the display 230. The second support member 262 may be provided with a second printed circuit board 272 and a second region 131b of the display 230.

According to an embodiment, the wiring member 263 and the hinge structure 264 may be at least partially disposed inside the support member assembly 260. The wiring member 263 may be disposed in a direction (e.g., X-axis direction) across the first and

second support members

261 and 262. The wiring member 263 may be disposed in a direction (e.g., an X-axis direction) perpendicular to a folding axis (e.g., the folding axis a or the Y-axis of fig. 1).

As described above, the at least one printed circuit board 270 may include the first printed circuit board 271 disposed on the first support member 261 and the second printed circuit board 272 disposed on the second support member 262. The first and second printed circuit boards 271 and 272 may be disposed inside a space formed by the support member assembly 260, the first and

second case structures

210 and 220, the first and second rear covers 240 and 250. Components (e.g., at least one of the components of fig. 1) for implementing various functions of the electronic device 200 may be mounted on the first and second printed circuit boards 271 and 272.

According to an embodiment, the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 may be assembled together to couple to both sides of the support member assembly 260, and the display 230 is coupled to the support member assembly 260. The first and

second housing structures

210 and 220, respectively, may be slidably coupled to opposite sides of the support member assembly 260, such as the first and

second support members

261 and 262.

According to an embodiment, the first housing structure 210 may include a first rotation support surface 214 (e.g., a fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5, described below), and the second housing structure 520 may include a second rotation support surface 224 (e.g., an eighth side surface 523 of fig. 5, described below) corresponding to the first rotation support surface 214. The first and second rotation support surfaces 214 and 224 may include curved surfaces corresponding to the curved surfaces included in the hinge cover 265.

According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 200 is in the unfolded state (e.g., the state shown in fig. 2), the first and second rotational support surfaces 214 and 224 may cover the hinge cover 265, allowing the hinge cover 265 not to be exposed or minimally exposed to the rear surface of the electronic device 200. According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 200 is in a folded state (e.g., the state shown in fig. 3), the first rotation supporting surface 214 and the second rotation supporting surface 224 may rotate along the curved surface of the hinge cover 265, exposing the hinge cover 265 to the rear surface of the electronic device 200 to the maximum.

In the above description, the ordinal numbers in the first case structure 210, the second case structure 220, the first side surface member 213, and the second side surface member 223 are used only to distinguish the components, and it should be noted that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the use of the ordinal numbers. For example, although the sensor region 231d is formed in the first housing structure 210 in the above example, the sensor region 231d may be formed in the second housing structure 220 or in each of the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220. According to the embodiment, although the first rear surface area 241 and the sub-display 252 are provided in the first rear cover 240 and the second rear cover 250, respectively, the first rear surface area 241 for placing, for example, a sensor and the sub-display 252 for outputting a screen may be provided in the first rear cover 240 or the second rear cover 250.

According to an embodiment, in the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure 264 supporting one display 230, the antenna device may be provided in the first case structure or the second case structure. The antenna device is described below in connection with an example configuration in which the antenna device is provided in the second housing structure. However, as described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and it should be noted that the antenna device may be provided in the first case structure of the electronic apparatus according to the embodiments.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the configuration of side surface member(s) 501 and 502 in an electronic device (e.g., electronic device 200 of fig. 2) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 5, the side surface members (e.g., the first and second

side surface members

213 and 223 of fig. 4) may include a first side surface member 501 provided as a part of the first case structure 210 of fig. 2 and a second side surface member 502 provided as a part of the second case structure 220. According to an embodiment, the first and second

side surface members

501 and 502 may be shaped as a frame surrounding an inner space of a case structure (e.g., the first and

second case structures

210 and 220 of fig. 2).

According to an embodiment, first side surface member 501 and second side surface member 502 may have substantially the same structure except for a slight difference in shape. According to an embodiment, first side surface member 501 and second side surface member 502 may at least partially comprise an electrically conductive material. For example, fig. 5 generally illustrates portions of conductive material of first side surface member 501 and second side surface member 502. First side surface member 501 and second side surface member 502 may comprise a non-conductive material, such as an insulating material, allowing their final shape to be a closed curve or loop.

According to an embodiment, the first side surface member 501 may include a first side surface portion 511, a second side surface portion 512, a third side surface portion 513, a fourth side surface portion 514, and/or a fifth side surface portion 515. According to an embodiment, the first to fifth

side surface parts

511, 512, 513, 514, and 515 may also be referred to as "first to fifth side surface part partial frames". According to an embodiment, the first side surface portion 511 may be disposed parallel to the folding axis a. The second side surface portion 512 may be disposed to be spaced apart from one end (e.g., a top) of the first side surface portion 511 in a direction crossing the folding area a or substantially perpendicular to the folding area a. The third side surface portion 513 may be disposed to be spaced apart from an opposite end (e.g., a bottom) of the first side surface portion 511 in parallel with the folding area a.

The fourth side surface portion 514 may be disposed adjacent to one end of the third side surface portion 513 and may be disposed spaced apart from the third side surface portion 513 and may extend to the folding area a in a crossing direction or in a substantially perpendicular direction. The fifth side surface part 515 may extend substantially parallel to the folding area a or the first side surface part 511. One end of the fifth side surface part 515 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the second side surface part 512, and the other end of the fifth side surface part 515 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the fourth side surface part 514. According to an embodiment, the fifth side surface portion 515 may be disposed adjacent to a hinge structure or a hinge cover (e.g., the hinge structure 264 or the hinge cover 265 of fig. 4) and may extend substantially parallel to the hinge structure 264 or the hinge cover 265 along the folding area a.

According to an embodiment, first side surface member 501 may include slit(s) 516a, 516b, 516c, 516d, and 516e that at least partially separate portions of conductive material. According to an embodiment, the slot(s) 516a, 516b, 516c, 516d, and 516e may be filled with a non-conductive material, which may be referred to as "non-conductive portions" or "non-conductive material portions" as desired. A structure formed of an insulating material may be formed in at least part of the region surrounded by the first to fifth

side surface portions

511, 512, 513, 514, and 515. According to an embodiment, the slot(s) 516a, 516b, 516c, 516d, and 516e may be filled with an insulating material. For example, first side surface member 501 may include non-conductive portions, non-conductive material portions, or insulating material portions that insulate some conductive material portions from other conductive material portions.

According to an embodiment, a first slit 516a may be formed between one end of the first side surface part 511 and the second side surface part 512, and a second slit 516b may be formed between the second side surface part 512 and the fifth side surface part 515. A third slit 516c may be formed between the opposite end of the first side surface portion 511 and the third side surface portion 513. A fourth slit 516d may be formed between the third and fourth

side surface portions

513 and 514, and a fifth slit 516e may be formed between the fourth and fifth

side surface portions

514 and 515.

At least portions of the second, third and fourth

side surface portions

512, 513 and 514 may be formed of a conductive material. For example, at least a portion of the second side surface portion 512, the third side surface portion 513 and/or the fourth side surface portion 514 may be formed of a radiation conductor. According to an embodiment, the second side surface portion 512, the third side surface portion 513, and/or the fourth side surface portion 514 may function as an antenna radiator (e.g., a radiation conductor) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2). For example, a processor (e.g., processor 120 of fig. 1) or a communication module (e.g., communication module 190) of electronic device 200 may perform wireless communication using a portion of second side surface portion 512, a portion of third side surface portion 513, and/or a portion of fourth side surface portion 514.

According to an embodiment, a portion of the first side surface portion 511 (or the fifth side surface portion 515) may be electrically connected to a printed circuit board (e.g., the first printed circuit board 271 of fig. 4) to serve as a radiation conductor. For example, the power supply portion formed in the first side surface portion 511 may be electrically connected to a printed circuit board (e.g., the first printed circuit board 271 of fig. 4), and the ground portion formed at other positions of the first side surface portion 511 may be connected to the printed circuit board (e.g., the first printed circuit board 271 of fig. 4). The conductive material portion of the first side surface portion 511 may form a portion of the antenna between a position where the power supply portion is connected and a position where the ground portion is connected.

According to an embodiment, the third side surface portion 513 may include a first portion 513a and a second portion 513 b. For example, the first portion 513a may be formed to a first length L1 along a direction parallel to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). The second portion 513b may be connected to the first portion 513a and formed to be curved. The second portion 513b may be formed to a second length L2 in a direction crossing the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5).

According to an embodiment, the third slit 516c may be formed between the first and third

side surface portions

511 and 513.

According to an embodiment, since the third slit 516c is formed in a position of the first length L1, which is a distance D1 of not less than 30mm and not more than 50mm (e.g., 40mm) from the second portion 513b of the third side surface portion 513, it may operate as a radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513) having radiation performance required for an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2).

According to an embodiment, the radiation characteristic depending on the position of the third slit 516c is described in more detail below with reference to fig. 13 or 14. The above values regarding the position of the third slit 516c are example values suitable for an electronic device in which the width (e.g., the length along the X-axis direction of fig. 4) of the second side surface member 502 is 100mm or less, but it should be noted that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the third slit 516c may be formed at a position different from that of the example value in consideration of a resonance frequency to be formed using the radiation conductor or a size of an electronic device to be actually manufactured. For example, the third slit 516c may be formed at a position of the first length L1, which is a distance D1 of not less than 30mm and not more than 50mm (e.g., 40mm) from the outside of the second portion 513b of the third side surface portion 513, thereby reducing deterioration of radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513) and deterioration of radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513) due to influence of the user's body when the user makes a call with the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) in his hand. In this way, the third slit 516c may enhance the radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513).

According to an embodiment, as described above in connection with fig. 5, the first length L1 of the third side surface portion 513 may be a length (e.g., 40mm) between 30mm and 50mm in a direction parallel to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5), and the second length L2 of the third side surface portion 513 may be a length (e.g., 18.6mm) between 8.6mm and 28.6mm in a direction crossing the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5).

According to the embodiment, allowing the first length L1 to be greater than the second length L2 may minimize deterioration of radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513) and thus enhance radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513).

According to an embodiment, the first length L1 may be formed to be the same as the second length L2. When the electronic device 200 is folded, the eighth side surface part 523 may be positioned adjacent to the third side surface part 513. The eighth side surface part 523 may include a third part 523a and a fourth part 523 b. The third slit 516c may be formed to overlap the eighth slit 526c and the fourth slit 516d may be formed to overlap the ninth slit 526d when viewed from above the first rear cover (e.g., the first rear cover 240 of fig. 2). Accordingly, in the

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4), when the electronic device 200 is folded, the end of the third side surface portion 513 and the end of the eighth side surface portion 523 may coincide, thereby reducing deterioration of radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513 and the eighth side surface portion 523).

As described above, ordinals are used herein only to distinguish between components, and embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments, first side surface member 501 may be referred to as a "second side surface member" and fifth side surface portion 515 may be referred to as "first side surface portion 511". For example, while ordinal numbers are used to distinguish between some components, this is for simplicity only and various embodiments of the disclosure should be understood by the arrangement and connection of the associated components.

An example configuration of an antenna device (e.g., 500 of fig. 6) using the above-described structure of the side surface member(s) is described in more detail below with reference to fig. 6 and 7. The configurations shown in fig. 6 and 7 can be regarded as examples in which one conductive material portion insulated from the other conductive material portion by the above-described slit is configured as a radiation conductor. In another embodiment, as described above, a portion of another conductive material portion (e.g., the first side surface portion 511 or the sixth side surface portion 521, which are not shown in fig. 6 and 7) may be used to form the antenna device. Alternatively, the third side surface portion 513 or the eighth side surface portion 523 may also function as a radiation conductor in part. In the following embodiments, the components identical to or easily understood from the description of the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals or not, and detailed description thereof may be skipped.

Fig. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a configuration of an antenna device 500 in an electronic apparatus (e.g., the electronic apparatus 200 of fig. 1) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 and 7 are enlarged views of a portion B of fig. 5.

Referring to fig. 6 and 7, the antenna device 500 may include: a first conductive material portion (e.g., a portion of the first side surface portion 511) as a portion of the first side surface portion 511; a first conductive material portion (e.g., second side surface portion 512) as part of second side surface portion 512; a first conductive material portion (for example, a portion of the third side surface portion 513) as a portion of the third side surface portion 513; a first conductive material portion (e.g., fourth side surface portion 514) as part of fourth side surface portion 514; and a first conductive material portion (e.g., fifth side surface portion 515) as part of the fifth side surface portion 515.

According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the first conductive material portion forming the first side surface portion 511 may be provided as a radiation conductor, at least a portion of the first conductive material portion forming the second side surface portion 512 may be provided as a radiation conductor, at least a portion of the first conductive material portion forming the third side surface portion 513 may be provided as a radiation conductor, at least a portion of the first conductive material portion forming the fourth side surface portion 514 may be provided as a radiation conductor, and at least a portion of the first conductive material portion forming the fifth side surface portion 515 may be provided as a radiation conductor. For example, a fourth slit 516d may be formed between the third and fourth

side surface portions

513 and 514, and the fourth slit 516d may separate the third and fourth

side surface portions

513 and 514 from each other.

According to an embodiment, the third, fourth and/or

fifth slits

516c, 516d, 516e may be filled with an insulating material. For example, the third, fourth, and/or

fifth slits

516c, 516d, 516e may form a first non-conductive portion, thereby insulating two adjacent conductive portions while mechanically connecting or coupling them.

According to an embodiment, the first conductive portion may be all or part of the third side surface portion 513. The third side surface portion 513 may include a first portion 513a and a second portion 513 b. For example, the first portion 513a may be formed to a first length L1 along a direction parallel to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). The second portion 513b may be connected to the first portion 513a and partially formed to be curved. The second portion 513b may be formed to a second length L2 in a direction crossing the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). The first conductive portion may be all or part of the fourth side surface portion 514 and may extend perpendicular to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). According to an embodiment, the first length L1 may be substantially the same as the third length L3, and the second length L2 may be substantially the same as the fourth length L4.

According to an embodiment, the third slit 516c may be formed at a position symmetrical to the eighth slit 526 c. For example, at least a portion of the third slit 516c may overlap the eighth slit 526c when viewed from above the first back cover (e.g., the first back cover 240 of fig. 2) in the folded state of the electronic device.

According to an embodiment, the radiation characteristic depending on the position of the third slit 516c is described in more detail below with reference to fig. 13 or 14. The above values regarding the position of the third slit 516c are example values applicable to an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) in which the width (e.g., the length in the X-axis direction of fig. 4) of the first side surface member 501 is 200mm or less, but it should be noted that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the third slit 516c may be formed at a position different from that of the example value in consideration of a resonance frequency to be formed using a radiation conductor or a size of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) to be actually manufactured.

According to an embodiment, as described above in connection with fig. 6 and 7, the first length L1 of the third side surface portion 513 may be 40mm along a direction parallel to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5), and the second length L2 of the third side surface portion 513 may be 18.6mm along a direction crossing the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). For example, the length of the third side surface portion 513 formed based on the first length L1 and the second length L2 may correspond to an electrical length of a selected resonance frequency (e.g., a low-band resonance frequency).

Referring to fig. 6 and 7, the third side surface portion 513 may be electrically connected with the printed circuit board 530. For example, the third side surface portion 513 may include a ground terminal 513c, a power terminal 513d, and/or a switching terminal 513 e.

The ground terminal 513c may be electrically connected to a ground portion G provided on the printed circuit board 530, and the ground terminal 513c may be provided in the third side surface portion 513 to be connected to a wireless communication circuit (e.g., the processor 120 or the communication module 190 of fig. 1) at a position adjacent to the fourth slit 516 d.

The ground terminal 513c may include a ground member, and the ground terminal 513c may be electrically connected to an antenna ground (antenna ground). For example, the ground member may include at least one of a plate spring, a C-clip, a screw, or a flexible printed circuit board 530 (FPCB). The antenna ground may be a conductive layer adjacent to the antenna and may be a conductive layer electrically connected to the ground terminal 513 c. For example, the antenna ground may include at least one of a PCB ground, a conductive bracket, and a display ground.

The power source terminal 513d shown in fig. 7 may be electrically connected to the power source part F provided on the printed circuit board 530. For example, a power source terminal 513d may be provided in the third side surface portion 513 to be able to receive power via the power source portion F of the printed circuit board 530 electrically connected between the ground terminal 513c and the switching terminal 513 e.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 1) may include a switching portion S disposed in a space formed by a foldable housing (e.g., a pair of

housing structures

210 and 220 of fig. 2). For example, in the

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4), the switching portion S may be electrically connected with the switching terminal 513e provided in the third side surface portion 513, and may selectively connect the antenna ground with the third side surface portion 513 via one of the matching paths M1, M2. The antenna ground may include the above-described ground portion. Here, the "switching portion selectively connects one of the plurality of matching paths to the third side surface portion 513" may mean that the switching portion S does not connect the third side surface portion 513 to the antenna ground (e.g., the ground portion G), or the switching portion S may connect the third side surface portion 513 to the antenna ground through the matching paths M1, M2,.., Mx selected under the control of the processor (e.g., the processor 120 of fig. 1). According to an embodiment, the switching part S may selectively combine two or more matching paths under the control of the processor, thereby connecting the third side surface part 513 with the antenna ground. According to the embodiment, by connecting the third side surface part 513 with the antenna ground via the selected matching path using the switching part S, the radiation characteristic of the antenna device 500 can be stabilized or the resonance frequency can be adjusted. According to embodiments, the antenna ground (e.g., ground portion G) may include a ground region of a circuit board provided in an electronic device (e.g., electronic device 200 of fig. 2), a ground provided in a display (e.g., display 230 of fig. 4), or a metal structure electrically connected to the ground. According to an embodiment, the matching paths M1, M2.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication circuit may be electrically connected to a power source terminal 513d provided in the third side surface portion 513, and wireless communication is performed using the third side surface portion 513. According to an embodiment, the third side surface part 513 may form resonance frequencies of various frequency bands depending on an electrical length thereof, and the wireless communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive a signal in a frequency band in a range of about 500MHz to about 6GHz using the third side surface part 513. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 200 may include a plurality of wireless communication circuits, and the wireless communication circuits may transmit or receive signals of different frequency bands using the third side surface part 513.

According to an embodiment, the power source end 514a provided in the fourth side surface portion 514 may be electrically connected with the power source portion F of a printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board 530 of fig. 7), and a part of the conductive material portion of the fourth side surface portion 514 may be used as an additional radiation conductor forming another resonance frequency. For example, the electronic device 200 may perform wireless communication using a portion of the fourth side surface portion 514. According to an embodiment, the fourth side surface portion 514 may be electrically connected with the ground portion at a different position.

According to an embodiment, the second side surface member 502 may include a sixth side surface portion 521, a seventh side surface portion 522, an eighth side surface portion 523, a ninth side surface portion 524, and/or a tenth side surface portion 525. According to the embodiment, the sixth to tenth

side surface parts

521, 522, 523, 524 and 525 may also be referred to as "sixth to tenth side surface part (525) frames". According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the sixth side surface portion 521 may be disposed in parallel with the folding area a. The seventh side surface portion 522 may be disposed to be spaced apart from one end (e.g., a top) of the sixth side surface portion 521 in a direction crossing the folding area a or substantially perpendicular to the folding area a. The eighth side surface part 523 may be disposed to be spaced apart from an opposite end (e.g., a bottom) of the sixth side surface part 521 in parallel with the folding area a.

The ninth side surface part 524 may be disposed adjacent to one end of the eighth side surface part 523 and may be disposed to be spaced apart from the eighth side surface part 523 and may extend to the folding area a in a crossing direction or in a substantially perpendicular direction. The tenth side surface portion 525 may extend substantially parallel to the folding area a. One end of the tenth side surface part 525 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the seventh side surface part 522, and the other end of the tenth side surface part 525 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the ninth side surface part 524. According to an embodiment, tenth side surface portion 525 may be disposed adjacent to a hinge structure or a hinge cover (e.g., hinge structure 264 or hinge cover 265 of fig. 4) and may extend substantially parallel to the hinge structure or the hinge cover along fold region a.

According to an embodiment, second side surface member 502 may include other slit(s) 526a, 526b, 526c, 526d, and 526e that at least partially separate portions of conductive material. A structure formed of an insulating material may be formed in at least a portion of the region surrounded by the fifth to tenth

side surface parts

521, 522, 523, 524, and 525. According to an embodiment, the slit(s) 526a, 526b, 526c, 526d, and 526e may be filled with an insulating material. For example, the second side surface member 502 may include insulating material portions that insulate some conductive material portions from other conductive material portions.

According to an embodiment, a sixth slit 526a may be formed between one end of the sixth side surface part 521 and the seventh side surface part 522, and a seventh slit 526b may be formed between the seventh side surface part 522 and the tenth side surface part 525. The eighth slit 526c may be formed between the opposite end of the sixth side surface part 521 and the eighth side surface part 523. A ninth slit 526d may be formed between the eighth side surface part 523 and the ninth side surface part 524, and a tenth slit 526e may be formed between the ninth side surface part 524 and the tenth side surface part 525.

At least portions of the seventh, eighth, and ninth

side surface parts

522, 523, and 524 may be formed of a conductive material. At least part of the seventh side surface part 522, the eighth side surface part 523, and/or the ninth side surface part 524 may be formed as a radiation conductor. According to an embodiment, the seventh side surface part 522, the eighth side surface part 523, and/or the ninth side surface part 524 may function as an antenna radiator (e.g., a radiation conductor) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2). For example, a processor (e.g., the processor 120 of fig. 1) or a communication module (e.g., the communication module 190) of the electronic apparatus 200 may perform wireless communication using a portion of the seventh, eighth, and ninth

side surface parts

522, 523, and 524.

For example, at least a portion of the eighth slit 526c may overlap the third slit 516c when viewed from above the first back cover (e.g., the first back cover 240 of fig. 2) in a folded state of the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2).

According to an embodiment, the third length L3 may be substantially the same as the first length L1, and the fourth length L4 may be substantially the same as the second length L2. The values of the third length L3 and the fourth length L4 may be the same as or similar to the first length L1 and the second length L2 of fig. 5, and a repetitive description thereof will not be given below.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 is a side view illustrating a third slit 516c and an eighth slit 526c among components of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view illustrating a fourth slit 516d, a fifth slit 516e, a ninth slit 526d, and a tenth slit 526e among components of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 8 to 11, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) may include a first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2), a second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2), and a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4). As the first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) and the second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) each rotate about the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4), they may be folded such that the first surface 211 of the first housing structure 210 faces the third surface 221 of the second housing structure 220.

According to an embodiment, when the first and second

side surface members

501 and 502 are viewed from the outside, as shown in fig. 10, the third and

eighth slits

516c and 526c may be aligned to be adjacent to each other at a position where the first case structure is folded to face the second case structure. According to an embodiment, a third slit 516c may be formed in the first side surface member 501 and an eighth slit 526c may be formed in the second side surface member 502. In this state, when the first side surface member 501 or the second side surface member 502 is viewed from the outside at a position where the first case structure is folded to face the second case structure, the third slit 516c formed in the first side surface member 501 and the eighth slit 526c formed in the second side surface member 502 may be aligned to be adjacent to each other.

According to an embodiment, when the bottoms of the first and second

side surface members

501 and 502 are viewed from the outside in a folded state of an electronic apparatus (e.g., the electronic apparatus 200 of fig. 2), the fourth and

fifth slits

516d and 516e formed in the first side surface member 501 and the ninth and

tenth slits

526d and 526e formed in the second side surface member 502 may be aligned to be adjacent to each other. For example, in a folded state of the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2), the non-conductive portions formed in the fourth and

fifth slits

516d and 516e and the ninth and

tenth slits

526d and 526e may also be aligned to be adjacent to each other.

Referring to fig. 2 and 5, since the first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) and the second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) each rotate about the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4), they may be folded such that the first surface 211 of the first housing structure 210 and the third surface 221 of the second housing structure 220 may be arranged side by side. For example, in a state where the first surface 211 faces the third surface 221, the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 may rotate about a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4), unfold, and position themselves side by side. In this case, the first, second, third, fourth, and

fifth slits

516a, 516b, 516c, 516d, and 516e of the first side surface member 501 of the first case structure 210 and the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and

tenth slits

526a, 526b, 526c, 526d, and 526e of the second support member 262 of the second case structure 220 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) with respect to each other.

Fig. 12 is a view illustrating a configuration of an antenna device 600 in an electronic apparatus (e.g., the electronic apparatus 200 of fig. 1) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 12, the first conductive portion of the antenna device 600 may be all or part of the third side surface portion 613 of the first side surface member. The third side surface portion 613 may include a first portion 613a and a second portion 613 b. For example, the first portion 613a may be formed in a first length L1 along a direction parallel to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). The second portion 613b may be connected to the first portion 613a and formed to be curved. The second portion 513b may be formed to a second length L2 in a direction crossing the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). The first conductive portion may be all or part of the fourth side surface portion 614 and may extend perpendicular to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5).

According to an embodiment, a third slit 616c may be formed between the first side surface part 611 and the third side surface part 613 at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the first part 613a of the third side surface part 613 in a direction parallel to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5). According to the embodiment, since the third slit 616c is formed at the position of the first length L1, which is the distance D1 of not less than 30mm and not more than 50mm (e.g., 46mm) from the first portion 613a of the third side surface portion, the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 613) having the radiation performance required to support the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) of one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4) may be provided, the radiation performance degradation of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 613) may be reduced, and the radiation performance degradation of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 613) due to the influence of the body of the user when the user holds the hand on the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 101 of fig. 1) may be reduced. In this way, the third slit 616c can enhance the radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion). For example, when a human body approaches an end of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 613), a drastic change in resonance frequency may occur, resulting in deterioration of radiation performance. Accordingly, repositioning the third slit 616c by the first length L1 may enhance the radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion).

According to an embodiment, as described above in connection with fig. 12, the first length L1 of the third side surface portion 613 may be a length (e.g., 46mm) between 0mm and 50mm in a direction parallel to the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5), and the second length L2 of the third side surface portion 613 may be a length (e.g., 12.6mm) between 2.6mm and 22.6mm in a direction crossing the first axis (e.g., the folding area a of fig. 5).

For example, the sum of the first length L1 and the second length L2 may correspond to an electrical length of a low-band resonance frequency, and allowing the first length L1 to be greater than the second length L2 may turn the flow of the ground current shown in fig. 13 from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction, as described below. This may minimize deterioration of radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513) and thus enhance radiation performance of the radiation conductor (e.g., the third side surface portion 513).

Referring to fig. 12, the third side surface portion 613 may be electrically connected with a printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board 530 of fig. 7). For example, the third side surface portion 613 may include a ground terminal 613c and a power terminal 613 d.

The ground terminal 613c may be electrically connected to a ground portion G provided on the printed circuit board, and the ground terminal 613c may be provided in the third side surface portion 613 to be connected to a wireless communication circuit (e.g., the processor 120 or the communication module 190 of fig. 1) at a position between the fourth slit 616d and the power terminal 613 d.

The ground terminal 613c may include a ground member, and the ground terminal 613c may be electrically connected to the antenna ground.

The power terminal 613d may be electrically connected with a power supply part F provided on a printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board 530 of fig. 7). For example, a power terminal 613d may be provided in the third side surface portion 613 to be able to receive power via a power supply portion F of a printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board 530 of fig. 7) electrically connected at a position adjacent to the ground terminal 613 c.

According to an embodiment, the power terminal 614a provided in the fourth side surface portion 614 may be electrically connected with the power supply portion F of the printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board 530 of fig. 7) independently of the third side surface portion 613, and a portion of the conductive material portion of the fourth side surface portion 614 may be used as an additional radiation conductor forming another resonance frequency. For example, a power source terminal 614a may be provided in the fourth side surface portion 614 to be able to receive power via a power source portion F of a printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board 530 of fig. 7) that is electrically connected at a position adjacent to the fourth slit 616 d.

For example, with reference to fig. 13 and 15, a description is given of a change in radiation characteristics and current flow depending on the positions of slits (e.g., the third slit 516c and the eighth slit 526c of fig. 5) when conductive material portions of the first and second case structures (e.g., the first case structure 210 and the second case structure 220 of fig. 2) are used as radiation conductors in a plurality of cases (e.g., the first case structure 210 and the second case structure 220 of fig. 2) and a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4) in a foldable electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2).

Fig. 13 is a view illustrating current flows in first and second

side surface members

501 and 502 of first and second case structures (e.g., first and

second case structures

210 and 220 of fig. 2) formed in an electronic device (e.g., electronic device 200 of fig. 2) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 13 shows a current flow in the case where the radiation conductor is implemented by having the third slit 516c between the first side surface portion 511 and the third side surface portion 513 and the eighth slit (e.g., the eighth slit 526c of fig. 5) between the sixth second surface portion (e.g., the sixth side surface portion 521 of fig. 5) and the eighth side surface portion (e.g., the eighth side surface portion 523 of fig. 5), the power supply portion and the ground portion being coupled in the same manner as shown in fig. 6. It can be found that when wireless communication is performed using the third side surface part 513 and the eighth side surface part 523 as radiation conductors, the current flow in the electronic device 200 can be turned from the short axis direction (e.g., X axis direction) of the electronic device to the long axis direction (e.g., Y axis direction) of the electronic device.

It can thus be determined that the electronic device 200 can be given better antenna performance due to the turning of the current flow to the long axis direction (e.g., Y axis direction) in the structures of fig. 6 and 9.

Fig. 14 is a view illustrating a flow of radiation current through a ground of a display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4) when a conductive layer (e.g., a shield sheet or a display ground layer) of the display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4) operates as an antenna ground when the electronic device is in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 13 and 14, in a folded state of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2), a conductive layer of a display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4) is included as an antenna ground, and a radiation current of a specific frequency band (e.g., 1GHz) flows through the conductive layer of the display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4). The ground of the display (e.g., display 230 of fig. 4) may have the greatest electrical length among the antenna grounds and may therefore have the greatest effect on radiation. For example, in a case where a ground of a display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4) is formed long along the X-axis, if an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) is folded, the X-axis may be formed as a main radiation current direction of an antenna. In a folded electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2), the radiation current flow in the first side surface member 501 and the second side surface member 502 may be disturbed due to their mutual interference, resulting in performance degradation. This can be solved by forming third and

eighth slits

516c and 526c and third and eighth side surface portions 513 and 523 (e.g., radiation conductors) in the first and second

side surface members

501 and 502. For example, allowing the first length L1 of the third side surface portion 513 and the third length L3 of the eighth side surface portion 523 to be greater than the second length L2 of the third side surface portion 513 and the fourth length L4 of the eighth side surface portion 523 enables a current induced in adjacent ground to be induced along the Y axis instead of the X axis, thereby minimizing interference.

Fig. 15 is a graph illustrating a radiation pattern of the electronic device 200 in a low frequency band (e.g., 800MHz frequency band) in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 15, "K1" represents a radiation pattern of an antenna obtained by supplying power to a radiation conductor (e.g., the fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) provided at the bottom of an electronic device in a low frequency band (e.g., the 800MHz band) when the electronic device does not have side slits (e.g., the third slit 516c and the eighth slit 526c of fig. 5) but has bottom slits (e.g., the fourth slit 516d, the fifth slit 516e, the ninth slit 526d, and the tenth slit 526e of fig. 5), and "K2" represents a radiation pattern of an antenna obtained by supplying power to a radiation conductor (e.g., the fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) provided at the bottom of an electronic device in a low frequency band (e.g., the 800MHz band) when the electronic device has side slits (e.g., the third slit 516c and the eighth slit 526c of fig. 5) and third side surface portions and eighth side surface portions (e.g., the third side surface portion 513 and the eighth side surface portion 523 of fig. 5), in the low frequency band (e.g., third side surface portion 513 and eighth side surface portion 523 of fig. 5) to supply power.

For example, in the

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4), using the radiation conductors of the third and eighth side surface portions (e.g., the third and eighth

side surface portions

513 and 523 of fig. 5) as the antenna after forming the side slits may generate radiation patterns in more directions than the radiation conductors (e.g., the fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) provided at the bottom of the electronic device.

As described above in connection with fig. 10 and 11, when the sides of the first and second

side surface members

501 and 502 are viewed from the outside in the folded state of the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2), the third and

eighth slits

516c and 526c may be aligned to be adjacent to each other, and when the bottoms of the first and second

side surface members

501 and 502 are viewed from the outside in the folded state of the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2), the fourth, fifth, ninth, and

tenth slits

516d, 516e, 526d may be aligned to be adjacent to each other.

As shown in fig. 15, it was determined that "K2" produced a more stable radiation pattern than "K1". For example, the radiation pattern of "K2" is a stable radiation pattern, close to a circle, while the radiation pattern of "K1" is an irregular radiation pattern that is far from a circle. Accordingly, when the electronic apparatus is in a folded state, forming the third slit (e.g., the third slit 516c of fig. 5) and the eighth slit (e.g., the eighth slit 526c of fig. 5) in the side surfaces of the first side surface member 501 and the second side surface member 502 allows stable antenna performance in the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4), thereby improving antenna performance, and thus reducing deterioration of radiation performance of the radiation conductor due to the influence of the user's body when the user makes a call with the electronic apparatus 200 in his hand.

Fig. 16A is a view illustrating the first distance G1, the second distance G2, the third distance G3, and the fourth distance G4 of the slot (e.g., the third slot 516c of fig. 5) formed in the first side surface (e.g., the first side surface 213a of fig. 2) of the electronic device 200, or the first distance H1, the second distance H2, the third distance H3, and the fourth distance H4 of the slot (e.g., the fourth slot 516d of fig. 5) formed in the third side surface (e.g., the third side surface 213c) of the electronic device 200, in a case where the folded electronic device 200 is in a hand (e.g., a right hand) of a user, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 16B is a view illustrating the fourth distance G4 of the slot (e.g., the third slot 516c of fig. 5) formed in the first side surface (e.g., the first side surface 213a of fig. 2) of the electronic device 200 or the first distance H1 of the slot (e.g., the fourth slot 516d of fig. 5) formed in the third side surface (e.g., the third side surface 213c) of the electronic device in a case where the folded electronic device 200 is in a hand (e.g., a left hand) of a user according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 17 is a graph illustrating a change in radiation characteristics depending on a first distance G1, a second distance G2, a third distance G3, and a fourth distance G4 of slits (e.g., the third slits 516c of fig. 5) formed in a first side surface member (e.g., the first side surface member 501 of fig. 2) of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 16A, the slits 516c formed in the first side surface of the electronic device 200 may be formed in positions of a first distance G1, a second distance G2, a third distance G3, and a fourth distance G4. For example, the first, second, third, and fourth distances G1, G2, G3, and G4 may be 10mm, 20mm, 30mm, and 40mm, respectively. The slits 516d formed in the third side surface of the electronic device may be formed in positions of the first distance H1, the second distance H2, the third distance H3, and the fourth distance H4. For example, the first distance H1, the second distance H2, the third distance H3, and the fourth distance H4 may be 18.5mm, 28.5mm, 38.5mm, and 48.5mm, respectively.

Referring to fig. 16B, the fourth distance G4 of the slit 516c formed in the first side surface of the electronic device 200 may be 40 mm. The first distance H1 of the slit 516d formed in the third side surface of the electronic device 200 may be 18.5 mm.

Referring to fig. 17, it can be seen that the fourth distance G4 of the slits 516c formed in the first side surface of the electronic device 200 may ensure better radiation efficiency than the first distance G1, the second distance G2, and the third distance G3.

Fig. 18 is a view illustrating a configuration of a first side surface member 1501 and a second side surface member 1502 that are electrically connected with a switching unit 1300 in a first case structure (e.g., the first case structure 210 of fig. 2) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) using a coaxial cable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 19 is a view illustrating a configuration of a first side surface member 1501 and a second side surface member 1502 that are electrically connected to a switching unit 1300 in the first case structure 210 of the electronic device 200 using a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 18 and 19, a first side surface member 1501 may be provided as part of the first case structure 210 of fig. 2, and a second side surface member 1502 may be provided as part of the second case structure 220 of fig. 2. According to an embodiment, the first side surface member 1501 may include a first side surface portion 1511, a second side surface portion 1512, a third side surface portion 1513, a fourth side surface portion 1514, and/or a fifth side surface portion 1515. According to an embodiment, the first to fifth

side surface portions

1511, 1512, 1513, 1514 and 1515 may also be referred to as "first to fifth side surface portion partial frames". According to an embodiment, the first side surface portion 1511 may be disposed parallel to the folding axis a. The second side surface portion 1512 may be disposed to be spaced apart from an end (e.g., a top) of the first side surface portion 1511 in a direction intersecting with or substantially perpendicular to the folding area a. The third side surface portion 1513 may be disposed to be spaced apart from an opposite end (e.g., a bottom) of the first side surface portion 1511 in parallel with a folding region (e.g., a folding region a of fig. 2). The fourth side surface portion 1514 may be disposed adjacent to one end of the third side surface portion 1513 and may be disposed spaced apart from the third side surface portion 1513 and may extend in the intersecting direction or in the substantially perpendicular direction to the folding area a. The fifth side surface portion 1515 may extend substantially parallel to the folding region a or the first side surface portion 1511. One end of the fifth side surface portion 1515 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the second side surface portion 1512, and the other end of the fifth side surface portion 1515 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the fourth side surface portion 1514. According to an embodiment, the fifth side surface portion 515 may be disposed adjacent to a hinge structure or a hinge cover (e.g., the hinge structure 264 or the hinge cover 265 of fig. 4) and may extend substantially parallel to the hinge structure 264 or the hinge cover 265 along the folding area a.

According to an embodiment, the first side surface member 1501 may include first to

fifth slits

1516a, 1516b, 1516c, 1516d, and 1516e at least partially separating the conductive material portions. The first to

fifth slits

1516a, 1516b, 1516c, 1516d and 1516e may be filled with an insulating material. A first slit 1516a may be formed between one end of the first side surface part 1511 and the second side surface part 1512, and a second slit 1516b may be formed between the second side surface part 1512 and the fifth side surface part 1515. The third slit 516c may be formed between the opposite end of the first side surface part 1511 and the third side surface part 1513. A fourth slit 1516d may be formed between the third side surface portion 1513 and the fourth side surface portion 1514, and a fifth slit 1516e may be formed between the fourth side surface portion 1514 and the fifth side surface portion 1515.

According to an embodiment, the first to

fifth connection terminals

1005a, 1005b, 1005c, 1005d, and 1005e may be formed at respective first ends of the plurality of first connection members 1005 to be electrically connected to ground terminals (not shown) formed in the first to fifth

side surface portions

1511, 1512, 1513, 1514, and 1515, and the first to fifth switching connection terminals 1005a-1, 1005b-1, 1005c-1, 1005d-1, and 1005e-1 may be formed at respective second ends of the plurality of first connection members 1005 to be electrically connected to switching terminals formed in the switching unit 1300.

According to an embodiment, second side surface member 1502 may include a sixth side surface portion 1521, a seventh side surface portion 1522, an eighth side surface portion 1523, a ninth side surface portion 1524, and/or a tenth side surface portion 1525. According to an embodiment, the sixth to tenth

side surface parts

1521, 1522, 1523, 1524 and 1525 may also be referred to as "sixth to tenth side surface part frames". According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the sixth side surface portion 1521 may be disposed in parallel with the folding area a. The seventh side surface portion 1522 may be disposed to be spaced apart from one end (e.g., a top) of the sixth side surface portion 1521 in a direction crossing or substantially perpendicular to the folding area a. The eighth side surface portion 1523 may be disposed to be spaced apart from an opposite end (e.g., a bottom) of the sixth side surface portion 1521 in parallel with the folding area a. The ninth side surface portion 1524 may be disposed adjacent to one end of the eighth side surface portion 1523 and may be disposed spaced apart from the eighth side surface portion 1523 and may extend to the folding area a in a crossing direction or in a substantially perpendicular direction. The tenth side surface portion 1525 may extend substantially parallel to the folding area a. One end of the tenth side surface part 1525 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the seventh side surface part 1522, and the other end of the tenth side surface part 1525 is disposed to be spaced apart from one end of the ninth side surface part 1524. According to an embodiment, tenth side surface portion 1525 may be disposed adjacent to a hinge structure or a hinge cover (e.g., hinge structure 264 or hinge cover 265 of fig. 4) and may extend substantially parallel to the hinge structure or the hinge cover along fold region a.

According to an embodiment, the second side surface member 1502 may include sixth to

tenth slits

1526a, 1526b, 1526c, 1526d and 1526e at least partially separating conductive material portions, and the sixth to

tenth slits

1526a, 1526b, 1526c, 1526d and 1526e may be filled with an insulating material.

According to an embodiment, a sixth slit 1526a may be formed between one end of the sixth side surface portion 1521 and the seventh side surface portion 1522, and a seventh slit 1526b may be formed between the seventh side surface portion 1522 and the tenth side surface portion 1525. The eighth slit 1526c may be formed between an opposite end of the sixth side surface portion 1521 and the eighth side surface portion 1523. A ninth slit 1526d may be formed between the eighth side surface portion 1523 and the ninth side surface portion 1524, and a tenth slit 1526e may be formed between the ninth side surface portion 1524 and the tenth side surface portion 1525.

According to an embodiment, the sixth to

tenth connection terminals

1006a, 1006b, 1006c, 1006d and 1006e may be formed at respective first ends of the plurality of second connection members 1006 to be electrically connected with a ground terminal (not shown) formed in the sixth to tenth

side surface parts

1521, 1522, 1523, 1524 and 1525, and the sixth to tenth switching connection terminals 1006a-1, 1006b-1, 1006c-1, 1006d-1 and 1006e-1 may be formed at respective second ends of the plurality of second connection members 1006 to be electrically connected with switching terminals formed in the switching unit 1300.

Fig. 18 and 19 illustrate a configuration of an antenna device 1500 in an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) (e.g., in a plurality of

housing structures

210 and 220 and a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4)) according to an embodiment.

Referring to fig. 18 and 19, the antenna device 1500 may include a first side surface member 1501 and a second side surface member 1502. For example, the first side surface member 1501 may include at least one first radiation conductor 1001 and at least one second radiation conductor 1002, and the second side surface member 1502 may include at least one third radiation conductor 1003 and at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004. For example, the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 may be formed by a third side surface portion 1513 and a fourth side surface portion 1514, and the at least one second radiation conductor 1002 may be formed by a first side surface portion 1511, a second side surface portion 1512, and a fifth side surface portion 1515. For example, the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 may be formed of an eighth side surface part 1523 and a ninth side surface part 1524, and the at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004 may be formed of a sixth side surface part 1521, a seventh side surface part 1522 and a tenth side surface part 1525.

According to an embodiment, a plurality of first connecting members 1005 may be provided in at least a portion of the first case structure 210 to electrically connect the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 and the at least one second radiation conductor 1002 with the switching unit 1300. A plurality of second connecting members 1006 may be provided in at least portions of the first and

second case structures

210 and 220 and at least portions of the hinge structure 264 to electrically connect the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 and the at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004 with the switching unit 1300. For example, the switching unit 1300 may be disposed in the first case structure 210. As another example, the switching unit 1300 may be provided in the communication module 1200 described below. For example, the switching unit 1300 may be disposed inside or outside the communication module 1200. In this state, the plurality of second connecting members 1006 may electrically connect the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 and the at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004 with the switching unit 1300, disposed in the second case structure 220. In this case, the plurality of second connection members 1006 may be electrically connected with the switching unit 1300 via the hinge structure 264.

At least a portion of at least one of the first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 may be formed of a conductive material. For example, at least one of the first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 may be used as an antenna radiator (e.g., radiation conductor) of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2). For example, in a plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4), the processor 1400 or the communication module 1200 (e.g., the processor 120 or the communication module 190 of fig. 1) of the electronic device 200 may transmit/receive a radio signal using a portion of at least one of the first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004. The communication module 1200 may perform wireless communication between the electronic device 200 and an external electronic device (e.g., the external

electronic device

102 or 104 of fig. 1).

The at least one first and at least one

third radiation conductor

1001 and 1003 may be formed by a main antenna, and the at least one second and at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004 may be formed by a sub antenna.

For example, the primary antenna may include an LTE communication antenna or at least one of a 3G, 4G, and 5G communication antenna. The sub-antennas may include at least one of a Wi-Fi antenna for wireless LAN communication, a bluetooth antenna or a zigbee antenna for short-range wireless communication, a wireless charging antenna for wirelessly charging a battery, a broadcast communication antenna, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of first connection members 1005 and the plurality of second connection members 1006 may include at least one of a coaxial cable, a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB), a microstrip line, or a strip line. According to an embodiment, although the plurality of first connection members 1005 and the plurality of second connection members 1006 include a coaxial cable, an FPCB, a microstrip line, or a strip line as an example, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, as the plurality of first connecting members 1005 and the plurality of second connecting members 1006, any of various other components that can electrically connect at least one of the first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 with the switching unit 1300 may be used.

According to an embodiment, as described above in connection with fig. 18, since the plurality of first connection members 1005 and the plurality of second connection members 1006 are formed of coaxial cables, radiation characteristics of an antenna may be enhanced in the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4). This may enhance the function of the at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 as radiators.

According to the embodiment, since the plurality of first connection members 2005 and the plurality of second connection members 2006 are formed of the FPCB as described above in connection with fig. 19, the plurality of first connection members 2005 and the plurality of second connection members 2006 may be prevented from being damaged due to repeated folding or unfolding of the first and second housing structures (e.g., the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 of fig. 2). For example, at least a portion of the plurality of second connecting members 2006 formed of the FPCB may be disposed in the folded portion of the hinge structure 264, and in this state, the plurality of second connecting members 1006 may be prevented from being damaged in the folded portion of the hinge structure 264 when the first and second housing structures (e.g., the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 of fig. 2) are repeatedly folded or unfolded. Accordingly, the electrical connection between the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 and the at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004 and the switching unit 1300 can be enhanced.

Fig. 20 is a view illustrating a configuration of a first side surface member 1501 and a second side surface member 1502 that are electrically connected with a switching unit 1300 in a first case structure of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) using a coaxial cable and a flexible printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The electronic device 200 may be identical or similar in at least partial construction to the electronic device described above (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2). Accordingly, at least one of the components of the electronic device 200 may be the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the electronic device 200 of fig. 2, and a repeated description thereof will not be provided below.

Referring to fig. 20, a first case structure (e.g., the first case structure 210 of fig. 2) may be provided with a plurality of third connection members 1007 electrically connecting at least one first radiation conductor 1001 and at least one second radiation conductor 1002 with a switching unit 1300, and a second case structure (e.g., the second case structure 220 of fig. 2) may be provided with a plurality of fourth connection members 1008 electrically connecting at least one third radiation conductor 1003 and at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004 with the switching unit 1300. A plurality of fifth connecting members 1009 electrically connecting the plurality of fourth connecting members 1008 and the switching unit 1300 may be provided in at least parts of the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 and at least part of the hinge structure 264. For example, a plurality of third linking members 1007 may be provided in the first housing structure 210, in which state a plurality of fourth linking members 1008 may be provided in the second housing structure 220, and a plurality of fifth linking members 1009 may be provided in at least part of the hinge structure 264.

According to an embodiment, the first to

fifth connection terminals

1007a, 1007b, 1007c, 1007d, and 1007e may be formed at respective first ends of the plurality of third connection members 1007 to be electrically connected with ground terminals (not shown) formed in the first to fifth

side surface parts

1511, 1512, 1513, 1514, and 1515, and the first to fifth switching connection terminals 1007a-1, 1007b-1, 1007c-1, 1007d-1, and 1007e-1 may be formed at respective second ends of the plurality of third connection members 1007 to be electrically connected with switching terminals formed in the switching unit 1300.

Sixth to tenth connection ends 1008a, 1008b, 1008c, 1008d and 1008e may be formed at respective first ends of the plurality of fourth connection members 1008 to be electrically connected with ground terminals formed in the sixth to tenth

side surface portions

1521, 1522, 1523, 1524 and 1525, and eleventh to fifteenth connection ends 1008a-1, 1008b-1, 1008c-1, 1008d-1 and 1008e-1 may be formed at respective second ends of the plurality of fourth connection members 1008 to be electrically connected with sixteenth to twentieth connection ends 1009a, 1009b, 1009c, 1009d and 1009e described below.

The sixteenth to twentieth connection ends 1009a, 1009b, 1009c, 1009d and 1009e may be formed at respective first ends of the plurality of fifth connection members 1009 to be electrically connected with the eleventh to fifteenth connection ends 1008a-1, 1008b-1, 1008c-1, 1008d-1 and 1008e-1 of the plurality of fourth connection members 1008, and the twenty-first to twenty-fifth switching connection ends 1009a-1, 1009b-1, 1009c-1, 1009d-1 and 1009e-1 may be formed at respective second ends of the plurality of fifth connection members 1009 to be electrically connected with the switching ends formed in the switching unit 1300.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of third connection members 1007 and the plurality of fourth connection members 1008 may be formed of coaxial cables, and the plurality of fifth connection members may be formed of Flexible Printed Circuit Boards (FPCBs).

For example, placing the plurality of third connecting members 1007 and the plurality of fourth connecting members 1008 formed of coaxial cables in the first case structure 210 and the second case structure 220 may enhance the electrical connection between the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 and the at least one second radiation conductor 1002 and the switching unit 1300 and enhance the radiation characteristics of the antenna.

A plurality of fifth coupling members 1009 formed of FPCB may be provided in the folded portion of the hinge structure 264, and thus, the plurality of fifth coupling members 1009 may be prevented from being damaged although the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 are repeatedly folded or unfolded. By preventing damage to the plurality of fifth connecting members 1009 formed of the FPCB, the electrical connection between the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 and the at least one fourth radiation conductor 1004 and the switching unit 1300 may be enhanced.

In this way, the plurality of

third connection members

1007 and 1008 formed of coaxial cables are provided in the first and

second case structures

210 and 220, and the plurality of fifth connection members 1009 formed of FPCBs are provided in the folded portion of the hinge structure 264, it is possible to enhance the electrical connection between the at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 and the switching unit 1300 in the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4), and thus enhance the function of the at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003, 1004 as an antenna, while ensuring stable antenna performance. Further, a plurality of fifth connection members 1009 formed of FPCBs may be disposed in the folded portion of the hinge structure 264, and in this state, the fifth connection members 1009 may be prevented from being damaged in the folded portion of the hinge structure 264 when the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 are repeatedly folded or unfolded. Accordingly, the plurality of fifth connecting members 1009 formed of the FPCB may enhance the electrical connection between the switching unit 1300 and the at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 and maintain the stable electrical connection between the switching unit 1300 and the at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004.

Fig. 21 is a view illustrating a hand-held state of a second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) among components of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 22 is a view illustrating a hand-held state of a first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) among components of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 200 of fig. 2) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 23 is a view illustrating a hand-held state of first and second housing structures (e.g., the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 of fig. 2) among components of the electronic device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 21 to 23, the electronic device 200 may include a first housing structure 210, a second housing structure 220, and a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4). The first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 may rotate about a hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4), operate in an unfolded state or a folded state in the plurality of

housing structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure (e.g., the hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4).

At least one of the components of the electronic device 200 may be the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the antenna element 1500 of fig. 18-20, and a repeated description thereof will not be provided below.

Furthermore, as described above in connection with fig. 18 to 20, the electronic device 200 may include at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004, a sensor unit 1100, a communication module 1200, a switching unit 1300, a processor 1400 and a memory 1401.

The sensor unit 1100 may detect an operation state of the electronic device 200 and convert the detected information into an electrical signal. For example, the sensor unit 1100 may include at least one of a grip sensor and a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor may detect whether an external object (e.g., a user's finger or a stylus) is in proximity to the electronic device 200, for example, on a display (e.g., display 230 of fig. 4) of the electronic device 200.

The grip sensor may detect that the electronic device 200 is gripped or held in an external object (e.g., a user's hand). The grip sensor may be provided in at least one of left/right side surfaces, top/bottom surfaces, or rear surfaces of the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 of the electronic device 200. The grip sensor may transmit the obtained sensor information to the processor 1400.

According to an embodiment, if the body of the user touches the electronic device 200, the grip sensor may detect a capacitance change of the electronic device 200, thereby sensing the body touch of the user. Accordingly, a grip sensor, which is a separate sensor for detecting a user's body touch, may be installed in the electronic device 200, or a grip sensor, which is a non-separate sensor, may be implemented to detect a change in capacitance of the first and second housing structures 210 and 220 (e.g., metal housings) of the electronic device 200.

According to an embodiment, such a grip sensor is described as an example.

For example, in the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure 264 supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4), the communication module 1200 may be electrically connected with at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004 to transmit/receive a radio signal.

The switching unit 1300 may electrically connect the communication module 1200 with at least one first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004.

The processor 1400 may detect a hand grip on the first housing structure 210 and/or the second housing structure 220 via the sensor unit 1100 in the unfolded state or the folded state of the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220, and control the switching unit 1300 to switch from the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 to the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or the fourth radiation conductor 1004, or from the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or the fourth radiation conductor 1004 to the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002.

The memory 1401 may store a handover control program for controlling the handover unit 1300. For example, the switching control program may store data for controlling the switching unit 1300 to switch at least one of the first to

fourth radiation conductors

1001, 1002, 1003 and 1004. For example, the switching control program may store data for adjustment to switch from at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 to at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or fourth radiation conductor 1004 or from at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or fourth radiation conductor 1004 to at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 depending on the grip on the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220.

When the first housing structure 210 is held by a hand in the unfolded state of the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220, the processor 1400 may detect the hand holding via the sensor unit 1100 and control the switching unit 1300 to switch from the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 of the first housing structure 210 to the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or fourth radiation conductor 1004 of the second housing structure 220. In this case, at least one of the first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 of the first case structure 210 may experience a reduction in radiation performance due to a hand grip of a user. However, since the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or fourth radiation conductor 1004 of the second case structure 220 is not in hand grip of the user, it is possible to prevent the radiation performance of the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or fourth radiation conductor 1004 from being lowered due to the influence of the human body. Thus, the electronic device 200 may select at least one third 1003 or fourth 1004 radiation conductor by the switching unit 1300 and use it as an antenna.

According to an embodiment, when the second housing structure 220 is held by a hand in the unfolded state of the first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) and the second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2), the processor 1400 may detect the hand holding via the sensor unit 1100, and control the switching unit 1300 to switch from the at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or the fourth radiation conductor 1004 of the second housing structure 220 to the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 of the first housing structure 210, as described above in conjunction with fig. 18 to 20 and 22. The at least one third 1003 or fourth 1004 radiation conductor of the second housing structure 220 may also experience a reduction in radiation performance due to the hand grip of the user. However, since at least one of the first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 of the first case structure 210 is not held by a hand of a user, it is possible to prevent a radiation performance from being lowered due to an influence of a human body. Accordingly, the electronic device 200 can select and use at least one of the first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 as an antenna through the switching unit 1300, thereby ensuring stable operation of the antenna.

According to an embodiment, when both the first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 are held by a hand in the unfolded state of the first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) and the second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2), the processor 1400 may detect the hand holding via the sensor unit 1100 and control the switching unit 1300 to switch to the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 of the first housing structure 210, as described above in conjunction with fig. 18 to 20 and 23. For example, at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 may be electrically connected with the switching unit 1300 via a plurality of first connection members 1005, and at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or fourth radiation conductor 1004 may be electrically connected with the switching unit 1300 via a plurality of second connection members 1006. The length F1 or F2 of the plurality of first connection members 1005 may be less than the length F3 or F4 of the plurality of second connection members 1006.

For example, since the length F1 or F2 of the plurality of first connection members 1005 is less than the length F3 or F4 of the plurality of second connection members 1006, the plurality of first connection members 1005 may cause less antenna radiation loss than the plurality of second connection members 1006 in the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure 264 supporting one display (e.g., the display 230 of fig. 4). Therefore, the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 can exhibit more stable radiation performance than the at least one third or fourth radiation conductor. Thus, the processor 1400 may control the switching unit 1300 to select at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 of the first housing structure 210. Thus, in the case where both the first case structure 210 and the second case structure 220 are held by a hand, at least one of the first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 may function as an antenna. Therefore, the electronic device 200 can ensure stable antenna performance using at least one of the first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 as an antenna.

According to an embodiment, when the first and

second housing structures

210 and 220 are held by a hand in the unfolded state of the first and second housing structures (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2 and the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2), the processor 1400 may detect the hand holding via the sensor unit 1100 and control the switching unit 1300 to switch to the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 of the first housing structure, as described above in connection with fig. 16B and 18 to 20. For example, at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 may be electrically connected with the switching unit 1300 via a plurality of first connection members 1005, and at least one third radiation conductor 1003 or fourth radiation conductor 1004 may be electrically connected with the switching unit 1300 via a plurality of second connection members 1006. Since the length F1 or F2 of the plurality of first connection members 1005 is less than the length F3 or F4 of the plurality of second connection members 1006, the plurality of first connection members 1005 may cause less antenna radiation loss than the plurality of second connection members 1006. Therefore, the at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 can exhibit more stable radiation performance than the at least one third or fourth radiation conductor. Thus, the processor 1400 may control the switching unit 1300 to select at least one first radiation conductor 1001 or second radiation conductor 1002 of the first housing structure 210. Thus, at least one of the first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 may be used as an antenna, wherein the folded first housing structure 210 and the second housing structure 220 are held by a hand.

In this way, although both the first case structure 210 and the second case structure 220 are held by a hand in the unfolded state of the first case structure 210 and the second case structure 220 in the plurality of

case structures

210 and 220 and the hinge structure 264 supporting one display (for example, the display 230 of fig. 4), the electronic device 200 may ensure stable antenna performance using at least one of the first radiation conductor 1001 or the second radiation conductor 1002 as an antenna.

According to an embodiment, an electronic apparatus (e.g., the electronic apparatus 200 of fig. 2) having an antenna device (e.g., the antenna device 500 of fig. 6) includes: a first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a first side surface member (e.g., the first side surface member 501 of fig. 5) at least partially surrounding a space between the first surface and the second surface, the first housing structure (e.g., the first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) including a third surface facing in a third direction, a fourth surface facing in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, and a second side surface member (e.g., the second side surface member 502 of fig. 5) at least partially surrounding a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, the second housing structure (e.g., the second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a hinge structure (e.g., hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) rotatably connecting the first housing structure (e.g., first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) and the second housing structure (e.g., second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) and providing a folding axis (e.g., a of fig. 5) about which the first housing structure (e.g., first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) and the second housing structure (e.g., second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) rotate; and at least one printed circuit board disposed between the first surface and the second surface or between the third surface and the fourth surface, wherein the first side surface member (e.g., first side surface member 501 of fig. 5) and the second side surface member (e.g., second side surface member 502 of fig. 5) include: a first side surface portion (e.g., first side surface portion 511 of fig. 5) disposed parallel to the folding axis; a second side surface portion (e.g., a second side surface portion 512 of fig. 5) extending from one end of the first side surface portion (e.g., a first side surface portion 511 of fig. 5) in a direction crossing the folding axis (e.g., a of fig. 5); a third side surface portion (e.g., a third side surface portion 513 of fig. 5) extending from the other end of the first side surface portion (e.g., a first side surface portion 511 of fig. 5) in parallel with the folding axis (e.g., a of fig. 5); a fourth side surface portion (e.g., a fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) connected with the third side surface portion (e.g., a third side surface portion 513 of fig. 5) and extending from the third side surface portion (e.g., the third side surface portion 513 of fig. 5) in a direction crossing the folding axis (e.g., a of fig. 5); a fifth side surface portion (e.g., fifth side surface portion 515 of fig. 5) connecting the second side surface portion (e.g., second side surface portion 512 of fig. 5) and the fourth side surface portion (e.g., fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) and extending parallel to the folding axis (e.g., a of fig. 5), the fifth side surface portion (e.g., fifth side surface portion 515 of fig. 5) being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure (e.g., hinge structure 264 of fig. 4); a first slit (e.g., a first slit 516a of fig. 5) formed between one end of a first side surface portion (e.g., a first side surface portion 511 of fig. 5) and a second side surface portion (e.g., a second side surface portion 512 of fig. 5); a second slit (e.g., second slit 516b of fig. 5) formed between a second side surface portion (e.g., second side surface portion 512 of fig. 5) and a fifth side surface portion (e.g., fifth side surface portion 515 of fig. 5); a third slit (e.g., a third slit 516c of fig. 5) formed between the other end of the first side surface portion (e.g., the first side surface portion 511 of fig. 5) and the third side surface portion (e.g., the third side surface portion 513 of fig. 5); a fourth slit (e.g., a fourth slit 516d of fig. 5) formed between the third side surface portion (e.g., the third side surface portion 513 of fig. 5) and the fourth side surface portion (e.g., the fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5); and a fifth slit (e.g., a fifth slit 516e of fig. 5) formed between the fourth side surface portion (e.g., the fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) and the fifth side surface portion (e.g., the fifth side surface portion 515 of fig. 5), and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the second side surface portion (e.g., the second side surface portion 512 of fig. 5), the third side surface portion (e.g., the third side surface portion 513 of fig. 5), and the fourth side surface portion (e.g., the fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) is formed of a radiation conductor and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

According to an embodiment, the third side surface portion may include a first portion formed with a first length in a direction parallel to the folding axis and a second portion connected to the first portion and formed with a second length in a direction crossing the folding axis.

According to an embodiment, the first portion may be longer than the second portion.

According to an embodiment, the third slit may be formed within a distance of not less than 30mm and not more than 50mm from the second portion of the third side surface portion in a direction parallel to the folding axis.

According to an embodiment, the first length may be in a range of 30mm to 50mm, and the second length may be in a range of 8.6mm to 28.6 mm.

According to an embodiment, the third side surface portion may include a ground terminal, a power terminal, and a switching terminal, wherein the ground terminal may be provided in the third side surface portion to be electrically connected with the ground part included in the printed circuit board at a position adjacent to the fourth slit, the power terminal may be provided in the third side surface portion to be electrically connected with the power part included in the printed circuit board between the ground terminal and the switching terminal, and the switching terminal may be provided in the third side surface portion to be electrically connected with the switching part included in the printed circuit board at a position adjacent to the power terminal.

According to an embodiment, the fourth side surface portion may include a power source end, wherein the power source end may be provided in the fourth side surface portion to be electrically connected with a power source portion included in the printed circuit board at a position adjacent to the fourth slit.

According to an embodiment, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth slits may be filled with an insulating material.

According to an embodiment, the first and second housing structures may be rotatable about the hinge structure to fold to allow the first surface to face the third surface or to allow the first surfaces to be positioned side by side, wherein, in a folded position in which the first surface faces the third surface, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth slits of the first side surface member of the first housing structure adjacently face the first, second, third, fourth and fifth slits of the second side surface member of the second housing structure, and in a position in which the first and third surfaces may be positioned side by side, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth slits of the first side surface member of the first housing structure may be positioned with respect to the fold axis with the first, second and fifth slits of the second side surface member of the second housing structure, The third slit, the fourth slit and the fifth slit are symmetrical.

According to an embodiment, an electronic apparatus (e.g., the electronic apparatus 200 of fig. 2) having an antenna device (e.g., the antenna device 500 of fig. 2) includes: a first housing structure including a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a first side surface member at least partially surrounding a space between the first surface and the second surface, the first housing structure being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a second housing structure including a third surface facing in a third direction, a fourth surface facing in a fourth direction opposite the third direction, and a second side surface member at least partially surrounding a space between the third surface and the fourth surface, the second housing structure being at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material; a hinge structure rotatably connecting the first housing structure and the second housing structure and providing a folding axis about which the first housing structure and the second housing structure rotate; and at least one printed circuit board disposed between the first surface and the second surface or between the third surface and the fourth surface, wherein the first side surface member (e.g., the first side surface member 501 of fig. 5) may include: a first side surface portion (e.g., first side surface portion 511 of fig. 5) disposed parallel to the folding axis; a second side surface portion (e.g., second side surface portion 512 of fig. 5) extending from one end of the first side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; a third side surface portion extending from the other end of the first side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis; a fourth side surface portion (e.g., a fourth side surface portion 514 of fig. 5) connected to and extending from the third side surface portion in a direction crossing the folding axis; a fifth side surface portion (e.g., fifth side surface portion 515 of fig. 5) connecting the second side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion and extending parallel to the folding axis, the fifth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure; a first slit (e.g., a first slit 516a of fig. 5) formed between one end of the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion; a second slit (e.g., second slit 516b of fig. 5) formed between the second side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion; a third slit (e.g., a third slit 516c of fig. 5) formed between the other end of the first side surface portion and the third side surface portion; a fourth slit (e.g., fourth slit 516d of fig. 5) formed between the third and fourth side surface portions; and a fifth slit (e.g., fifth slit 516e of fig. 5) formed between the fourth side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion, and the second side surface member (e.g., second side surface member 502 of fig. 5) may include: a sixth side surface portion (for example, sixth side surface portion 521 of fig. 5) disposed in parallel with the folding axis; a seventh side surface portion (e.g., seventh side surface portion 522 of fig. 5) extending from one end of the sixth side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; an eighth side surface portion (e.g., an eighth side surface portion 523 of fig. 5) extending from the other end of the sixth side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis; a ninth side surface portion (e.g., ninth side surface portion 524 of fig. 5) connected to the eighth side surface portion and extending from the eighth side surface portion in a direction crossing the folding axis; a tenth side surface portion (e.g., tenth side surface portion 525 of fig. 5) connecting the seventh side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion and extending in parallel with the folding axis, the tenth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure; a sixth slit (e.g., sixth slit 526a of fig. 5) formed between one end of the sixth side surface portion and the seventh side surface portion; a seventh slit (e.g., seventh slit 526b of fig. 5) formed between the seventh side surface portion and the tenth side surface portion; an eighth slit (e.g., eighth slit 526c of fig. 5) formed between the other end of the sixth side surface portion and the eighth side surface portion; a ninth slit (e.g., ninth slit 526d of fig. 5) formed between the eighth side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion; and a tenth slit (for example, a tenth slit 526e of fig. 5) formed between the ninth side surface portion and the tenth side surface portion, and wherein at least a part of at least one of the second side surface portion, the third side surface portion, and the fourth side surface portion may be formed of a radiation conductor and may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and at least a part of at least one of the seventh side surface portion, the eighth side surface portion, and the ninth side surface portion may be formed of a radiation conductor and may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

According to an embodiment, the third side surface part may include a first part formed at a predetermined first length L1 in a direction parallel to the folding axis and a second part connected to the first part and formed at a predetermined second length L2 in a direction crossing the folding axis, and the eighth side surface part may include a third part formed at a predetermined third length L3 in a direction parallel to the folding axis and a fourth part connected to the third part and formed at a predetermined fourth length L4 in a direction crossing the folding axis.

According to an embodiment, the first portion may be longer than the second portion, and the third portion may be longer than the fourth portion.

According to an embodiment, the third slit may be formed within a distance D1 of not less than 30mm and not more than 50mm from the second portion of the third side surface portion in a direction parallel to the folding axis, and the eighth slit may be formed within a distance D2 of not less than 30mm and not more than 50mm from the fourth portion of the eighth side surface portion in a direction parallel to the folding axis.

According to an embodiment, the predetermined first length L1 and the predetermined third length L3 may be in a range of 30mm to 50mm, and the predetermined second length L2 and the predetermined fourth length L4 may be in a range of 8.6mm to 28.6 mm.

According to an embodiment, the eighth side surface portion may include a ground terminal, a power terminal, and a switching terminal, wherein the ground terminal may be provided in the eighth side surface portion to be electrically connected with the ground part included in the printed circuit board at a position adjacent to the ninth slit, the power terminal may be provided in the eighth side surface portion to be electrically connected with the power part included in the printed circuit board between the ground terminal and the switching terminal, and the switching terminal may be provided in the eighth side surface portion to be electrically connected with the switching part included in the printed circuit board at a position adjacent to the power terminal.

According to an embodiment, the ninth side surface portion may include a power source terminal, wherein the power source terminal may be provided in the ninth side surface portion to be electrically connected with the power source part included in the printed circuit board at a position adjacent to the ninth slit.

According to an embodiment, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth slits may be filled with an insulating material.

According to an embodiment, the first and second housing structures may be rotatable about the hinge structure to fold to allow the first surface to face the third surface or to allow the first surfaces to be positioned side by side, wherein, in the folded position in which the first surface faces the third surface, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth slits of the first side surface member of the first housing structure adjacently face the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth slits of the second side surface member of the second housing structure, and in the position in which the first and third surfaces may be positioned side by side, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth slits of the first side surface member of the first housing structure may be positioned with respect to the folding axis with the sixth, seventh and sixth slits of the second side surface member of the second housing structure, The eighth slit, the ninth slit and the tenth slit are symmetrical.

According to an embodiment, an electronic apparatus (e.g., the electronic apparatus 200 of fig. 2) having an antenna device (e.g., the antenna device 1500 of fig. 18) includes: a first housing structure (e.g., first housing structure 210 of fig. 2) including a first side surface member; a second housing structure (e.g., second housing structure 220 of fig. 2) including a second side surface member; and a hinge structure (e.g., hinge structure 264 of fig. 4) rotatably connecting the first and second housing structures and providing a folding axis (e.g., folding axis a of fig. 5) about which the first and second housing structures rotate, wherein the first side surface member (e.g., first side surface member 1501 of fig. 18) may include at least one first radiation conductor and at least one second radiation conductor, and the second side surface member (e.g., second side surface member 1502 of fig. 18) may include at least one third radiation conductor and at least one fourth radiation conductor, wherein a plurality of first connection members (e.g., plurality of first connection members 1005 of fig. 18) may be disposed in at least a portion of the first housing structure to connect the at least one first radiation conductor (e.g., at least one first radiation conductor 1001 of fig. 18) and the at least one second radiation conductor (e.g., the second radiation conductor 1002 of fig. 18) is electrically connected with a switching unit (e.g., the switching unit 1300 of fig. 18) provided in the first case structure, and a plurality of second connection members (e.g., a plurality of second connection members 1006 of fig. 18) may be provided in at least portions of the first and second case structures and at least portions of the hinge structure to electrically connect at least one third radiation conductor (e.g., the third radiation conductor 1003 of fig. 18) and at least one fourth radiation conductor (e.g., the fourth radiation conductor 1004 of fig. 18) with the switching unit (e.g., the switching unit 1300 of fig. 18).

According to an embodiment, a first side surface member (e.g., first side surface member 1501 of fig. 18) may include: a first side surface portion (e.g., first side surface portion 1511 of fig. 18) disposed parallel to the folding axis; a second side surface portion (e.g., second side surface portion 1512 of fig. 18) extending from one end of the first side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; a third side surface portion (e.g., a third side surface portion 1513 of fig. 18) extending from the other end of the first side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis; a fourth side surface portion (e.g., a fourth side surface portion 1514 of fig. 18) connected with the third side surface portion and extending from the third side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; and a fifth side surface portion (e.g., a fifth side surface portion 1515 of fig. 18) connecting the second side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion and extending in parallel with the folding axis, the fifth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure; a first slit (e.g., a first slit 1516a of fig. 18) formed between one end of the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion; a second slit (e.g., a second slit 1516b of fig. 18) formed between the second side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion; a third slit (e.g., a third slit 1516c of fig. 18) formed between the other end of the first side surface portion and the third side surface portion; a fourth slit (e.g., fourth slit 1516d of fig. 18) formed between the third side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion; and a fifth slit (e.g., a fifth slit 1516e of fig. 18) formed between the fourth side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion, wherein the third side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion may be formed of at least one first radiation conductor, and the first side surface portion, the second side surface portion, and the fifth side surface portion may be formed of at least one second radiation conductor.

According to an embodiment, the second side surface member (e.g., second side surface member 1502 of fig. 18) may include: a sixth side surface portion (for example, a sixth side surface portion 1521 of fig. 18) disposed in parallel with the folding axis; a seventh side surface portion (e.g., seventh side surface portion 1522 of fig. 18) extending from one end of the sixth side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis; an eighth side surface portion (e.g., eighth side surface portion 1523 of fig. 18) extending from the other end of the sixth side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis; a ninth side surface portion (e.g., ninth side surface portion 1524 of fig. 18) connected with the eighth side surface portion and extending from the eighth side surface portion in a direction crossing the folding axis; and a tenth side surface portion (e.g., tenth side surface portion 1525 of fig. 18) connecting the seventh side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion and extending in parallel with the folding axis, the tenth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure; a sixth slit (e.g., sixth slit 1526a of fig. 18) formed between one end of the sixth side surface portion and the seventh side surface portion; a seventh slit (e.g., seventh slit 1526b of fig. 18) formed between the seventh side surface portion and the tenth side surface portion; an eighth slit (e.g., eighth slit 1526c of fig. 18) formed between the other end of the sixth side surface portion and the eighth side surface portion; a ninth slit (e.g., ninth slit 1526d of fig. 18) formed between the eighth side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion; and a tenth slit (for example, a tenth slit 1526e of fig. 18) formed between the ninth side surface portion and the tenth side surface portion, and wherein the eighth side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion may be formed of at least one third radiation conductor, and the sixth side surface portion, the seventh side surface portion, and the tenth side surface portion may be formed of at least one fourth radiation conductor.

According to an embodiment, the at least one first and at least one third radiating conductor may be formed by a main antenna, and the at least one second and at least one fourth radiating conductor may be formed by a sub-antenna.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of first connection members and the plurality of second connection members include at least one of a coaxial cable, a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB), a microstrip line, or a strip line.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of first connecting members may be shorter than the plurality of second connecting members (e.g., as shown in fig. 18, the lengths F1 and F2 of the plurality of first connecting members may be shorter than the lengths F3 and F4 of the plurality of second connecting members).

According to an embodiment, a plurality of third connection members (e.g., the third connection member 1007 of fig. 20) may be disposed in the first case structure to electrically connect the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor with the switching unit, a plurality of fourth connection members (e.g., the fourth connection member 1008 of fig. 20) may be disposed in the second case structure to electrically connect the at least one third radiation conductor and the at least one fourth radiation conductor with the switching unit, and a plurality of fifth connection members (e.g., the fifth connection member 1009 of fig. 20) may be disposed in at least parts of the first and second case structures and at least part of the hinge structure to electrically connect the plurality of fourth connection members with the switching unit.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of third connection members and the plurality of fourth connection members may be formed of coaxial cables, and the plurality of fifth connection members may be formed of Flexible Printed Circuit Boards (FPCBs).

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may further include: a sensor unit (for example, a sensor unit 1100 of fig. 18) electrically connected to at least one of the first to fourth radiation conductors; a communication module (e.g., communication module 1200 of fig. 18) electrically connected with the at least one first to fourth radiation conductors and configured to transmit/receive a wireless signal; a switching unit (e.g., switching unit 1300 of fig. 18) electrically connecting the communication module with at least one of the first to fourth radiation conductors; and a processor configured to detect, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on the first housing structure and/or the second housing structure in an unfolded state or a folded state of the first housing structure and the second housing structure, and to control the switching unit to switch from the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor to the at least one third radiation conductor and the at least one fourth radiation conductor, or from the at least one third radiation conductor and the at least one fourth radiation conductor to the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to detect, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on the first housing structure in the unfolded state and to control the switching unit to switch from the at least one first and the at least one second and the at least one third and the at least one fourth radiation conductor.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to detect, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on the second housing structure in the unfolded state and to control the switching unit to switch from the at least one third and the at least one fourth radiation conductor to the at least one first and the at least one second radiation conductor.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to detect, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on both the first housing structure and the second housing structure in the unfolded state, and to control the switching unit to switch the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor.

According to an embodiment, the processor may be configured to detect, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on both the first housing structure and the second housing structure in the folded state, and to control the switching unit to switch the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a first housing structure including a first side surface member;

a second housing structure including a second side surface member; and

a hinge structure configured to:

rotatably connecting the first housing structure and the second housing structure and providing a fold axis about which the first housing structure and the second housing structure rotate,

wherein the first side surface member comprises:

at least one first radiation conductor, and

at least one second radiation conductor which is arranged in the second radiation conductor,

wherein the second side surface member includes:

at least one third radiation conductor, and

at least one fourth radiation conductor which is arranged to,

wherein a plurality of first connecting members are provided in at least part of the first housing structure to electrically connect the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor with a switching unit provided in the first housing structure, and

wherein a plurality of second connecting members are provided in at least parts of the first and second housing structures and at least part of the hinge structure to electrically connect the at least one third and fourth radiation conductors with the switching unit.

2. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the first side surface member comprises:

a second side surface portion provided to be spaced apart from one end of the first side surface portion in a direction crossing the folding axis,

a third side surface portion disposed to be spaced apart from the other end of the first side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis,

a fourth side surface portion disposed adjacent to the third side surface portion and disposed to be spaced apart from the third side surface portion and extending to a direction crossing the folding axis,

a fifth side surface portion including one end disposed spaced apart from the second side surface portion and including the other end disposed spaced apart from the fourth side surface portion and extending parallel to the folding axis, the fifth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure,

wherein the third side surface portion and the fourth side surface portion are formed by the at least one first radiation conductor, an

Wherein the first side surface portion, the second side surface portion and the fifth side surface portion are formed by the at least one second radiation conductor.

3. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the second side surface member includes:

a seventh side surface portion provided so as to be spaced apart from one end of the sixth side surface portion in a direction intersecting the folding axis,

an eighth side surface portion provided to be spaced apart from the other end of the sixth side surface portion in parallel with the folding axis,

a ninth side surface portion disposed adjacent to the eighth side surface portion, and disposed to be spaced apart from the eighth side surface portion and extending to a direction crossing the folding axis, an

A tenth side surface portion including one end disposed spaced apart from the seventh side surface portion and including the other end disposed spaced apart from the ninth side surface portion, and extending in parallel with the folding axis, the tenth side surface portion being disposed adjacent to the hinge structure,

wherein the eighth side surface portion and the ninth side surface portion are formed by the at least one third radiation conductor, the sixth side surface portion, the seventh side surface portion, and wherein the tenth side surface portion is formed by the at least one fourth radiation conductor.

4. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one third radiation conductor are formed by a main antenna, an

Wherein the at least one second radiation conductor and the at least one fourth radiation conductor are formed by sub-antennas.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first connection members and the plurality of second connection members comprise at least one of a coaxial cable, a Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB), a microstrip line, or a stripline.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first connecting members are shorter than the plurality of second connecting members.

7. The electronic device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein a plurality of third connecting members are provided in the first housing structure to electrically connect the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor with the switching unit,

wherein a plurality of fourth connecting members are provided in the second case structure to electrically connect the at least one third radiation conductor and the at least one fourth radiation conductor with the switching unit, an

Wherein a plurality of fifth connecting members are provided in at least parts of the first and second housing structures and at least part of the hinge structure to electrically connect the plurality of fourth connecting members with the switching unit.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of third connecting members and the plurality of fourth connecting members are formed of coaxial cables, and the plurality of fifth connecting members are formed of Flexible Printed Circuit Boards (FPCBs).

9. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor unit electrically connected to the at least one first to fourth radiation conductors;

a communication module electrically connected with the at least one first to fourth radiation conductors and configured to transmit/receive a wireless signal; and

a processor configured to:

detecting, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on the first and/or second housing structure in the unfolded or folded state thereof, and

controlling the switching unit to switch from the at least one first radiating conductor and the at least one second radiating conductor to the at least one third radiating conductor and the at least one fourth radiating conductor or from the at least one third radiating conductor and the at least one fourth radiating conductor to the at least one first radiating conductor and the at least one second radiating conductor,

wherein the switching unit electrically connects the communication module with the at least one first to fourth radiation conductors.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detecting, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on the first housing structure in the unfolded state, an

Controlling the switching unit to switch from the at least one first and second radiation conductors to the at least one third and fourth radiation conductors.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detecting, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on the second housing structure in the unfolded state, an

Controlling the switching unit to switch from the at least one third and the at least one fourth radiation conductor to the at least one first and the at least one second radiation conductor.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detecting, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on both the first and second housing structures in the unfolded state, an

Controlling the switching unit to switch the at least one first radiation conductor and the at least one second radiation conductor.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detecting, via the sensor unit, a hand grip on both the first and second housing structures in the folded state, an