# US 11,114,762 B2 · Method of outputting a signal using an antenna disposed adjacent to a conductive member of a connector and an electronic device using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,114,762 B2 - Document ID: US11114762B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/967,070 - Filed: 2018-04-30 - Published: 2018-11-01 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-28 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Sang-Ho Hong; Gun Park; Yong-Woog Shin; Sung-Chul Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114762B2 ## CPC - H01Q 5/328: between a radiating element and ground - H01Q 5/335: at the feed, e.g. for impedance matching - H01Q 1/242: {specially adapted for hand-held use} - H01Q 1/243: {with built-in antennas} - H01Q 1/44: using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) - H01Q 1/48: Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises - H01Q 5/378: Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements - H01Q 15/14: Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures {(electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526)} - H04B 17/103: {Reflected power, e.g. return loss} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract An electronic device is provided and includes a first housing forming a portion of an outside surface of the electronic device, a second housing coupled with the first housing and forming another portion of the outside surface of the electronic device, an antenna formed in at least a portion of the second housing, a connector including one or more connection pins for connection with an external device, at least a portion of an outside surface of the connector being formed of a conductive member, an adjusting circuit electrically connected with, at least, the portion of the outside surface of the connector formed of the conductive member, wherein an impedance of the adjusting circuit is variable. The electronic device may further include a processor configured to vary the impedance of the adjusting circuit based on a signal to be output through the antenna, and output the signal through the antenna, with the impedance of the adjusting circuit being varied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a first housing forming a portion of an outside surface of the electronic device; a second housing coupled with the first housing and forming another portion of the outside surface of the electronic device; an antenna formed in at least a portion of the second housing and connected with a feeding circuit for wireless communication; a universal serial bus (USB) connector including one or more connection pins for connection with an external device, at least a portion of an outside surface of the USB connector being formed of a conductive member; an adjusting circuit electrically connected to the portion of the outside surface of the USB connector formed of the conductive member via a first capacitor and connected directly to at least one ground of the electronic device; and a processor configured to: control an impedance of the adjusting circuit based on a signal to be output through the antenna, and output the signal through the antenna, with the impedance of the adjusting circuit being controlled. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the antenna has a portion configured in an open shape, and wherein the USB connector is arranged such that a portion of the USB connector is exposed to an outside through the portion of the antenna configured in the open shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a second capacitor connected with at least the portion of the outside surface of the USB connector formed of the conductive member and a first ground of the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: at least one of a charging connector, an interface connector, an earphone connector, or a connector for a storage medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting circuit includes a plurality of matching circuits and a switching circuit, and wherein the switching circuit is configured to connect at least one of the plurality of matching circuits with the portion of the outside surface formed of the conductive member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of matching circuits have different impedances. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to: identify a frequency band of the signal to be output through the antenna, select at least one matching circuit from among the plurality of matching circuits based on the identified frequency band, and control the switching circuit to connect the selected at least one matching circuit with the portion of the outside surface of the USB connector formed of the conductive member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to: obtain, through the antenna, a reflection signal of the output signal, select at least one matching circuit from among the plurality of matching circuits based on the output signal and the reflection signal, and control the switching circuit to connect the selected at least one matching circuit with the portion of the outside surface of the USB connector formed of the conductive member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: identify a reflection coefficient of the antenna based on the output signal and the reflection signal, and select the at least one matching circuit from among the plurality of matching circuits such that the identified reflection coefficient changes to a designated reflection coefficient. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting circuit includes at least one of a variable capacitor and a varactor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a frequency band of the signal to be output through the antenna and control at least one of the variable capacitor or the varactor so that the impedance of the adjusting circuit changes to an impedance corresponding to the identified frequency band. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to: obtain, through the antenna, a reflection signal of the output signal, identify a reflection coefficient of the antenna based on the output signal and the reflection signal, and control at least one of the variable capacitor or the varactor such that the reflection coefficient of the antenna changes to a designated reflection coefficient. ### Claim 13 An electronic device, comprising: an antenna connected with a feeding circuit for wireless communication; a communication circuit connected with the antenna and configured to output signals of a first frequency band and a second frequency band through the antenna; a conductive member disposed adjacent the antenna; a universal serial bus (USB) connector including one or more connection pins for connection with an external device received in the conductive member; a first filter circuit connected with the conductive member and capable of passing the signals of the first frequency band and the second frequency band; a first matching circuit corresponding to the first frequency band and connected directly to at least one ground; a second matching circuit corresponding to the second frequency band and connected directly to the at least one ground; a switching circuit configured to connect the conductive member, via the first filter circuit with at least one of the first matching circuit or the second matching circuit; and a processor configured to: control the switching circuit to connect the conductive member, via the first filter circuit, with at least one of the first matching circuit or the second matching circuit based on a signal to be output through the antenna, and output the signal through the antenna, with the conductive member being connected with the at least one of the first matching circuit or the second matching circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, further comprising a second filter circuit connected to the conductive member and a first ground of the electronic device and capable of passing the signals of the first frequency band and the second frequency band. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to: when the communication circuit outputs a signal of the first frequency band, connect the first filter circuit to the first matching circuit through the switching circuit, and when the communication circuit outputs a signal of the second frequency band, connect the first filter circuit to the second matching circuit through the switching circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to output a signal of a third frequency band using the antenna, and wherein the processor is further configured to, when the communication circuit outputs the signal of the third frequency band, connect the first filter circuit to the first matching circuit and the second matching circuit through the switching circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the first matching circuit is connected to a first area of a second ground of the at least one ground, and the second matching circuit is connected to a second area of the second ground. ### Claim 18 An electronic device, comprising: a first housing forming a portion of an outside surface of the electronic device; a second housing coupled with the first housing and forming another portion of the outside surface of the electronic device; an antenna formed in at least a portion of the second housing and connected with a feeding circuit for wireless communication; a universal serial bus (USB) connector including one or more connection pins for connection with an external device, at least a portion of an outside surface of the USB connector being formed of a conductive member; an adjusting circuit electrically connected to a portion of an outside surface of the USB connector formed of a conductive member via a first capacitor and connected directly to at least one ground of the electronic device; and a processor configured to: based on detecting a connection with the external device through the USB connector, control an impedance of the adjusting circuit based on a signal to be output through the antenna, and output the signal through the antenna, with the impedance of the adjusting circuit being controlled. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the adjusting circuit includes a plurality of matching circuits and a switching circuit configured to connect the USB connector with at least one of the plurality of matching circuits, and wherein the processor is further configured to, based on detecting the connection with the external device through the USB connector, control the switching circuit to connect at least one designated matching circuit from among the plurality of matching circuits with the portion of the outside surface of the USB connector formed of the conductive member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the adjusting circuit includes at least one of a variable capacitor and a varactor, and wherein the processor is further configured to, based on detecting the connection with the external device through the USB connector, control at least one of the variable capacitor or the varactor such that the impedance of the adjusting circuit changes to a designated impedance.