# US 12,009,873 B2 · Method of recognizing immersion and electronic device for performing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,873 B2 - Document ID: US12009873B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/085,582 - Filed: 2022-12-21 - Published: 2023-05-11 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-11 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hoyeon Kim; Jeongsik Kim; Eunsoo Park; Hyuntae Jung; Jinwan An - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009873B2 ## CPC - H04B 17/15: Performance testing - G01R 27/02: Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant (by measuring phase angle only G01R25/00) - G01R 29/08: Measuring electromagnetic field characteristics - G01R 29/10: Radiation diagrams of antennas - G01R 31/52: Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults - H04B 1/38: Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving - H04B 1/40: Circuits - H04B 17/18: Monitoring during normal operation - H04B 17/23: Indication means, e.g. displays, alarms, audible means - H04B 17/345: Interference values ({signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]} H04B17/336) - H04M 1/18: Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) - H04M 1/72454: according to context-related or environment-related conditions - H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract An electronic device includes an antenna which transmits and receives a radio frequency (RF) signal, an RF circuit which processes the RF signal, and a control circuit which controls the RF circuit. The control circuit receives, from the RF circuit, a feedback signal, which the RF signal to be provided back as feedback from the antenna to the RF circuit, determines an impedance of the antenna based on the feedback signal, determines whether a water immersion of the electronic device occurs based on the determined impedance, and performs a set operation once it is determined that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: an antenna which transmits and receives a radio frequency (RF) signal; an RF circuit which processes the RF signal; and a control circuit which controls the RF circuit, wherein the control circuit receives, from the RF circuit, a feedback signal, which is the RF signal to be provided back as feedback from the antenna to the RF circuit, determines an impedance of the antenna based on the feedback signal, determines whether a water immersion of the electronic device occurs based on the determined impedance, and performs a set operation once it is determined that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs, wherein the control circuit receives, from the RF circuit, a first feedback signal, which is the RF signal input to the antenna to be provided back as feedback, and a second feedback signal, which is the input RF signal to be reflected by the antenna and provided back as feedback, determines a reflection coefficient based on a voltage of the first feedback signal and a voltage of the second feedback signal, and determines the impedance based on the reflection coefficient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the set operation comprises outputting an immersion notification. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the control circuit determines that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs when the determined impedance is out of an impedance threshold range. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit determines that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs when a resonant frequency of the antenna is shifted by a threshold value or greater compared to a reference resonant frequency. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the immersion notification comprises a user's action instruction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the RF circuit comprises: a transceiver which converts the RF signal; and a feedback circuit through which the feedback signal is transmitted from the antenna to the transceiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the feedback circuit comprises a coupler which generates the feedback signal corresponding to the RF signal transmitted and received through the antenna. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit re-determines whether the water immersion of the electronic device occurs when a set time passes after performing the set operation. ### Claim 9 An electronic device comprising: an antenna which transmits and receives a radio frequency (RF) signal; an RF circuit which processes the RF signal; a control circuit which controls the RF circuit; a display; and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) comprising a driving circuit of the display, wherein the control circuit receives, from the RF circuit, a feedback signal, which is the RF signal to be provided back as feedback from the antenna to the RF circuit, determines an impedance of the antenna based on the feedback signal, determines whether a water immersion of the electronic device occurs based on the determined impedance, and performs a set operation once it is determined that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs, wherein a pull-up power line included in the FPCB is exposed and the control circuit compares a resistance of the exposed pull-up power line with a reference resistance to determine whether the water immersion of the electronic device occurs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the control circuit outputs an immersion notification on the display. ### Claim 11 A method of recognizing a water immersion of an electronic device, the method comprising: receiving a feedback signal corresponding to a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted and received through an antenna of the electronic device, determining an impedance of the antenna based on the received feedback signal, determining whether the water immersion of the electronic device occurs based on the determined impedance; and performing a set operation by the electronic device once it is determined that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs, wherein the receiving the feedback signal comprises receiving a first feedback signal, which is an RF signal input to the antenna to be provided back as feedback, and a second feedback signal, which is the input RF signal to be reflected by the antenna and provided back as feedback, and wherein the determining the impedance of the antenna comprises determining a reflection coefficient based on a ratio of a voltage of the first feedback signal to a voltage of the second feedback signal and determining the impedance based on the reflection coefficient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the determining whether the water immersion of the electronic device occurs based on the determined impedance comprises determining that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs when the determined impedance is out of an impedance threshold range. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining that the water immersion of the electronic device occurs when a resonant frequency of the antenna is shifted by a threshold value or greater compared to a reference resonant frequency. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: re-determining whether the water immersion of the electronic device occurs when a set time passes after performing the set operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions to cause a computer to perform the method of claim 11.