Mobile device having at least two antennas and operation control method thereof

A method for controlling an operation of a mobile device which includes a radio frequency unit having at least first and second antennas, said method comprising:

• providing the first antenna configured for use at a first plurality of frequency bands, and the second antenna configured for use at the one or more predetermined frequency bands which includes at least one common frequency band of the first plurality of frequency bands;
• receiving a sensor signal from a sensor unit disposed at a specific location of a device body to sense whether the mobile device is in contact with or in proximity of a particular object external to the mobile device;
• selecting one of the antennas depending on the received sensor signal, during operation in the at least one common frequency band;
• establishing a communication path based on the selected antenna, wherein the established communication path passes through the selected antenna relatively distant from a user's grasping position compared to the other one of the first and second antennas;
• wherein the establishing of the communication path includes:
• establishing a first communication path based on the first antenna when no sensor signal is received from the sensor unit, the first antenna supporting a communication system having a low frequency band and supporting a plurality of communication systems for both the low frequency band and a high frequency band which is the common frequency band;
• and
• establishing a second communication path based on the second antenna when the sensor signal from the sensor unit is received, the second antenna supporting a communication system having at least the high frequency band;
• and
• wherein the establishing of the communication path includes establishing the communication path through a switch-plexer and a first or second amplifier of a respective communication system when the first antenna is selected, and bypassing the switch-plexer via an analog switch when the second antenna is selected.

A mobile device comprising:

• a radio frequency unit having at least first and second antennas, the first antenna configured for use at a first plurality of frequency bands, the second antenna configured for use at one or more predetermined frequency bands including at least one common frequency band of the first plurality of frequency bands;
• a sensor unit disposed at a specific location of a device body to sense whether the mobile device is in contact with or in proximity of a particular object external to the mobile device;
• a control unit configured to select, for operation in the at least one common band, one of the first and second antennas depending upon a sensor signal received from the sensor unit and to establish a communication path based on the selected antenna so the established communication path passes through the selected antenna relatively distant from a user's grasping position compared to the other one of the first and second antennas;
• a signal processor configured to perform up-conversion or down-conversion for radio signals;
• first and second amplifiers configured to amplify radio signals according to a specific type of at least first and second communication systems, respectively, the second communication system supporting the common frequency band;
• a switch-plexer connected between the first amplifier and the first antenna in a first path, and between the first antenna and the second amplifier in a second path, and configured to distribute the signals;
• and
• an analog switch disposed between the switch-plexer and the second amplifier;
• wherein the control unit is further configured to control the analog switch to establish the communication path based on the selected antenna and a selected one of the first and second amplifiers by bypassing the switch-plexer during operations in which the second antenna is selected.