The present invention provides a technique to optimize and/or extend the length of an antenna arm or antenna ground plane for communications components contained in a printed circuit board (PCB) within a communications device. In an embodiment of the invention, an antenna arm or ground plane extension is provided as part of a lanyard for holding the communications device. For example, the lanyard comprises a cord passed around the neck, shoulder, or wrist. The cord comprises an electrical conductor coupled to the communications components. The electrical conductor serves as the antenna arm or ground plane. The length of the PCB need not to be extended to improve antenna efficiency and gain. Ideally, the lanyard antenna extension is ideally coplanar with the PCB. Careful lanyard material selection determines the most efficient and practical wavelength or resonance length of the antenna.

Various examples of the present invention relate to an apparatus and a method for controlling a connection and an operation of an antenna in an electronic device. Here, the electronic device comprises: a plurality of antenna units arranged in a first region thereof; at least one antenna unit arranged in a second region thereof; a communication circuit, which is connected to the plurality of antenna units arranged in the first region and to at least one antenna unit arranged in the second region; a first switch arranged in an electric path, which connects the plurality of antenna units with the communication circuit; and a second switch arranged in an electric path, which connects the at least one antenna unit with the communication circuit, wherein the first switch and the second switch can be configured to connect the plurality of antenna units with the communication circuit and the at least one antenna unit with the communication circuit, by using a first electric path and a second electric path for connecting the first switch and the second switch. Other examples are possible.

The present disclosure relates to an antenna and a communication apparatus that enables both near field communication using a magnetic field and near field communication using an electric field. The communication apparatus includes a first near field communication unit that performs communication in a non-contact manner using a magnetic field, a second near field communication unit that performs communication in a non-contact manner using an electric field, and an antenna shared by communication of the first near field communication unit and communication of the second near field communication unit. The present disclosure is applicable, for example, to near field communication in which communication using a magnetic field is performed in a non-contact manner, a communication apparatus that enables near field communication using an electric field in a non-contact manner, and the like.

Disclosed herein is an antenna device that includes a planar coil pattern formed on a substrate and a composite magnetic sheet positioned on an opposite side to the substrate with respect to the planar coil pattern. The composite magnetic sheet comprises soft magnetic metal powder and binder resin. The composite magnetic sheet is supported with a predetermined distance from the planar coil pattern.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

There is disclosed a multi-band reconfigurable antenna device having at least one radiating element. The radiating element is connected to a single port by way of at least first and second matching circuits arranged in parallel. A high pass filter is provided between the first matching circuit and the radiating element so as to allow passage of a first, higher frequency RF signal through the first matching circuit. A low pass filter is provided between the second matching circuit and the at least one radiating element so as to allow passage of a second, lower frequency RF signal through the second matching circuit. The high pass filter blocks passage of the second, lower frequency RF signal through the first matching circuit, and the low pass filter blocks passage of the first, higher frequency RF signal through the second matching circuit. The first and second matching circuits are adjustable independently of each other so as to allow the first and second RF signals to be tuned independently of each other.

A method performed in an electronic device is provided. The method includes: collecting operation information on at least one of a data communication operation, a paging operation, and a voice communication operation of a first antenna, a second antenna, or a third antenna; determining at least one antenna to be used of the first antenna, the second antenna, and third antenna based on at least part of the collected operation information; and performing communication by using the determined antenna.

Implementations disclosed describe devices and systems for close-range communications in high-density wireless network environments. A close-range antenna configured according to disclosed implementations generates a sufficiently strong near-field signal to ensure a reliable close-range communication. Additionally, the signal decreases significantly with the distance from the antenna and, therefore, contributes little in the way of interference and noise for other devices of the wireless environment. Various antenna systems that achieve this objective are disclosed.

Presented are one or more embodiments of a device which includes a case and a sensor device. The case includes a first indent configured to secure an electronic device, the first indent in a first side of the case, a second indent in a second side of the case opposite the first side, the second indent extending from a first edge of the case in a first direction such that second indent is open at the first edge of the case, and a securing device in the second indent. The sensor device includes an outer casing configured to slide in the first direction in the second indent and at least partially prevented from leaving the second indent by the securing device, and a sensor at least partially in the outer casing.

An electronic device may include a conductive housing and an antenna. The antenna may include an arm formed from a first segment of the housing. A gap may separate the first segment from a second segment. The antenna may include a feed coupled to a transmission line having a signal conductor. The feed may include first and second positive terminals on the first segment and a third positive terminal on the second segment. An adjustable component may be coupled between the first and third terminals. The signal conductor may be coupled to the first terminal. A wide conductive trace may be coupled between the signal conductor and the second terminal. A switch may be interposed on the signal conductor. The second terminal may cover a cellular low band when the switch is open. The first terminal may cover the cellular low band and higher bands when the switch is closed.