US 11728564

Summary of US Patent 11728564: Smartphone Antenna in Flexible PCB

Patent Number: US11728564B2
Title: Smartphone antenna in flexible PCB
Current Assignee: WYE IP CAPITAL LLC (as of 2025-09-29)
Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee, Kyoung Jun CHOI, Sae Rom LEE
Filing Date: 2022-09-28
Issue Date: 2023-08-15

Abstract:
A smartphone antenna module for use in a smartphone is disclosed, which further relates to a smartphone having this module. The antenna module comprises a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) featuring a through-hole. A first coil antenna is formed within the flexible PCB, encircling the through-hole, and a second coil antenna is also formed in the flexible PCB, surrounding both the first coil antenna and the through-hole. The module additionally includes a magnetic sheet engaged with the flexible PCB. This magnetic sheet consists of a head portion that passes through the PCB's through-hole and a base portion positioned underneath the flexible PCB.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:
(Note: The full, numbered claims section was not explicitly provided in the authoritative text. The following overview is based on distinct, comprehensive descriptions of the invention's "aspects" or "modules" found within the "Definitions" section of the provided patent text, which are structured similarly to independent claims.)

1. Smartphone Antenna Module (Basic Configuration): This independent claim describes a smartphone antenna module comprising a flexible PCB with a central through-hole. A first coil antenna is integrated into the PCB, encircling this through-hole, and a second, larger coil antenna surrounds both the first coil and the through-hole. A magnetic sheet is also part of the module, featuring a "head portion" that passes through the PCB's through-hole and a "base portion" situated underneath the flexible PCB.

2. Smartphone Antenna Module (Three Coils, Specific Magnetic Sheet): This independent claim details a smartphone antenna module that includes a flexible PCB with three coils: a first, a second, and a third. The first and third coils are arranged side-by-side, while the second coil encompasses both of them. The flexible PCB has an upper through-hole (surrounded by the first coil) and a lower through-hole (surrounded by the third coil). The PCB is divided into upper, intermediate, and lower sections. A magnetic sheet with distinct head, neck, and base portions is engaged with the PCB. The head portion overlaps the upper PCB section, the base portion overlaps the lower PCB section, and the neck portion overlaps the intermediate section. Specific parts of the head and neck pass through the through-holes, with conductive lines of the first coil in the upper section overlapping the head portion, and conductive lines of the third coil in the lower section overlapping the base portion.

3. Smartphone Device with Antenna Module: This independent claim describes a smartphone product. It includes a display module with a display surface, one of the aforementioned smartphone antenna modules, and a rear wall made of a non-magnetic material that faces away from the display surface. The magnetic sheet of the integrated antenna module is positioned generally parallel to this non-magnetic rear wall.

4. Smartphone Antenna Module (with Connector and Crossing Line): This independent claim focuses on a smartphone antenna module featuring a flexible PCB with a through-hole, a first coil antenna surrounding the through-hole, and a second coil antenna surrounding the first coil and through-hole. The flexible PCB includes a PCB connector designed to electrically link the first coil antenna to a corresponding connector in a smartphone, with the PCB connector being connected to both the inner and outer terminals of the first coil. A specific "connection line" on the flexible PCB connects the first inner terminal to the PCB connector, notably crossing over both the first and second coil antennas. A magnetic sheet with a head portion passing through the through-hole and a base portion positioned under the flexible PCB is also included.

5. Smartphone Antenna Module (Three Coils, Enhanced Magnetic Sheet Overlap): This independent claim outlines a smartphone antenna module comprising a flexible PCB with a first, second, and third coil. The first and third coils are arranged side-by-side, with the second coil surrounding both. The PCB has a through-hole that the first coil encircles. The PCB is structured with first, second, and third sections, where the second section is between the first and third. A magnetic sheet, consisting of a head, neck, and base portion, is integrated. The head portion passes through the through-hole and overlaps the first PCB section, while the base portion overlaps the third PCB section, and the neck portion overlaps the second PCB section. All lines of a first coil segment of the first coil in the first PCB section overlap the head portion, and all lines of a second coil segment of the third coil in the third PCB section overlap the base portion. Furthermore, a portion of the magnetic sheet extends from its base portion beyond an edge of the flexible PCB that overlaps the third PCB section.

6. Smartphone Antenna Module (Functional Coils for MST, NFC, and Wireless Charging): This independent claim describes a smartphone antenna module that provides specific functionalities. It includes a flexible PCB with a through-hole, a first coil antenna surrounding the through-hole, a second coil antenna surrounding the first coil and through-hole, and a third coil antenna. Critically, this claim specifies the intended use of each coil: the first coil antenna is connected to a smartphone circuit for Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) operating in the 85-100 KHz frequency range; the second coil antenna is connected to a smartphone circuit for Near Field Communication (NFC) operating at 13.56 MHz; and the third coil antenna is connected to a smartphone circuit for wireless charging. The module also incorporates a magnetic sheet with a head portion passing through the through-hole and a base portion positioned under the flexible PCB.

CAFC 2026 Dockets for US11728564:
As of April 26, 2026, the patent US11728564 is involved in litigation. Specifically, a PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2026-00234, has been filed and is currently pending. Additionally, a US case has been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case number 2:25-cv-01012), and the first worldwide family litigation related to this patent has also been initiated.