Method for fabrication of miniature lightweight antennas
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An antenna comprising:
- a foam core;
a flex circuit wrapped around the foam core, the flex circuit having a flexible substrate that includes a first portion, a second portion substantially parallel with the first portion, and a third portion substantially perpendicular to the first portion connecting the first and second portions, the flex circuit also including a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the first portion of the flexible substrate;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern and more distal to a center of the circuit pattern than the ground connector.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Lightweight, small antennas are described that have decreased material and fabrication/processing cost. The antennas may be used in consumer electronics products such as cellular phones, laptops and PDA'"'"'s. Some of the antennas and fabrication techniques also provide lower part count and increased reliability. All antennas are fabricated with standard materials currently available in high volume production.
288 Citations
132 Claims
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1. An antenna comprising:
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a foam core;
a flex circuit wrapped around the foam core, the flex circuit having a flexible substrate that includes a first portion, a second portion substantially parallel with the first portion, and a third portion substantially perpendicular to the first portion connecting the first and second portions, the flex circuit also including a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the first portion of the flexible substrate;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern and more distal to a center of the circuit pattern than the ground connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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13. An antenna comprising:
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a foam core;
a flex circuit wrapped around the foam core, the flex circuit having a flexible substrate that includes a first portion, a second portion substantially parallel with the first portion, and a curved third portion connecting the first and second portions, the flex circuit also including a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the first portion of the flexible substrate;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern and more distal to a center of the circuit pattern than the ground connector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An antenna comprising:
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a flex circuit formed in a folded box shape having an open portion and having a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the flex circuit;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern and more distal to a center of the circuit pattern than the ground connector. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An antenna comprising:
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a foam core;
a flex circuit wrapped around the foam core, the flex circuit having a first portion and a curved portion connected to the first portion;
a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the first portion of the flex circuit;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern and more distal to a center of the circuit pattern than the ground connector. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An antenna comprising:
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a dielectric housing having protrusions;
a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the dielectric housing between the protrusions;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 92)
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59. An antenna comprising:
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a dielectric housing having protrusions;
a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern printed on the housing between the protrusions;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. An antenna comprising:
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a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern formed from a single sheet of conductor;
a ground connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern; and
a feed connector extending from the perimeter of the circuit pattern. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75)
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82. An antenna comprising:
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transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic signal;
grounding means for grounding the transmitting/receiving means;
feeding means for feeding a signal to and from the transmitting/receiving means; and
support means for supporting the transmitting/receiving, grounding, and feeding means;
wherein the grounding means and feeding means are curved and the support means includes at least one of a flex circuit, foam core, and adhesive.
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83. An antenna comprising:
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transmitting/receiving means for transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic signal;
grounding means for grounding the transmitting/receiving means; and
feeding means for feeding a signal to and from the transmitting/receiving means;
wherein the grounding means and feeding means are disposed on a perimeter of the transmitting/receiving means and the feeding means is more proximate to a corner of the transmitting/receiving means than the grounding means. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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101. An antenna comprising:
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a foam core;
a flex circuit wrapped around the foam core, the flex circuit having a first portion, a second portion opposing the first portion, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions;
a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the first portion of the flex circuit;
a ground plane disposed on the second portion of the flex circuit; and
a feed connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern along the third portion and terminating on the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 130, 131, 132)
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114. An antenna comprising:
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a dielectric housing having protrusions;
a circuit pattern to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals, the circuit pattern disposed on the dielectric housing; and
a feed connector extending from a perimeter of the circuit pattern. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129)
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Specification