Insert molded antenna

• US 20050001767A1
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wulff, Thomas, Zancola, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3456 Antennas, e.g. radomes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/371 Branching current paths

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for insert-molding various electronic and mechanical parts as part of a housing of an electrical device. The insert molded components can comprise antennas, flex members and circuits, electronic, mechanical, and interface units that have been insert molded as part of a plastic housing that contains the electrical device.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a plastic housing;

a bar code reader; and

a component insert-molded as part of the plastic housing.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, the component comprising an electrical or electronic component.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, the component comprising a mechanical component.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, the component is insert-molded within the plastic body.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, the component is a flex member insert-molded on a trough of a plastic body for an electrical or mechanical connection of the plastic body to other bodies.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, the component comprising an interface unit for the electronic device.

7. A housing compartment comprising:

a body for containing a unit that comprises at least one of a transmitter and a receiver; and

an antenna of the unit insert-molded as part of the body.

8. The housing compartment of claim 7, the antenna adapted to transmit or receive signals associated with at least one of a Local Area Network, a Wide Area Network and a Personal Area Network.

9. The housing compartment of claim 7, the antenna comprising a dual band antenna.

10. The housing compartment of claim 7, the antenna comprising a plurality of metal strips formed on a dielectric member.

11. The housing compartment according to claim 10, the plurality of metal strips formed by at least one of an etching and a printing on the dielectric layer.

12. The housing compartment according to claim 7, the antenna insert-molded within the body.

13. The housing compartment according to claim 7, comprising a metal conductor formed into a shape having at least one of a curved coil and an elongated part, adapted to frequencies of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz.

14. The housing compartment according to claim 7, the antenna adapted to frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5.2 GHz.

15. The housing compartment according to claim 7, the body fabricated from at least one of a thermoset plastic and a thermoformed plastic material.

16. A method of fabricating a plastic housing, comprising:

preparing a mold assembly forming a cavity;

positioning a component to be insert-molded with the plastic housing in the cavity, the plastic housing for containing an electrical device;

injecting a resin into the cavity; and

cooling the assembly as to form the plastic housing with the component insert-molded therein.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising positioning an antenna to be insert-molded with the plastic housing in the cavity.

18. A method for insert-molding a flex member with a plastic housing, comprising:

positioning a flex member to be insert-molded with a plastic housing on a selected location of the plastic housing, the insert-molded flex member for electrically or mechanically connecting the plastic housing to other members;

injecting a resin as to bond the flex member with the plastic housing; and

cooling the plastic housing and the flex member.

19. A method for inset molding an antenna as part of a plastic housing, comprising:

positioning an antenna into a mold assembly; and

injecting plastic material into the mold to form a housing with the antenna insert-molded as a part thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising controllably cooling the mold housing with the antenna insert-molded therein.

21. A mobile terminal comprising:

means for reading bar codes;

means for housing the mobile terminal, the means for housing having integrated therewith at least one of electronics and antenna(s).