Method for constructing microwave antennas and circuits incorporated within nonwoven fabric

• US 20060238436A1
• Filed: 04/23/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Radar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Applied Radar
• Inventors: Zapletalova, Terezie, Weedon, William H. III, Deaett, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/113,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/897
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2924 Composite

Abstract

This patent describes fabric antenna and fabric microwave circuits and the method for making the same. Microwave conducting material is incorporated into non-woven fabrics using a calendaring process to produce an antenna or microwave circuits. The resulting material can then be manufactured into garments, either as filler material or as a garment itself The carrier fabric of these antennas also allows for said antennas to be flexible and allows for folding for storage. In the current state of the art, antennas are added to a garment during said garment'"'"'s construction as opposed to incorporation into the fabric itself.

Claims

1. A fabric microwave antenna comprising:

at least one layer of non-conductive non-woven fabric to provide a flexible backing or carrier; and

at least one layer of conductive non-woven fabric, woven fabric, conductive mesh, or conductive thread.

3. The fabric antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for connection to said portable electronic device comprise one or more conductive press stud connectors or other connectors in electrical contact with the conductive element

2. The fabrics are joined by a calendering method, said method comprising the steps of:

transferring a layer or layers of conductive non-woven fabric or any conductive fabric or mesh on which microwave energy can be channeled to a least one carrier non-woven fabric;

carrying said conductive non-woven fabric or conductive fabric or mesh on said non-woven carrier through a calender nip, said calender nip formed by a bottom and top calender roll;

the temperature in the top calender roll is maintained between 100 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit with an optimal temperature of 293 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature of the bottom roll is maintained between 100 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit with an optimal temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit;

the pressure between the bottom and top calender rolls is maintained between 500 and 2000 pounds per square inch with an optimal pressure maintained at 1000 pounds per square inch.

4. Fabric microwave circuits comprising:

at least one layer of non-conductive non-woven fabric to provide a flexible backing or carrier; and

at least one layer of conductive non-woven fabric, woven fabric, conductive mesh or conductive thread.

6. The microwave circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for connection to said portable electronic device comprise one or more conductive press stud connectors or other connectors in electrical contact with the conductive element

5. The fabrics are joined by a calendering method, said method comprising the steps of:

transferring a layer or layers of conductive non-woven fabric or any conductive fabric or mesh on which microwave energy can be channeled to a least one carrier non-woven fabric;

carrying said conductive non-woven fabric or conductive fabric or mesh on said non-woven carrier through a calender nip, said calender nip formed by a bottom and top calender roll;

the temperature in the top calender roll is maintained between 100 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit with an optimal temperature of 293 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature of the bottom roll is maintained between 100 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit with an optimal temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit;

the pressure between the bottom and top calender rolls is maintained between 500 and 2000 pounds per square inch with an optimal pressure maintained at 1000 pounds per square inch.