Method and Apparatus for an Integrated Antenna

• US 20120086615A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Multi-Flex Circuits Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Multi-Flex Circuits Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Norair, John Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/270,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20120086615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/720
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/06 with core of ferromagnetic material H01Q7/02 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects of a method and apparatus for an integrated antenna are provided. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a substrate may comprise one or more metal traces thereon and/or embedded therein. The substrate may be sufficiently flexible to be bent or molded into a shape that corresponds to the outer dimensions of a battery. When the substrate is bent into the shape corresponding to the outer dimensions of the battery, the one or more metal traces may form an antenna. A ferromagnetic laminate may be affixed to a first side of the substrate, and a dielectric laminate may be affixed to a second side of the substrate. The substrate may be wrapped around a battery and the battery and substrate may be integrated into a smartcard or other wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a substrate with one or more metal traces thereon and/or embedded therein, wherein;

said substrate is sufficiently flexible to be bent into a shape that corresponds to the outer dimensions of a battery; and

when said substrate is bent into said shape, said one or more metal traces form a helical antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said shape that corresponds to the outer dimensions of a battery is substantially elliptical.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said shape that corresponds to the outer dimensions of a battery is substantially rectangular.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said one or more metal traces comprises a plurality of metal traces;

said substrate comprises a plurality of solder lands thereon and/or embedded therein; and

when said substrate is wrapped around said battery, said solder lands electrically connect said plurality of metal traces to form one conductive path.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

a first one of said plurality of traces terminates at a first of said solder lands;

a second one of said plurality of traces terminates a second one of said solder lands;

said first solder land is a positive terminal of said helical antenna;

said second solder land is a negative terminal of said helical antenna.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein an antenna driving circuit is mounted to said substrate.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising a dielectric layer affixed to one side of said substrate.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a ferromagnetic layer affixed to one side of said substrate such that said ferromagnetic material is interior to said helical antenna when said substrate is bent into said shape.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said substrate is embedded in a device operable to transmit and/or receive in the industrial, scientific, and medical band centered at 433.92 MHz.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said device is an ISO 7816 compliant smartcard.

11. A system comprising:

a battery with a battery sleeve around it, said battery sleeve comprising one or more metal traces arranged to form an antenna.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said battery sleeve comprises:

a substrate on which said one or more metal traces are fabricated;

a ferromagnetic laminate on a first side of said substrate; and

a dielectric laminate on a second side of said substrate.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein an antenna driving circuit is mounted on said substrate.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

said antenna is a loop antenna; and

said ferromagnetic layer is interior to said loop antenna.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

said antenna is a helical antenna; and

said ferromagnetic layer is interior to said helical antenna.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said battery and said battery sleeve are embedded in a device operable to transmit and/or receive in the industrial, scientific, and medical band centered at 433.92 MHz.

17. A system comprising:

an ISO 7816 compliant smartcard, said smartcard comprising a battery with a battery sleeve around it, said battery sleeve comprising one or more metal traces arranged to form an antenna.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said battery sleeve comprises:

a substrate on which said one or more metal traces are fabricated;

a ferromagnetic laminate on a first side of said substrate; and

a dielectric laminate on a second side of said substrate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said antenna is a helical antenna.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said antenna is a loop antenna.