METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN-MOLD LAMINATE ANTENNAS

• US 20120133561A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Karacaoglu, Ulun, Yang, Songnan, McEuen, Shawn, Konanur, Anand
• Granted Patent: US 8,760,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for providing in-mold laminate antennas are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. An antenna structure, comprising:

a housing having an exposed surface and a non-exposed surface;

a feedthrough provided through the non-exposed surface of the housing; and

an antenna element comprising a conductive trace disposed between the exposed surface and the non-exposed surface of the housing, wherein the conductive trace is connected to a conductive channel positioned within the feedthrough.

2. The antenna structure of claim 1, further comprising a ground element positioned adjacent to the non-exposed surface, a substrate layer positioned on the ground element, and a second antenna element positioned on the substrate layer.

3. The antenna structure of claim 1, further comprising a second antenna element positioned adjacent to the non-exposed surface, a substrate layer positioned on the second antenna element, and a ground element positioned on the substrate.

4. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace is positioned between an intermediate layer and a substrate layer.

5. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the antenna element is selected from the group consisting of a patch antenna, a planar inverted F antenna, and a monopole antenna.

6. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the antenna element is separated from a display device by a substrate layer.

7. The antenna structure of claim 1, further comprising positioning a second antenna element between the exposed surface and the non-exposed surface of the housing, wherein the antenna element is configured to operate over a first frequency band and the second antenna element is configured to operate over a second frequency band.

8. The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein the outer layer is a conductive element.

9. The antenna structure of claim 8, further comprising a balun and a second housing comprising a second conductive element.

10. A mobile platform, comprising:

a housing;

a communication device;

a display element; and

a laminate antenna structure positioned within the housing;

wherein the laminate antenna structure comprises a conductive trace disposed between an exposed surface of the housing and a non-exposed surface of the housing;

wherein the laminate antenna structure is separated from the display element by a substrate layer; and

wherein a feedthrough is positioned in the substrate layer to provide a pathway between the laminate antenna structure and the communication device.

11. The mobile platform of claim 10, wherein the mobile platform is a smartphone, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone, or a mobile device.

12. The mobile platform of claim 10, wherein the conductive trace is positioned between an intermediate layer and a substrate layer.

13. The mobile platform of claim 10, wherein the laminate antenna structure comprises an antenna selected from the group consisting of a patch antenna, a planar inverted F antenna, and a monopole antenna.

14. The mobile platform of claim 10, further comprising positioning a second laminate antenna structure within the housing, wherein the laminate antenna structure is configured to operate over a first frequency band and the second laminate antenna structure is configured to operate over a second frequency band.

15. An antenna structure, comprising:

a housing having an exposed surface and a non-exposed surface;

a via provided through the non-exposed surface of the housing;

a ground element; and

an antenna element comprising a conductive trace disposed between the exposed surface and the non-exposed surface of the housing, wherein the conductive trace is connected to a first conductor of dual channel conductor comprising the first conductor and a second conductor, wherein the second conductor is connected to the ground element, and wherein a chassis separates the ground element from the antenna element.

16. The antenna structure of claim 15, further comprising a mold filler positioned between the exposed surface and the non-exposed surface and adjacent to the antenna element.

17. The antenna structure of claim 16, further comprising an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is positioned between the mold filler and an outer layer of the housing.

18. The antenna structure of claim 15, wherein the antenna element is selected from the group consisting of a patch antenna, a planar inverted F antenna, and a monopole antenna.

19. The antenna structure of claim 15, further comprising a substrate layer positioned adjacent the ground element.

20. The antenna structure of claim 15, further comprising positioning a second antenna element between the exposed surface and the non-exposed surface of the housing, wherein the antenna element is configured to operate over a first frequency band and the second antenna element is configured to operate over a second frequency band.