IN-MOLDED RESISTIVE AND SHIELDING ELEMENTS

• US 20120223805A1
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E2IP Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ink-Logix, LLC
• Inventors: Haag, Ronald H., Engel, Jeffrey R., Boddie, William W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,461,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 338/307
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14237 the inserts being deformed or preformed outside the mould or mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0011 Electromagnetic wave shielding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/466 Keypads, keytops
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/04 of switch contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96019 using conductive paint
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0092 comprising electro-conductive pigments, e.g. paint, ink, tampon printing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49082 Resistor making

Abstract

An article of manufacture having an in-molded resistive and/or shielding element and method of making the same are shown and described. In one disclosed method, a resistive and/or shielding element is printed on a film. The film is formed to a desired shape and put in an injection mold. A molten plastic material is introduced into the injection mold to form a rigid structure that retains the film.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic shield, comprising:

a film having a conductive ink shielding layer printed on a surface of said film; and

a plastic support structure, wherein the film is secured to the plastic support structure.

2. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, the surface of said film having an A-surface and a B-surface, wherein at least one of the A-surface and the B-surface of the film is secured to at least one of an A-surface and a B-surface of the plastic support structure.

3. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein said film is in-between a top of the plastic support structure and a bottom of the plastic support structure.

4. The electromagnetic shield of claim 1, wherein the film is secure to the plastic support structure to form a three dimensional object having a plurality of surfaces, the surfaces being at least one of a flat surface and a curved surface.

5. A resistive element, comprising:

a film having a conductive ink resistive layer printed on a surface of said film; and

a plastic support structure, wherein the film is secured to the plastic support structure.

6. The resistive element of claim 5, the surface of said film having an A-surface and a B-surface, wherein at least one of the A-surface and the B-surface of the film is secured to at least one of an A-surface and a B-surface of the plastic support structure.

7. The resistive element of claim 5, wherein said film is in-between a top of the plastic support structure and a bottom of the plastic support structure.

8. The resistive element of claim 5, wherein the film is secured to the plastic support structure to form a three dimensional object having a plurality of surfaces, the surfaces being at least one of a flat surface and a curved surface.