PCB ANTENNA LAYOUT

• US 20130207879A1
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Rada, Patrick, Poilasne, Gregory, Pathak, Vaneet
• Granted Patent: US 8,957,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/893
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing waveguides or resonators, lines, or other devices of the waveguide type
• 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 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/36 Assembling printed circuits with other printed circuits H05K7/142 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A circuit board panel includes a plurality of circuit boards (PCB). One or more antenna boards (615) are formed in spare areas about the plurality of circuit boards (PCB). Antenna boards may also be coupled to circuitry on the circuit boards in a detachable manner.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

laying out traces for multiple circuit boards on a circuit board panel;

identifying spare areas on the panel;

laying out traces for antenna boards in the spare areas of the panel; and

forming the circuit boards and antenna boards on the panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna boards are formed in a column or row on the panel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the column or row is located between circuit boards.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the column or row is located on an outer edge of the panel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein antenna boards are formed in at least one column and at least one row on the panel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein antenna boards are formed between four adjacent corners of circuit boards.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the antenna boards are oriented at an angle from the circuit boards.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna boards are formed within a rectangular perimeter of the circuit board having an unused portion of the space bounded by the rectangular perimeter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one antenna board is formed such that it is detachable.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the antenna board is partially routed or scored to provide detachability.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the detachable antenna board is electrically coupled to circuitry on the circuit board until detached.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detachable antenna board is formed with pads to facilitate electrical connections to the circuit board after the detachable antenna board is detached.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna boards are formed in place of a circuit board in a rectangular matrix of circuit boards.

14. The method of claim 1, and further comprising routing the circuit boards and antenna boards.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising:

separating the circuit boards and antenna boards from the panel; and

coupling at least one separated antenna board to a separated circuit board.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one separated antenna board is coupled to the separated circuit board in a vertical orientation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vertically oriented separated antenna board is physically coupled to the separated circuit board and soldered to connect the antenna to circuitry on the separated circuit board.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein an antenna included in the plurality of antenna boards is formed to behave like a Meta material (MTM) antenna.

19. A circuit board panel comprising:

a plurality of circuit boards; and

a plurality of antenna boards formed in spare areas about the plurality of circuit boards.

20. The circuit board of claim 19, wherein an antenna included in the plurality of antenna boards is formed to behave like a Meta material (MTM) antenna.