Synthetic resin transreflector and method of making same

• US 6,006,419 A
• Filed: 09/01/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millitech Corporation (Proxim Wireless Corporation)
• Inventors: Wood, Kenneth, Vandendolder, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arbes, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US09/145,196
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 29/600, 29/601, 156/245, 343/912
• US Class Current: 29/600
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14778 the article consisting of a material with particular properties, e.g. porous, brittle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14827 using a transfer foil detachable from the insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0005 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/141 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/195 wherein a reflecting surface acts also as a polarisation filter or a polarising device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A transreflector is made by forming a series of spaced parallel stripes of a conductive material on one surface of a synthetic resin carrier film. The film is placed against the surface of a mold defining the desired concave internal curve for the transreflector, and the mold cavity is closed by placing over the film in spaced relationship a second mold half having the desired convex external curve for the transreflector. A fluid synthetic resin is introduced into the mold cavity to form the desired transreflector element with spaced parallel stripes disposed on the internal concave surface thereof. The carrier film is removed from the transreflector element with the conductive material stripes remaining on the transreflector element.

Claims

1. In a method for making a transreflector, the steps comprising:

(a) depositing on one surface of a synthetic resin carrier film a series of spaced parallel stripes of a conductive material;

(b) placing said film on the surface of a mold defining the desired concave internal curve for the transreflector;

(c) assembling over said film in spaced relationship a second mold half having the desired convex external curve for the transreflector, said halves providing a mold cavity; and

(d) introducing a fluid synthetic resin into said mold cavity to form the desired transreflector element with said spaced parallel stripes disposed on the internal concave surface thereof.

2. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 including the step of removing said synthetic resin carrier film from said transreflector element, while said conductive material stripes remain on said transreflector element.

3. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said stripes comprises a multiplicity of closely spaced lines of said conductive material.

4. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conductive material is a metallic deposit.

5. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 where said resin of said carrier film is a polyester.

6. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 5 wherein said fluid synthetic resin is a low loss, low dielectric constant polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polymethyl pentenes, polyacrylates and styrene interpolymers.

7. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transreflector element is of generally circular peripheral configuration.

8. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 including the step of assembling said transreflector element with a retaining element.

9. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 8 wherein said retainer element is a ring engaged with the periphery of said transreflector element.

10. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of depositing the conductive material on the carrier film comprises physical vapor deposition of a metal.

11. The method of making a transreflector in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of depositing the conductive material on the carrier film comprises depositing an ink having conductive particles therein.