Antenna and method of production

• US 6,396,444 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Parmenter, Philip, Davidson, Brian, Goward, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US09/471,505
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702,872,873 29/600
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14811 Multilayered articles B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3456 Antennas, e.g. radomes
• 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 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: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A method of forming a unitary housing element of an apparatus and incorporating an antenna is incorporated into the unitary housing element. The method includes the steps of printing onto a first surface of a carrier film, using conductive ink, the antenna, inserting the carrier film into a mold, and forming the unitary housing element by injecting a molding material onto the mold, thereby incorporating the antenna into the unitary housing element.

Claims

1. A method of forming an unitary housing element of an apparatus and incorporating an antenna into the unitary housing element, said method comprising the steps of:

printing onto a first surface of a carrier film, using conductive ink, the antenna;

inserting said carrier film into a mould; and

forming the unitary housing element by injecting moulding material into the mould,

wherein the carrier film including the antenna is incorporated into the unitary housing element.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier film forms an integral part of the said unitary housing element.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier film is inserted into the mould such that said first surface of said carrier film is positioned to be in direct contact with said moulding material.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier film is pre-shaped before being inserted into said mould.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moulding material comprises a relatively high dielectric material.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface of said carrier film is printed with a text or graphic design, prior to printing the antenna.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein temperature and pressure conditions associated with the moulding process act to increase the conductivity of said printed antenna.

8. An unitary housing element for a portable telecommunications apparatus, said unitary housing element comprising:

an antenna,

wherein said antenna comprises an element composed of conductive ink printed into a carrier,

wherein said antenna including said carrier is disposed between an outer surface of said unitary housing element and an inner surface of said unitary housing element, and

wherein said antenna including said carrier is incorporated into said unitary housing element when said unitary housing element is moulded.

9. The unitary housing element as claimed in claim 8, wherein said antenna including said carrier is disposed proximal to an exterior surface of said unitary housing element.

10. An unitary housing element for a portable telecommunications apparatus, said unitary housing element comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface; and

an antenna,

wherein said first surface is defined by a film,

wherein said second surface is defined by a moulding material, and said antenna is printed onto a surface of said film using conductive ink, and

wherein said film having said antenna printed onto said surface thereof is incorporated into said unitary housing element when said unitary housing element is moulded.

11. The unitary housing element as claimed in claim 10, wherein said surface of said film having said antenna printed thereon is disposed between said first surface and said second surface of said unitary housing element.

12. A method of forming an unitary housing element of an apparatus and incorporating at least one of graphics and color and an antenna into the unitary housing element, said method comprising the steps of:

printing onto a first surface of a carrier film the at least one of graphics and color;

printing on a second surface of said carrier film, using conductive ink, the antenna;

inserting the carrier film into a mould; and

forming the unitary housing element by injecting moulding material into the mould,

wherein the carrier film including the antenna is incorporated in the unitary housing element.

13. An unitary housing element for an apparatus, comprising:

an antenna,

wherein said antenna comprises an element composed of conductive ink,

wherein said antenna is disposed between an outer surface of said unitary housing element and an inner surface of said unitary housing element printed onto a carrier,

wherein said antenna including said carrier is incorporated into said unitary housing element when said unitary housing element is formed by moulding material, and

wherein said moulding material of said unitary housing element is a moulding material having a high dielectric constant so as to improve the performance of the antenna.

14. An unitary housing element as claimed in claim 13, wherein said moulding material is a ceramic loaded polymer.