Antennas and electrical connections of electrical devices

• US 7,564,409 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ertek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ertek, Inc.
• Inventors: Luch, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tan
• Application Number:
  US11/726,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/866, 343/906, 430/311, 430/270.1
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• 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 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

The invention is to novel articles and methods useful in the mass production of wireless communication devices. Methods and structures to achieve combining of electrical devices such as chips with antennas are disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrical connection between an electrical device and an antenna,

said antenna having a structural pattern, at least a portion of said antenna structural pattern being defined by a first material capable of being coated with an electrodeposit,

said electrical device having a connection surface, at least a portion of said connection surface being formed by a second material, said second material being electrically conductive,

said connection characterized as comprising an electrodeposit overlaying at least a portion of said first material and in electrical communication with said second material.

2. The electrical connection of claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises said electrodeposit.

3. The connection of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second materials comprises an electrically conductive polymer.

4. The connection of claim 3 wherein said electrically conductive polymer comprises carbon black.

5. The connection of claim 3 wherein said electrically conductive polymer comprises one or more metallic fillers.

6. The connection of claim 3 wherein said electrically conductive polymer comprises a directly electroplateable resin (DER).

7. The connection of claim 6 wherein said directly electroplateable resin comprises carbon black.

8. The connection of claim 6 wherein said directly electroplateable resin comprises sulfur or a sulfur donor.

9. The connection of claim 3 wherein said electrically conductive polymer comprises a metallic filler.

10. The connection of claim 1 wherein said electrodeposit is metal based.

11. The connection of claim 1 wherein said electrodeposit comprises an element chosen from Group VIII.

12. The connection of claim 1 further comprising an additional metallic layer contacting at least a portion of said electrodeposit.

13. The connection of claim 1 used as a component of an article for wireless transmission.

14. The connection of claim 1 used in an RFID tag.

15. The connection of claim 1 wherein said electrical device comprises a chip.

16. The connection of claim 1 wherein said antenna is characterized as having a low profile.

17. The connection of claim 1 wherein said first material has the same composition as said second material.

18. Multiple connections according to claim 1, wherein said antenna structural patterns are positioned on an insulating support structure.

19. The multiple connections of claim 18 wherein said insulating support structure is a substantially planar web.

20. The multiple connections of claim 19 wherein said web can be characterized as being continuous.

21. Multiple electrical connections between electrical devices and respective antenna structural patterns, said electrical devices having at least one connection surface, said antenna structural patterns being at least partially defined by an electroplateable material capable of being coated with an electrodeposit, said multiple connections characterized as comprising an electrodeposit in electrical communication with said connection surface and extending to overlay at least a portion of said electroplateable material, said structural patterns being joined by a buss to provide electrical communication among said patterns.

22. The multiple electrical connections of claim 21 wherein said buss comprises an electrically conductive polymer.

23. The multiple electrical connections of claim 22 wherein said electrically conductive polymer comprises a directly electroplateable resin.