GPS antenna module and manufacturing method thereof

• US 7,714,785 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: INPAQ Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: INPAQ Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsai, Yueh-Lin, Chiu, Chih-Hsin, Wang, Jyun-Ren, Hsu, Kang-Neng
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US11/826,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20090015482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/829, 343/846, 343/841
• 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 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna module includes a substrate, a first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer. The substrate is set on a bottom surface of a patch antenna. The first insulating layer is coated on the substrate and a layout circuit is formed thereon. A plurality of electronic elements are integrated on the substrate according to the layout circuit. Furthermore, the second insulating layer is coated on the first insulating layer to completely shield the electronic elements integrated on the substrate. Hence, the distance between the electronic elements and the antenna of the present invention can be shortened, space on the PCB and in the shielding case is saved. Moreover, an optimal high frequency character can be achieved, the volume of the antenna module is effectively reduced, the process is simplified, and production costs are reduced.

Claims

1. A GPS antenna module, comprising:

a patch antenna;

a substrate disposed on a bottom surface of said patch antenna, wherein said substrate has a contact surface area equivalent to and matching said bottom surface of said patch antenna;

a first insulating layer, coated on the substrate, a layout circuit being formed on the first insulating layer, a plurality of electronic elements being integrated on the substrate according to the layout circuit;

wherein said layout circuit is disposed over an area less than a surface area of said first insulating layer; and

a second insulating layer, coated on the first insulating layer to seal and shield the electronic elements;

wherein both said first and second insulating layers have contact surface areas equal to or less than said contact surface area of said substrate, and wherein both first and second insulating layers are coated via a semiconductor process.

2. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of ceramic.

3. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patch antenna further comprises an antenna pin, which connects electronically with the layout circuit to transmit GPS signals.

4. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layout circuit is formed on the first insulating layer via semiconductor processes such as coating photo resist, exposure, developing and etching.

5. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layout circuit comprises at least an antenna amplifier circuit, or comprises the antenna amplifier circuit and a decoding chip.

6. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic elements are integrated on the substrate via LTCC, printed process, or heat transferring process.

7. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic elements are integrated as bare chips.

8. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer can be coated by spin coating, roller coating, ink jet printing, slot die coating, screen printing, or imprinting.

9. The GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer can be silicon dioxide, plasma nitride, plastic, or glass.

10. A manufacturing method of the GPS antenna module, comprising:

providing a patch antenna, and utilizing a bottom surface of said patch antenna to be a substrate, a contact surface area of which is equivalent to and matches said bottom surface of said patch antenna;

coating a first insulating layer on the substrate, and forming a layout circuit on the first insulating layer;

wherein said layout circuit is disposed over an area less than a surface area of said first insulating layer;

integrating a plurality of electronic elements on the substrate according to the layout circuit; and

coating a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer to seal and shield the electronic elements;

wherein said first and second insulating layers are coated via a semiconductor process; and

wherein both said first and second insulating layers have contact surface areas equal to or less than said contact surface area of said substrate.

11. The manufacturing method of the GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the substrate is made of ceramic.

12. The manufacturing method of the GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the layout circuit is formed on the first insulating layer by a semiconductor process such as using photo resist, exposure, developing and etching.

13. The manufacturing method of the GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the layout circuit comprises an antenna amplifier circuit at least, or comprises the antenna amplifier circuit and a decoding circuit.

14. The manufacturing method of the GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electronic elements are integrated on the substrate via LTCC, printed process, or heat transferring process.

15. The manufacturing method of the GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer can be coated via spin coating, roller coating, ink jet printing, slot die coating, screen printing, or imprinting.

16. The manufacturing method of the GPS antenna module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the material of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer can be silicon dioxide, plasma nitride, plastic, or glass.