Structure having an antenna incorporated therein
First Claim
1. A structure having an antenna incorporated therein, comprising:
- one or more strips of flexible sheet material helically wrapped about an axis and secured together to form a tubular structure; and
an antenna secured to one of the strips, the antenna comprising two spaced tracks of an electrically conductive material extending lengthwise along the strip and a closed connection therebetween, forming a closed loop except for a break in the loop defining a plurality of contacts for connection to an electrical device,wherein the antenna helically extends along a substantial portion of the axial length of the tubular structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Structures having an antenna incorporated therein are provided. Each structure may comprise one or more strips of flexible sheet material wrapped about an axis and secured together. The antenna may comprise an electrically conductive material secured to one or more of the strips in a pattern forming a closed loop except for a break in the loop defining a plurality of contracts for connection to an electrical device, which may be an RFID chip. The antenna may comprise a pair of spaced tracks with a connection therebetween, which may take the form of an intersection of the tracks or a connector. The antenna may extend for a substantial portion of the axial length of the tubular structure and may also extend helically around the tubular structure. Methods of manufacturing structures are also provided.
29 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A structure having an antenna incorporated therein, comprising:
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one or more strips of flexible sheet material helically wrapped about an axis and secured together to form a tubular structure; and an antenna secured to one of the strips, the antenna comprising two spaced tracks of an electrically conductive material extending lengthwise along the strip and a closed connection therebetween, forming a closed loop except for a break in the loop defining a plurality of contacts for connection to an electrical device, wherein the antenna helically extends along a substantial portion of the axial length of the tubular structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A structure having an antenna incorporated therein, comprising:
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one or more strips of flexible sheet material wrapped about an axis and secured together to form a tubular structure; an antenna secured to one of the strips, the antenna comprising an electrically conductive material arranged on the strip in a pattern forming a closed loop except for a break in the loop defining a plurality of contacts for connection to an electrical device, wherein the antenna extends helically along the tubular structure; and an integrated circuit device connected to the contacts. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of manufacturing a structure, comprising:
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securing two spaced tracks of an electrically conductive material to a strip of flexible sheet material and forming a closed connection between the tracks on the strip, the tracks extending lengthwise along the strip, the tracks and closed connection forming an antenna in the form of a closed loop except for a break in the loop defining a plurality of contacts for connection to an electrical device; and helically wrapping the strip of flexible material about an axis to form a tubular structure such that the antenna helically extends along a substantial portion of an axial length of the tubular structure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification