Transparent conformal polymer antennas for RFID and other wireless communications applications

• US 8,922,435 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drexel University
• Original Assignee: Drexel University
• Inventors: Fontecchio, Adam K., Dandekar, Kapil R., Kurzweg, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLECEK, PATRICK R
• Application Number:
  US13/266,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• 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 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

An optically transparent conformal polymer antenna and a method for producing the antenna from optically transparent conductive polymers. The method includes selecting an antenna design; providing an optically transparent conductive polymer material capable of being printed using an ink jet printer device; and printing layers of the polymer in the desired antenna design pattern onto a substrate. The surface tension of the polymer solution is adjusted to allow the material to pass through a printer head for printing on a flexible substrate. The material is modified to have a higher conductivity than regular conductive polymer materials so that a suitable antenna may be formed.

Claims

1. A method of producing an optically transparent conformal antenna comprising:

selecting an antenna design to be applied to a substrate;

providing an optically transparent conductive polymer material to a printing device, said material having a conductivity exclusive of electrically conductive particles that is at least 5×

10⁵ S/m and a surface tension that allows the printing device to eject solution drops having a surface tension between 0.028-0.060 N/m; and

printing desired pattern layers of said material onto said substrate according to the antenna design.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying ultrasonic vibration to the material to remove gases before the antenna design is printed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding dimethyl sulfoxide to the conductive polymer material to increase conductivity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding surfactant to the conductive polymer material to lower surface tension.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the printing comprises applying multiple layers of said material sequentially to allow drops to flow together into a thicker trace.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the printing comprises printing drops of said material onto said substrate at a spacing between printed drops set from approximately 5 μ

m to 254 μ

m whereby the printed drops flow together into one continuous pool.