Methods for forming elongated antennas with plastic support structures for electronic devices
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing;
an antenna that is attached to the housing, wherein the antenna has an antenna surface;
a dielectric member; and
adhesive that attaches the dielectric member to the antenna surface, wherein the antenna comprises a hollow plastic support structure having patterned metal antenna traces on the antenna surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices may be provided with antenna structures. The antenna structures may include an antenna support structure covered with patterned antenna traces. An antenna support structure may be mounted in an electronic device so that a surface of the antenna support structure that is covered with patterned antenna traces lies flush with a planar surface of the electronic device housing. A display cover layer or other planar structure may be attached to the surface of the antenna support structure and the planar surface of the housing adhesive. Injection molding and extrusion techniques may be used in forming a support structure with elongated parallel cavities. An injection molding tool may have a mold core supported by a support structure at one end, supporting engagement features at the ends of mating mold core structures, or support pins. Molded interconnect devices may be soldered to laser direct structuring components to form antennas.
104 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; an antenna that is attached to the housing, wherein the antenna has an antenna surface; a dielectric member; and adhesive that attaches the dielectric member to the antenna surface, wherein the antenna comprises a hollow plastic support structure having patterned metal antenna traces on the antenna surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; an antenna that is attached to the housing, wherein the antenna has an antenna surface; a dielectric member; adhesive that attaches the dielectric member to the antenna surface, wherein the housing comprises a metal housing; and conductive foam that electrically shorts the patterned metal antenna traces to the metal housing. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An antenna, comprising:
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a first portion comprising a first plastic support with antenna traces, wherein the first plastic support comprises first and second shots of plastic with different metal affinities; and a second portion comprising a second plastic support with antenna traces. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of forming an antenna, comprising:
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injection molding a first antenna support structure from first and second shots of plastic having different metal affinities; coating the first antenna support structure with metal that covers the first shot of plastic while leaving the second shot of plastic uncovered by metal; using laser processing to form a second antenna support structure with patterned antenna traces; and attaching the first antenna support structure to the second antenna support structure to form the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; an antenna that is attached to the housing, wherein the antenna has an antenna surface; a dielectric member; and adhesive that attaches the dielectric member to the antenna surface, wherein the housing has at least one housing surface that is flush with the antenna surface and the adhesive attaches the dielectric member to the housing surface and the antenna surface, the antenna surface comprises a curved antenna surface, and the at least one housing surface comprises a curved housing surface that lies flush with the curved antenna surface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification