Electronic device with foam antenna carrier
First Claim
1. An antenna, comprising:
- a foam carrier;
metal on the foam carrier;
a powder coating on the foam carrier, wherein the metal comprises metal traces on the powder coating;
solder on the metal; and
an additional powder coating formed on the metal traces such that the metal traces are interposed between the powder coating and the additional powder coating.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. The antenna structures may include a dielectric carrier such as a foam carrier. The foam carrier may be formed from a material that can withstand elevated temperatures. Metal traces for antennas can be formed on the foam carrier by selectively activating areas on a powder coating with a laser and plating the laser-activated areas. Metal for the antennas may also be formed by attaching layers such as flexible printed circuit layers and metal foil layers to the foam carrier. Solder may be used to attach a coaxial cable or other transmission line, electrical components, and other electrical structures to the metal antenna structures on the foam carrier. The foam carrier may be formed from open cell or closed cell foam. The surface of the foam may be smoothed to facilitate formation of metal antenna structures.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An antenna, comprising:
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a foam carrier; metal on the foam carrier; a powder coating on the foam carrier, wherein the metal comprises metal traces on the powder coating; solder on the metal; and an additional powder coating formed on the metal traces such that the metal traces are interposed between the powder coating and the additional powder coating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of forming an antenna, comprising:
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depositing a powder on a foam carrier; after depositing the powder on the foam carrier, exposing the deposited powder to a temperature of more than 150°
C.;after exposing the deposited powder to the temperature of more than 150°
C., selectively exposing areas of the powder to laser light; andplating metal onto the exposed areas following exposure of the areas to the laser light to form metal antenna traces on the foam carrier. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification