Injection molded dielectric antenna and methods for use therewith

• US 10,637,149 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2016
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Britz, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny T
• Application Number:
  US15/370,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 343785
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3835 Designing moulds, e.g. using CAD-CAM
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/02 Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mouldcold vulcanisation B29C35/18 ; vulcanising tyres, presses therefor B29D30/0601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0001 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0025 Preventing defects on the moulded article, e.g. weld lines, shrinkage marks preventing defects on the preformed parts or layers B29C45/14836
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/26 Moulds
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0006 Dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3456 Antennas, e.g. radomes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method includes injection molding of a dielectric material in a pre-distorted antenna mold; and curing the dielectric material. The pre-distorted dielectric mold has a shape that compensates for shape distortion of the dielectric material during the curing.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a dielectric antenna formed via injection molding of a dielectric material in an antenna mold, wherein the antenna mold has a shape that compensates for shape distortion of the dielectric material during a curing process;

a cable comprising a dielectric core coupled to a feed point of the dielectric antenna;

a transmitter, coupled to the cable, the transmitter facilitating a transmission of first electromagnetic waves, the first electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric core, without requiring an electrical return path, to the feed point of the dielectric antenna; and

a receiver, coupled to the cable, the receiver facilitating a reception of second electromagnetic waves associated with wireless signals received by the dielectric antenna.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material is a thermoplastic.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the curing process includes a transition of the dielectric material from a liquid to a solid.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the shape distortion results from a curing induced volumetric strain.

5. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the curing induced volumetric strain is chemically induced in the curing process.

6. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the curing induced volumetric strain is thermally induced in the curing process.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna is injection molded integrally with the at least a portion of the dielectric core.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna includes a lens as an integral part of the dielectric antenna.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric core is incapable of propagating electromagnetic waves having an optical frequency range.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna is integrally attached to the at least a portion of the dielectric core.

11. A system, comprising:

a feed point that facilitates coupling to a dielectric core that supplies first electromagnetic waves to the feed point;

a dielectric antenna coupled to the feed point for receiving the first electromagnetic waves via the feed point, wherein the dielectric antenna is formed via injection molding of a dielectric material in an antenna mold, and wherein the antenna mold has a shape that compensates for shape distortion of the dielectric material during a curing process;

a transmitter, coupled to the dielectric core, the transmitter facilitating a transmission of the first electromagnetic waves, the first electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric core, without requiring an electrical return path, to the feed point of the dielectric antenna; and

a receiver, coupled to the dielectric core, the receiver facilitating a reception of second electromagnetic waves responsive to wireless signals received by the dielectric antenna.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the dielectric material is a thermoplastic.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the curing process includes a transition of the dielectric material from a liquid to a solid.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the shape distortion results from a curing induced volumetric strain.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the volumetric strain is chemically induced in the curing process.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the volumetric strain is thermally induced in the curing process.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the dielectric antenna is injection molded integrally with the at least a portion of the dielectric core.

18. A communication device, comprising:

a dielectric antenna formed via injection molding of a dielectric material in an antenna mold, wherein the dielectric material is a thermoplastic and wherein the antenna mold has a shape that compensates for shape distortion of the dielectric material during a curing process;

a cable comprising a dielectric core coupled to a feed point of the dielectric antenna, wherein the dielectric antenna is injection molded integrally with the at least a portion of the dielectric core;

a transmitter, coupled to the cable, the transmitter facilitating a transmission of first electromagnetic waves, the first electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric core, without requiring an electrical return path, to the feed point of the dielectric antenna; and

a receiver coupled to the cable, the receiver facilitating a reception of second electromagnetic waves associated with wireless signals received by the dielectric antenna.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the curing process includes a transition of the dielectric material from a liquid to a solid.

20. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the shape distortion results from a curing induced volumetric strain, and wherein the curing induced volumetric strain is chemically or thermally induced in the curing process.