FLEXIBLE PRINTED ANTENNA DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS

• US 20180034162A1
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Backes, Glen, Cornett, Alan, Zvolena, Logan
• Application Number:
  US15/225,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20180034162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/085 Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• 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

Flexible printed antenna devices, methods, and systems are described herein. One device includes a conductive element having a pattern of printable conductive ink applied onto an ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate to form an antenna having multiple antenna elements, wherein the substrate is flexible allowing the multiple antenna elements to be rolled or folded over on each other and a connector element formed from a pattern of printable conductive ink applied to the ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate configured to receive and connect to a signal transmission and/or reception device using a non-contact coupling element.

Claims

1. A flexible printed antenna device, comprising:

a conductive element having a pattern of printable conductive ink applied onto an ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate to form an antenna having multiple antenna elements, wherein the substrate is flexible allowing the multiple antenna elements to be rolled or folded over on each other; and

a connector element formed from a pattern of printable conductive ink applied to the ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate configured to receive and connect to a signal transmission and/or reception device using a non-contact coupling element.

2. The flexible printed antenna device of claim 1, wherein the antenna device is planar.

3. The flexible printed antenna device of claim 1, wherein the antenna device has a first surface for adhering the antenna to a flat non-conductive surface.

4. The flexible printed antenna device of claim 3, wherein the first surface is conductive to holding an electrostatic charge and wherein the first surface can be adhered to the flat non-conductive surface using electrostatic charge.

5. The flexible printed antenna device of claim 1, wherein the conductive ink is opaque.

6. The flexible printed antenna device of claim 1, wherein the ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate is transparent.

7. The flexible printed antenna device of claim 1, wherein the ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate has a coating that allows for releasable application and removal of the antenna device to the flat non-conductive surface.

8. A system, comprising:

a first conductive element having a pattern of printable conductive ink applied onto an ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate to form an antenna having multiple antenna elements, wherein the substrate is flexible allowing the multiple antenna elements to be rolled or folded over on each other;

a connector element formed from a pattern of printable conductive ink applied to the ink-receptive non-conductive substrate configured to connect to a signal transmission and/or reception device using a non-contact coupling element; and

a second conductive element having a pattern of printable conductive ink applied onto an ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate to form a non-contact coupling element that connects the signal transmission and/or reception device to the connector element, wherein the coupling element couples an antenna signal to the signal transmission or reception device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the ink-receptive, non-conductive substrate has a coating that allows for releasable application and removal of the coupling element to the connector element.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the coupling element is planar.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the non-contact coupling element has a first surface for adhering the coupling element to the connector element.

12. The flexible printed antenna device of claim 11, wherein the first surface is conductive to holding an electrostatic charge and wherein the first surface can be adhered to the connector element using electrostatic charge.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the non-contact coupling element is connected to the signal transmission and/or reception device using wires.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wires attach to the non-contact coupling element.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the conductive element receives and transmits radio frequency and microwave signals.

16. A method, comprising:

printing a conductive element onto an ink-receptive substrate using conductive ink; and

printing a connector element onto the ink-receptive substrate using conductive ink, wherein the connector element is formed to allow for communication of signals between the connector and the conductive elements.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the conductive element includes a pattern of printable conductive ink to form an antenna.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pattern of printable conductive ink comprises at least one thin conductive line.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the ink-receptive substrate is a polyester substrate.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein printing a conductive element onto an ink-receptive substrate using conductive ink forms an antenna having multiple antenna elements.