Patent Application
20240283131
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present disclosure relates generally to transparent circuits, and more particularly in one exemplary aspect to transparent antennas as well as the providing of connection methodologies for the connection of these transparent antennas to underlying electronic circuitry such as radio frequency (RF) transceivers.
Traditionally, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), as its name implies, is a printed circuit board manufactured using an underlying substrate that is naturally flexible. For example, a typical FPCB is manufactured using a polyimide material having one or more layers of copper disposed thereon. FPCB's are advantageous in that they are flexible and can be disposed in a variety of applications in which, for example, a rigid circuit board may not be best utilized. FPCB's may also be secured to, for example, a soldered pigtail cable which provides an interface connection methodology for the underlying FPCB. More recently, a new variant of FPCB known as a transparent FPCB has been manufactured by companies such as, for example, CHASM™. These transparent FPCBs may be manufactured by printing proprietary inks formulated with conductive carbon nanotubes onto a metal mesh film. These transparent FPCB's are advantageous in that they are virtually transparent enabling their integration on, for example, automobile windshields. However, unlike traditional FPCBs the underlying substrate utilized for transparent FPCBs is not suitable for the sustained high temperature of typical soldering processes used on traditional FPCBs. Additionally, the use of transparent FPCBs introduces new challenges for the designer of these antennas due to the different operating scenarios in which these transparent FPCBs are deployed. For example, interface connections to these transparent antennas are themselves not transparent, making traditional connections to these antennas not desirable. Accordingly, new techniques are needed that address these new paradigms for incorporation of these transparent FPCBs into a wider array of applications.
The present disclosure satisfies the foregoing needs by providing, inter alia, methods, apparatus and systems for the implementation of transparent FPCB antennas that address the deficiencies recognized above.
In one aspect, a transparent antenna is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transparent antenna includes a transparent flexible substrate having conductive artwork disposed thereon, the conductive artwork including a feed connection and a ground connection. The conductive artwork is configured to operate in accordance with a desired frequency band.
In one variant, the desired frequency band includes a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) frequency band.
In another variant, the feed connection includes a first dipole trace and the ground connection includes a second dipole trace, the second dipole trace being shorter in length than the first dipole trace.
In yet another variant, the first dipole trace is connected with a rectangular feed section, the rectangular feed section projecting in a direction that is orthogonal with a run direction for the first dipole trace.
In yet another variant, the rectangular feed section is connected with a rectangular conductor section, the rectangular conductor section being larger in dimension along the run direction for the first dipole trace as compared with a dimension for the rectangular conductor section that runs in a direction that is orthogonal with the run direction for the first dipole trace, the rectangular conductor section further including a notched section that is disposed at an interface region between the rectangular feed section and the rectangular conductor section.
In yet another variant, the desired frequency band comprises a cellular frequency band.
In yet another variant, the feed connection includes a first dipole trace, the first dipole trace being connected with a horizontal projection conductor section and a vertical projection conductor section, the horizontal projection conductor section being positioned orthogonal with the vertical projection conductor section, the first dipole trace further being connected with an angled projection conductor section that is disposed at an interface region between the horizontal projection conductor section and the vertical projection conductor section.
In yet another variant, the angled projection conductor section is connected with a meandering conductor section at an end of the angled projection conductor section that is opposite from the interface region between the horizontal projection conductor and the vertical projection conductor section.
In yet another variant, the ground connection includes a second dipole trace, the second dipole trace being connected with a sixth rectangular conductor section followed by a seventh rectangular conductor section, the sixth rectangular conductor section being disposed between the second dipole trace and the seventh rectangular conductor section, the seventh rectangular conductor section being horizontally offset from the sixth rectangular conductor section, the sixth rectangular conductor section also being disposed adjacent the first dipole trace.
In yet another variant, an angled conductor section is connected with the sixth rectangular conductor section, the angled conductor section also being connected with an eighth rectangular conductor section on one end of the angled conductor section, the angled conductor section also being connected with a ninth rectangular conductor section on an opposing end of the angled conductor section opposite from the one end of the angled conductor section.
In yet another variant, the transparent antenna includes a tenth rectangular conductor section that is connected with the ninth rectangular conductor section, the tenth rectangular conductor section being positioned between the ninth rectangular conductor section and the second dipole trace.
In yet another variant, the desired frequency band comprises a Wi-Fi frequency band.
In yet another variant, the feed connection includes a first dipole trace and the ground connection includes a second dipole trace, the first dipole trace being connected with a first angled conductor section that runs at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to a run length for the first dipole trace.
In yet another variant, the first angled conductor section further includes a triangle shaped conductor section, the triangle shaped conductor section being positioned between a distal end of the first angled conductor section and the first dipole trace, the distal end being positioned at an opposing end of the first angled conductor section from the first dipole trace.
In yet another variant, the second dipole trace is connected with a second angled conductor section, the second angled conductor section being oriented parallel with the first angled conductor section.
In yet another variant, the second angled conductor section is connected with a perpendicular conductor section, the perpendicular conductor section comprises a run length that is orthogonal with a run length of the second dipole trace.
In yet another variant, the perpendicular conductor section is connected with a first rectangular conductor section and a second rectangular conductor section, the first rectangular conductor section including a notched section disposed at an interface region between the first rectangular conductor section and the second rectangular conductor section, the notched section accommodating at least a portion of the first angled conductor section.
In another aspect, a transparent antenna assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transparent antenna assembly includes a flexible transparent antenna having a transparent flexible substrate, the flexible transparent antenna being configured to operate according to a desired frequency band, the flexible transparent antenna including a portion that is configured to connect with a transparent substrate interface assembly; and a connector subassembly having a printed circuit board (PCB) mount connector, the PCB mount connector configured to interface with the transparent flexible substrate via the transparent substrate interface assembly, the connector subassembly further including a radio frequency (RF) connector, the RF connector being in signal communication with the PCB mount connector.
In one variant, the transparent substrate interface assembly includes a stiffener and one or more conductive pads, the stiffener being disposed on one side of the transparent flexible substrate when the connector subassembly is attached to the transparent flexible substrate, and the one or more conductive pads being disposed on an opposing side of the transparent flexible substrate from the stiffener.
In another variant, the transparent antenna assembly includes one or more carbon pads, the one or more conductive pads being disposed between the one or more carbon pads and the transparent flexible substrate when the connector subassembly is attached to the transparent flexible substrate.
In yet another variant, the transparent flexible substrate further includes a first dipole trace that comprises a driven element, and a second dipole trace that includes a ground element, the driven element and the ground element are in signal communication with the one or more conductive pads when the connector subassembly is attached to the transparent flexible substrate.
In yet another variant, the connector subassembly further includes a flex mount connector that is configured to interface with both the PCB mount connector as well as the transparent interface assembly.
In yet another aspect, a transparent substrate interface assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transparent substrate interface assembly includes a stiffener and one or more conductive pads, the stiffener being disposed on one side of the transparent flexible substrate and the one or more conductive pads being disposed on a side of the transparent flexible substrate opposite from the stiffener.
Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will immediately be recognized by persons of ordinary skill in the art with reference to the attached drawings and detailed description of exemplary implementations as given below.
The features, objectives, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
Detailed descriptions of the various embodiments and variants of the apparatus and methods of the present disclosure are now provided. It is noted that wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments of transparent FPCB antennas as well as exemplary systems that integrate these transparent FPCB antennas for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without necessarily departing from the principles described herein.
For example, while the various features discussed herein are primarily described in terms of a given frame of reference (e.g., top, bottom, left and right from a preestablished orientation), it would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill given the contents of the present disclosure that this chosen frame of reference is arbitrary and other suitable descriptions in alternative frames of reference may be chosen to describe the various features of the transparent FPCB antenna structures described herein. Additionally, while various examples of antenna artwork for a transparent FPCB antenna implementation are shown herein in a specific orientation, it would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill that one or more of the examples of the artwork shown herein may be reversed in alternative implementations without departing from the principles described herein. Moreover, while primarily discussed in the context of artwork manufactured onto FPCB flexible transparent substrates, it would be readily appreciated that in certain implementations this artwork may be disposed on alternative traditional PCB materials and/or ceramic based substrates. Finally, while primarily discussed in terms of specific antenna operating scenarios (e.g., cellular, GNSS and Wi-Fi operating scenarios), it would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill given the contents of the present disclosure that the techniques described herein may be bodily incorporated into other antenna operating scenarios outside of these specific communication protocols and operating frequency bands.
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On the other side of the transparent flexible cellular antenna 102 that is connected with the second dipole trace 206 is a sixth rectangular conductor section 126 followed by a seventh rectangular conductor section 128. The seventh rectangular conductor section 128 is horizontally offset from the sixth rectangular conductor section 126 such that the left-hand edge of the seventh rectangular conductor section 128 is approximately collinear with the left-hand edge of the vertical projection conductor section 106 on the first dipole trace 204 side of the cellular flex antenna 102. To the right of the sixth rectangular conductor section 126 is an angled conductor section 130. An eighth rectangular conductor section 132 is disposed above the angled conductor section 130, while a tenth rectangular conductor section 136 is disposed below the angled conductor section 130. The tenth rectangular conductor section 136 is also spaced apart from the angled conductor section 130. The tenth rectangular conductor section 136 is connected with the angled conductor section 130 via a ninth rectangular conductor section 134. The ninth rectangular conductor section 134 is positioned near the bottom right corner of the transparent flexible cellular antenna 102. Collectively, each of these conductor sections form the radiating structure for the transparent flexible cellular antenna 102.
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The PCB mount connector 510 may be mounted to a PCB 514. The PCB may have one or more electronic components disposed thereon. For example, these one or more electronic components may include impedance matching circuitry. This impedance matching circuitry may provide for, for example, impedance matching between the transparent antenna assemblies 100, 200, 300 and the RF connector 506. The PCB 514 may also include a RF connector to PCB interface 508 that is coupled with an RF connector 506. The connector subassembly 500 may also include a housing 502, 516. As illustrated in
It will be recognized that while certain aspects of the present disclosure are described in terms of specific design examples, these descriptions are only illustrative of the broader methods of the disclosure and may be modified as required by the particular design. Certain steps may be rendered unnecessary or optional under certain circumstances. Additionally, certain steps or functionality may be added to the disclosed embodiments, or the order of performance of two or more steps permuted. All such variations are considered to be encompassed within the present disclosure described and claimed herein.
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the present disclosure as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. The foregoing description is of the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the present disclosure. This description is in no way meant to be limiting, but rather should be taken as illustrative of the general principles of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined with reference to the claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/447,445 filed Feb. 22, 2023, entitled “Transparent Antenna and Transparent Antenna Connection Methodologies”, the contents of which being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63447445 | Feb 2023 | US |
