IP Library Granted Patent US 10,854,966
Granted Patent B2
US 10,854,966 · App. 16/551,649 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Techniques for flexible antenna

Inventors: Rhett Francis Spencer (Heber City, UT); Anthony Joseph Sutera (Heber City, UT)
Assignee: nCap Licensing, LLC
H01Q1/526H01Q1/24H01Q1/243H01Q1/364H01Q1/38H01Q9/0407H01Q9/28H01Q17/004Y10T29/49016
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,854,966
App. No.
16/551,649
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flexible antenna is provided. The flexible antenna includes a cable comprising at least one conductor, and an antenna body comprising a protective layer and a flexible circuit layer. The flexible circuit layer including a non-conductive sheet, at least one conductive feed pad and at least one antenna element. The at least one antenna element is formed of a conductive particle based material comprising conductive particles dispersed in a binder so that at least a majority of the conductive particles are adjacent to, but do not touch, one another. The at least one antenna element is disposed between the protective layer and the flexible circuit layer. The at least one conductor of the cable is electrically connected to the at least one feed pad.

Claims (25)

1. A flexible antenna circuit for use with an electronic device, the flexible antenna circuit comprising:

a first element that is non-conductive,

second element that is conductive, the second element being for electrically coupling to at least a transmitter of the electronic device, and

a third element disposed such that at least a portion of the third element is immediately adjacent to a portion of the second element, the third element being formed of a conductive particle based material,

wherein the conductive particle based material comprises conductive particles dispersed in a binder so that at least a majority of the conductive particles are adjacent to, but do not touch, one another,

wherein the binder is disposed between at least a part of the conductive particles that are adjacent to, but do not touch, one another, and

wherein at least some of the conductive particles of the conductive particle based material that are adjacent to one another are at least one of capacitively or inductively coupled to one another.

2. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles comprise at least one of conductive particles of different non-uniform shapes, conductive particles of various sizes, or conductive particles smaller than 30 micrometers.

3. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 ,

wherein at least a portion of the conductive particles of the conductive particle based material forming the third element are at least one of capacitively or inductively coupled to second element.

4. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first element, the second element, and the third element are at least one of flexible or semi-flexible.

5. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second element is coupled to reference ground.

6. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second element is a transmission line.

7. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the third element is a transmission line.

8. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the third element is an antenna enhancing element.

9. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the third element is a radiating antenna element.

10. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second element is a radiating antenna element.

11. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second element passes a radio frequency signal to the third element.

12. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second element is further electrically coupled to a receiver.

13. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second element is a transmission line.

14. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 12 , wherein the third element is a transmission line.

15. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 12 , wherein the third element is an antenna enhancing element.

16. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 12 , wherein the third element is a receiving and radiating antenna element.

17. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second element is a receiving and radiating antenna element.

18. The flexible antenna circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second element passes a radio frequency signal to the third element.

Continuity (11)
Continuation 16043151 · Jul 23, 2018
Continuation In Part 15960544 · Apr 23, 2018
Continuation 14804018 · Jul 20, 2015
Continuation 13303135 · Nov 22, 2011
Continuation 14849570 · Sep 9, 2015
Provisional Application 61416093 · Nov 22, 2010
Provisional Application 61473726 · Apr 8, 2011
Provisional Application 61477587 · Apr 20, 2011
Provisional Application 61514435 · Aug 2, 2011
Provisional Application 62048201 · Sep 9, 2014
Related Publication 20200014103A1 · Jan 9, 2020