Antenna system
A housing includes a 3-D composite structure. The structure includes a flex foil. An antenna trace is provided on a first surface of the flex foil. A shield, which may be a sheet, is positioned on the antenna trace. A resin is molded to the first surface, the shield and the antenna trace. The resultant structure allows for a thin-walled design that can communicate efficiently via wireless signals.
1. An antenna system, comprising:
a flex foil with an exterior and interior surface;
an antenna trace provided on the interior surface;
a shield mounted on the antenna trace; and
a resin molded onto the interior surface, the resin at least partially covering the antenna trace and the shield, wherein the shield is sized to extend at least 1 mm beyond the outer edge of the antenna trace.
2. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna trace has a loop shape.
3. The antenna system of claim 2 , wherein the shield is loop shaped.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the shield is a sheet.
5. The antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the flex foil is transparent.
6. The antenna system of claim 4 , further comprising a printed label provided on the interior surface.
7. An antenna system, comprising:
a flex foil with an exterior and interior surface;
an antenna trace provided on the interior surface;
a shield mounted on the antenna trace; and
a resin molded onto the interior surface, the resin at least partially covering the antenna trace and the shield, wherein the resin provides a second interior surface and the shield is positioned closer to the second interior surface than the antenna trace.
8. The antenna system of claim 7 , wherein the second interior surface is concave.
9. The antenna system of claim 8 , wherein the shield is sized to cover the antenna trace.
10. The antenna system of claim 9 , wherein the resin includes a via configured to allow for direct electrical contact with the antenna trace.
11. An antenna system, comprising:
a flex foil with an exterior and interior surface;
an antenna trace provided on the interior surface;
a shield mounted on the antenna trace; and
a resin molded onto the interior surface, the resin at least partially covering the antenna trace and the shield, wherein the shield is a ferrite material in a ceramic material.
12. A method of forming an antenna system, comprising:
providing a flex foil;
positioning an antenna trace on the flex foil;
aligning a shield with the antenna trace; and
forming a resin over the shield and the flex foil, wherein the resin and the wall form a structure suitable for use as a housing, wherein the forming of the resin creates a concave sham with an interior surface and the shield is positioned closer to the interior surface than the antenna.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the forming of the resin is a back-molding process.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the forming of the resin is an over-molding process.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the flex foil is transparent.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising positioning a decorative layer on the flex foil.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antenna trace is positioned directly on the decorative layer.