Abstract:
Disclosed is a radiator frame and a method of manufacturing the radiator frame. The radiator frame includes a radiator comprising an antenna pattern configured to transmit or receive a signal and a terminal connection configured to electrically connect the antenna pattern to a circuit board, and a molding frame configured to embed the radiator, wherein the antenna pattern is embedded in a first surface of the molding frame, and the terminal connection is exposed to a second surface of the molding frame.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority and benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0030258 filed on Mar. 4, 2015 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The following description relates to a radiator frame having an antenna pattern embedded therein, an electronic device including the same, and a mold for manufacturing the radiator frame having an embedded antenna pattern. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Mobile communications terminals such as, for example, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), GPS navigation devices, laptop computers supporting wireless communications are used abundantly in modern societies. Such mobile communications terminals have been developed to include communication schemes such as code division multiple access (CDMA), wireless local area network (WLAN), global system for mobile communications (GSM), and digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB). A component of the mobile communications terminals that enable these communication schemes is an antenna. 
         [0006]    An antenna used in mobile communications terminals has evolved from an external type antenna, such as a rod antenna or a helical antenna, to an embedded type antenna disposed within the terminal. The external type antenna may be vulnerable to external impacts, while the embedded type antenna may increase a volume of the terminal. In order to solve these problems, research into technology for integrating antennas into mobile communications terminals has been actively conducted. 
         [0007]    Injection-molding a radiator to form a radiator frame and directly utilizing the radiator frame has been used. When the radiator frame is injection-molded, a painting task is additionally required after the radiator frame is injection-molded. However, a terminal portion is also partially painted by a scattering of a painting material during the painting task, and thus undesirable contact between the terminal portion and a substrate may occur in the painting process. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0009]    In one general aspect, there is provided a radiator frame including a radiator including an antenna pattern configured to transmit or receive a signal and a terminal connection configured to electrically connect the antenna pattern to a circuit board, and a molding frame configured to embed the radiator, wherein the antenna pattern is embedded in a first surface of the molding frame, and the terminal connection is exposed to a second surface of the molding frame. 
         [0010]    A supporting groove may be provided in a portion of the second surface of the molding frame. 
         [0011]    The antenna pattern may be embedded in the molding frame to be spaced apart from one surface of the molding frame by about 0.2 mm. 
         [0012]    The radiator may be embedded in the molding frame by injection-molding a resin. 
         [0013]    The antenna pattern may be embedded in the molding frame to be spaced apart from one surface of the molding frame by about 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. 
         [0014]    The antenna pattern and the terminal connection may be disposed in different planes. 
         [0015]    In another general aspect, there is provided a mold for manufacturing a radiator frame, the mold including an upper mold including at least one guide pin, a lower mold including a supporting pin, and the lower mold combines with the upper mold to provide an internal space to accommodate a radiator including an antenna pattern, and a resin injector provided in at least one of the upper mold and the lower mold to inject a resin into the internal space, wherein the at least one guide pin and the supporting pin fix the antenna pattern in the internal space, and the at least one guide pin combines with an elastic part to be retractable by a pressure of the resin injected into the internal space. 
         [0016]    The mold elastic part may include an elastic member configured to have a first end attached to the guide pin, a support member configured to support a second end of the elastic member, a guide hole provided in the upper mold, and the at least one guide pin is inserted into the guide hole and a end of the at least one guide pin exposed to the internal space. 
         [0017]    The elastic member may be a spring. 
         [0018]    The quantity of the elastic member may be equal to a quantity of the at least one guide pin. 
         [0019]    The supporting pin may protrude into the internal space. 
         [0020]    The upper mold may have a groove of about 0.2 mm. 
         [0021]    The end of the at least one guide pin exposed to the internal space may be retracted in the guide hole, in response to the pressure of the injected resin. 
         [0022]    The at least one guide pin may not protrude into the internal space. 
         [0023]    The pressure of the resin injected into the internal space may be sufficient to compress the elastic member. 
         [0024]    Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a radiator frame being coupled to a case of a mobile communications terminal, which is an electronic device. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of a mobile communications terminal manufactured using a radiator frame. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a radiator. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a radiator frame. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG. 4   
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of a manner in which a radiator is disposed in a mold and the mold is filled with a resin material, in a method for manufacturing a radiator frame. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described or provided, the same drawing reference numerals refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The progression of processing steps and/or operations is described as an example; the sequence of operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of steps and/or operations that necessarily occur in a certain order. Also, descriptions of functions and constructions that are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness. 
         [0033]    The features described herein may be embodied in different forms, and are not to be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided so that this disclosure is thorough, complete, and conveys the full scope of the disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a radiator frame coupled to a case of a mobile communications terminal.  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of a mobile communications terminal manufactured using a radiator frame. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic device may include a circuit board  100 , a housing  200 , and a radiator frame  300 . 
         [0036]    Various kinds of boards  100 , such as, for example, a ceramic substrate, or a printed circuit board (PCB) may be used. 
         [0037]    One surface of the circuit board  100  may be provided with one or more electronic components, and may be provided with mounting electrodes for mounting the electronic components and wire patterns that electrically interconnect the mounting electrodes. In an example, the circuit substrate  100  may be a multilayer circuit board formed of a plurality of layers, and conductive vias (not illustrated) for electrically connecting respective layers may be formed between the respective layers. 
         [0038]    The circuit board  100  may have a terminal  110  for forming a connection with a radiator  310 . The radiator  310  may be electrically connected to the terminal  110  of the circuit board  100 . The radiator  310  may serve as an antenna to receive an external signal, to transmit the received signal to the circuit board  100 , and to transmit a signal received from the circuit board  100  externally. 
         [0039]    The housing  200  is a member forming a shape of the electronic device. The housing  200  may include a front case  210  and a rear cover  220 . The front case  210  may be coupled to a variety of electronic elements for driving the electronic device and the circuit board  100  described above. 
         [0040]    The radiator frame  300  may be coupled to one side of the front case  210 , and the rear cover  220  may be coupled to an upper surface of the radiator frame  300 . The front case  210  and the rear cover  220  may be coupled to each other to enclose an internal space. The internal space may accommodate a variety of electronic elements that are needed for the electronic device, the circuit board  100 , and the radiator frame  300 . 
         [0041]    The rear cover  220  may be coupled to the upper surface of the radiator frame  300  to prevent the radiator frame  300  from being externally exposed. The front case  210  and the rear cover  220  may be detachably coupled to each other. As an example, the rear cover  220  may be hook-coupled to the front case  210 . 
         [0042]    In an example, the front case  210  and the rear cover  220  may be formed of plastic, and may be formed by a method, such as, for example, injection-molding a resin. Other materials may be used for the front case  210  and rear cover  220  without departing from the spirit and scope of the illustrative examples described. Any material may be used for the front case  210  and rear cover  220 , which can form a structure in which the electronic element, the circuit board  100 , and the radiator frame  300  may be accommodated. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of the radiator  310 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of the radiator frame  300 , and  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a radiator frame.  FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a manner in which a radiator is disposed in a mold and the mold is filled with a resin material. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , the radiator frame  300  may include the radiator  310  and a molding frame  320 . The radiator  310  may include an antenna pattern part  311 , a connecting part  312 , and a terminal connection part  313 . 
         [0046]    The radiator  310  may be formed of a conductor such as, for example, aluminum or copper. The radiator  310  may receive an external signal to transmit the received signal to a signal processing device (not illustrated) included in the electronic device or may transmit a signal from the electronic device to an external receiving site. 
         [0047]    The radiator  310  may include the antenna pattern part  311 , the connecting part  312 , and the terminal connection part  313 . The radiator  310  may be formed to have a three dimensional structure by bending the antenna pattern part  311  and the terminal connection part  313 . 
         [0048]    The antenna pattern part  311  may transmit or receive signals. The antenna pattern part  311  may be shaped to meander in a curved, arc, or line fashion in order to receive external signals in various bands. 
         [0049]    The connecting part  312  may connect the antenna pattern part  311  and the terminal connection part  313  to each other. The connecting part  312  may allow the antenna pattern part  311  and the terminal connection part  313  to be disposed on different planes. The connecting part  312  may allow the terminal connection part  313  that is not embedded in the molding frame  320  to be exposed to another surface of the molding frame  320  opposing a surface on which the antenna pattern part  311  is formed. 
         [0050]    The terminal connection part  313  may electrically connect the antenna pattern part  311  to the circuit board  100  in order to transmit the received signal to the electronic device or externally transmit the output signal. The terminal connection part  313  is connected to the terminal  110  of the circuit board  100 , whereby the radiator frame  300  mounted on the electronic device may implement antenna performance in the electronic device. In an example, the terminal connection part  313  may be elastically in contact with the terminal  110  to secure connection reliability. 
         [0051]    In another example, although not specifically illustrated, at least one guide pin hole may be formed in the antenna pattern part  311  to prevent movement of the radiator  310  during injection-molding. 
         [0052]    The molding frame  320  may be manufactured by injection-molding the radiator  310 , i.e., the radiator is embedded in the molding frame by injection-molding. The molding frame  320  may be an injection-molded structure, the antenna pattern part  311  may be embedded in one surface  210   a  of the molding frame  320 , and the terminal connection part  313  may be exposed to the other surface  210   b  of the molding frame  320 . Surface  210   b  may oppose surface  210   a  of the molding frame  320 . In an example, the antenna pattern part  311  may be embedded to be spaced apart from surface  210   a  of the molding frame  320  by 0.2 mm. In another example, the antenna pattern part  311  may be embedded to be spaced apart from the surface  210   a  of the molding frame  320  by 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. 
         [0053]    In an example, one surface of the molding frame  320  is defined as a surface opposing the rear cover  220 , and the other surface of the molding frame  320  is defined as a surface opposing the circuit board  100 . 
         [0054]    A method for manufacturing the radiator frame  300  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a mold  400  for manufacturing the radiator frame  300  may include an upper mold  420  and a lower mold  440 . When the upper mold  420  and the lower mold  440  are combined, an internal space  430  may be formed by grooves provided in the upper mold  420  and the lower mold  440 . 
         [0055]    When the upper mold  420  and the lower mold  440  are combined, a resin injection part or resin injector  450  may be formed in any one or both of the upper and lower molds  420  and  440  to introduce a resin into the internal space  430  that is formed by combining the upper mold  420  and the lower mold  440 . 
         [0056]    Inner surfaces of the upper and lower molds  420  and  440  may form an accommodating groove  460  to accommodate the connecting part  312  and the terminal connection part  313  of the radiator  310 . The resin may be introduced into the accommodating groove  460  to fixedly support the connecting part  312  and the terminal connection part  313 . Since one side surface of the connecting part  312  is in contact with one side surface of the accommodating groove  460 , the resin may be provided on only one side surface of the connecting part  312  to form a radiator supporting part  321 . The radiator supporting part  321  formed by the resin introduced into the accommodating groove  460  may protrude to the other surface of the molding frame  320 , which is the surface opposing one surface of the molding frame  320  in which the antenna pattern part  311  is formed. 
         [0057]    The radiator frame  300  may be manufactured by disposing the radiator  310  in the internal space  430  of the mold  400  and then injecting a molding resin into the internal space  430 . 
         [0058]    The radiator  310  includes the antenna pattern part  311 , the terminal connection part  313 , and the connecting part  312 . The antenna pattern part  311  transmits and receives the signal. The terminal connection part  313  is disposed on a different plane from that of the antenna pattern part  311 . The connecting part  312  connects the antenna pattern part  311  and the terminal connection part  313  to each other may be disposed in the internal space  430  of the mold  400 . 
         [0059]    The lower mold  440  forming the manufacturing mold  400  may be capable of fixing the radiator  310  disposed in the internal space  430 , more specifically, the antenna pattern part  311 . In an example, at least one of the upper mold  420  and the lower mold  440  may include at least one of a guide pin  428  and a supporting pin  448 . 
         [0060]    The guide pin  428  and the supporting pin  448  may fixedly dispose the antenna pattern part  311  of the radiator  310  by supporting the radiator  310  at different positions. 
         [0061]    For convenience of explanation, a description below is provided with the guide pin  428  being provided to the upper mold  420  and the supporting pin  448  being provided to the lower mold  440 . Other arrangement and configuration of the supporting pin  448  and the guide pin  428  may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the illustrative examples described. 
         [0062]    The guide pin  428  provided to the upper mold  420  may maintain a state in which the guide pin  428  fixes the radiator  310  and may be then separated and retracted from the radiator  310  when the molding resin is pressurized to be injected into the internal space  430  of the manufacturing mold  400 . Thereby, the antenna pattern part  311  of the radiator frame  300  may not be exposed to one surface of the molding frame  320 . 
         [0063]    The guide pin  428  provided to the upper mold  420  may fix the radiator  310  in the internal space  430  of the manufacturing mold  400 . The guide pin  428  may work together with an elastic part  660  to be retractable by injection pressure of the resin that is injected into the internal space  430  from the resin injection part  450 . 
         [0064]    The elastic part  660  may include an elastic member  664  (e.g., a spring) having one end attached to the guide pin  428 , a supporting member  662  supporting the other end of the elastic member  664 , and a guide hole  666  formed in the upper mold  420 . The guide hole  666  may allow the guide pin  428  to be inserted into the guide hole  666  to expose one end of the guide pin  428  to the internal space  430 . 
         [0065]    When molding resin is injected into the internal space  430  of the mold  400  at a predetermined pressure or higher, the guide pin  428  may be separated from the antenna pattern part  311  and may be retracted up to approximately a position at which the guide pin  428  does not protrude into the internal space  430 . The number of elastic members  664  may correspond to the number of guide pins  428 . 
         [0066]    Since the molding resin is injected into the internal space  430  of the mold  400  at high pressure, pressure in the internal space  430  may increase instantaneously. Therefore, when the guide pin  428  works together with the elastic part  660  to be movable, the guide pin  428  which is in contact with the antenna pattern part  311  may be separated and retracted from the antenna pattern part  311  by the high pressure injection of the molding resin. 
         [0067]    Since a large amount of molding resin is already injected into the internal space  430  when the guide pin  428  is retracted and the antenna pattern part  311  maintains a state in which it is continuously supported by the supporting pin  448  provided in the lower mold  440 , the antenna pattern part  311  may not be exposed to one surface of the molding frame  320 . 
         [0068]    Meanwhile, at least one supporting groove  315  may be formed in the other surface of the molding frame  320 . The supporting groove  315  may be formed by the supporting pin  448  of the lower mold  440  to support the antenna pattern part  311 . Since the supporting pin  448  continuously supports the antenna pattern part  311  while the molding resin is provided in the overall internal space  430 , the supporting groove  315  may be formed by removing the mold  400  after curing the molding resin. 
         [0069]    As set forth above, the painting task is eliminated, whereby costs for manufacturing the radiator frame may be reduced and conductivity between the circuit board and the antenna frame may be improved. 
         [0070]    While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure.