Patent Publication Number: US-7586449-B1

Title: Antenna structure and method for manufacturing the antenna structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to the field of antenna, and especially to an improved antenna structure and a method for manufacturing the antenna structure. 
   2. The Related Art 
   According to the progress of the communication technology, the key development is the transfer from wired to wireless communication. In the field of wireless communication, an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signal is the bridge between two wireless apparatuses. The antenna is therefore an essential component in the wireless apparatus. 
   Many types of antennas for the wireless apparatuses are used, including helix, monopole, inverted-F, dipole, patch, loop and retractable antennas. Helix antenna and retractable antenna are typically installed outside the wireless apparatuses. Inverted-F antenna, monopole antenna, patch antenna, loop antenna and dipole antenna are typically embedded inside the wireless apparatuses. 
   Generally, embedded antennas are preferred over external antennas for the wireless apparatuses owing to mechanical and ergonomic reasons. Embedded antennas are protected by the case of the wireless apparatuses and therefore tend to be more durable than external antennas. 
   A conventional embedded antenna is disclosed in Taiwan patent application number 091112828 filed on Jun. 12, 2002. The antenna includes a rectangular base, a planar radiating element disposed on the top of the rectangular base, a plurality of hooks arranged at the bottom of the rectangular base, a feeding contact and a ground contact extending downwardly from the side of the planar radiating element. 
   Because the hooks of the rectangular base hook predeterminate positions of a printed circuit board, the feeding contact and the ground contact of the planar radiating element connect the corresponding pads of the printed circuit board. 
   However, the antenna has several shortcomings described hereinafter. To assemble with the antenna, the wireless apparatus must provide an extra space for accommodating the rectangular base of the antenna. This will bulk the wireless apparatus. Moreover, the interconnection between the feeding contact and the ground contact of the planar radiating element and the corresponding pads of the printed circuit board may be unstable once the hooks of the base hook incorrect positions of the printed circuit board. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an antenna structure including the following steps:
         first step: forming an antenna pattern which has an antenna portion, a ground portion, a feeding section in the antenna portion, a grounding section in the ground portion, a feeding hollow defined in the feeding section, and a ground hollow defined in the grounding section;   second step: providing a feeding cable having an inner lead, a metallic shield, a feeding piece connected to one end of the inner lead, and a grounding piece connected to one end of the metallic shield;   third step: applying a conductive glue in the feeding hollow and the grounding hollow; and   fourth step: adhering the feeding piece and the grounding piece of the feeding cable to the feeding section and the grounding section respectively by the conductive glue.       

   Another object of the present invention is provide an antenna structure including an antenna pattern and a feeing cable. The antenna pattern has an antenna portion, a ground portion, a feeding section in the antenna portion, a grounding section in the ground portion, a feeding hollow defined in the feeding section for accommodating a conductive glue, and a ground hollow defined in the grounding section for accommodating the conductive glue. 
   The feeding cable has an inner lead, a metallic shield, a feeding piece connected to one end of the inner lead, and a grounding piece connected to one end of the metallic shield. The feeding piece of the feeding cable is connected to the feeding section of the antenna pattern by the conductive glue prearranged in the feeding hollow, and the grounding piece of the feeding cable is connected to the grounding section of the antenna pattern by the conductive glue prearranged in the grounding hollow. 
   It can be seen that the electrical connection between the antenna pattern and the feeding cable is more stable because the feeding piece and the grounding piece of the feeding cable are adhered to the feeding section and the grounding section of the antenna pattern. In addition, the antenna structure can be formed integrated with a housing of an electric apparatus or plated on the housing, so an extra space as mentioned in the prior art can be saved. Therefore, the electric apparatus can be more compact. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a first preferred embodiment of an antenna structure having an insulation plate and an antenna pattern according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the antenna structure of  FIG. 1  connecting to a feeding cable; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the feeding cable shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view showing the antenna structure to be assembled with a housing of an electric apparatus; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view showing a second preferred embodiment of an antenna structure according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a partially enlarged view of an encircled portion VI of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a partially enlarged view of an encircled portion VII of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . A first preferred embodiment of an antenna structure  100  is shown. The antenna structure  100  has an insulation plate  1 , an antenna pattern  2  and a feeding cable  3 . 
   The antenna pattern  2  is disposed on the surface of the insulation plate  1  and has an antenna portion  20 , a ground portion  21 , a feeding section  22  consisted in the antenna portion  20 , and a grounding section  23  consisted in the ground portion  21 . The feeding section  22  defines a feeding hollow  10  therein. The grounding section  23  defines a grounding hollow  11  therein. 
   The feeding cable  3  has an inner lead  30 , a metallic shield  31  wrapping the inner lead  30  and insulated from the inner lead  30 , a feeding piece  32  soldered to one end of the inner lead  30 , and a grounding piece  33  soldered to one end of the metallic shield  31 . 
   The feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  of the feeding cable  3  are respectively adhered to the feeding section  22  and the grounding section  23  of the antenna pattern  2  by conductive glue that is prearranged in the feeding hollow  10  and the grounding hollow  11 . 
   A first method for manufacturing the antenna structure  100  is described as following: 
   first step: forming the insulation plate  1  by injection molding; 
   second step: forming the antenna pattern  2  on the surface of the insulation plate  1 , the antenna pattern  2  having the antenna portion  20 , the ground portion  21 , the feeding section  22  consisted in the antenna portion  20 , and the grounding section  23  consisted in the ground portion  21 , wherein the feeding section  22  and the grounding section  23  define the feeding hollow  10  and the grounding hollow  11  respectively; 
   third step: providing the feeding cable  3  which has the inner lead  30 , the metallic shield  31 , the feeding piece  32 , and the grounding piece  31 , wherein the feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  soldered to one end of the inner lead  30  and one end of the shield  31  respectively; 
   fourth step: applying conductive glue in the feeding hollow  10  and the grounding hollow  11 ; and 
   fifth step: adhering the feeding piece  32  of the feeding cable  3  to the feeding section  22  of the antenna pattern  2  by the conductive glue for establishing the electrical connection therebetween, and adhering the grounding piece  33  of the feeding cable  3  to the grounding section  23  of the antenna pattern  2  by the conductive glue for establishing the electrical connection therebetween. 
   In this case, the insulation plate  1  is made of insulation material such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or PC (Polycarbonate). The antenna pattern  2  is formed on the surface of the insulation  1  by any suitable methods such as electroplating, spraying and etc. The feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  of the cable  3  is made of metallic material such as copper or nickel. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , which shows a second preferred embodiment of the antenna structure  400 . The antenna structure  400  is integratedly formed with a metallic cover. In this case, the antenna structure  400  is integratedly formed with a metallic case  4  consisted in a display housing of a laptop. In this case, the display housing of the laptop includes the metallic case  4  and a front case  6  engaging with the metallic case  4 . The antenna structure  400  includes the metallic case  4 , the feeding cable  3  as described above, and an insulation base  5 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . The metallic case  4  includes a metallic plate  40  defining opposite lateral sides, a top side and a bottom side, two side walls  41  extending outwardly and upwardly from the lateral sides of the metallic plate  40 , a plurality of locking elements  42  extending upwardly from the side wall  41  for engaging with the front case  6 , a coupling portion  43  extending outwardly and upwardly from the bottom side of the metallic plate  40  for coupling with hinges (not shown in figures), at least one antenna body  44  extending outwardly and upwardly from the top side of the metallic plate  40 , and an engaging portion  45  formed at the top side of the metallic plate  40 . 
   The antenna body  44  includes an antenna pattern  46  in a plane parallel to the metallic plate  40  and a connecting arm  48  extending upwardly from the top side of the metallic plate  40  to connect the antenna pattern  46  with the metallic plate  40  and lift the antenna pattern  46 . The antenna pattern  46  has an antenna portion  460 , a ground portion  462 , a feeding section  464  consisted in the antenna portion  460 , and a grounding section  466  consisted in the ground portion  462 . The feeding section  464  defines a feeding hollow  468  therein. The grounding section  466  defines a grounding hollow  470  therein. 
   The engaging portion  45  includes a plurality of cavities  450  formed in the top side of the metallic plate  40 , at least two blocks  451  extending outwardly and upwardly form the top side of the metallic plate  40  and a groove  452  formed in the blocks  451 . In this case, the antenna body  44  is formed between the blocks  451 . 
   The insulation base  5  is arranged on the top side of the metallic plate  40  and engaged with the engaging portion  45 . In this case, the antenna pattern  46  of the antenna body  44  is arranged on the insulation base  5 . The insulation base  5  includes a plurality of engaging arms  50  extending from the periphery thereof for engaging with the cavities  450  and the groove  452  of the engaging portion  45 , at least one concave portion  51  formed at one side thereof for receiving the connecting arm  440  of the antenna body  44 , at least one supporting plane  52  formed on one surface thereof for holding the antenna pattern  46  of the antenna body  44 , and a plurality of locking elements  53  extending upwardly thereof for engaging with the front case  6 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 7 . The feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  of the feeding cable  3  are respectively adhered in the feeding hollow  468  and the grounding hollow  470  of the antenna body  44  by the conductive glue. Therefore, the feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  of the feeding cable  3  are adhered and connected to the feeding section  464  and the grounding section  466  of the antenna body  44  respectively. 
   Furthermore, the front case  6  includes a plurality of posts  60  corresponding to the feeding hollow  468  and the grounding hollow  470  of the antenna body  44 . The posts  60  are pressed on the feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  of the feeding cable  3  respectively while the metallic case  4  and the front case  6  are assembled. Therefore, the feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  of the cable  3  are stably received in the feeding hollow  468  and the grounding hollow  470  of the antenna body  44  respectively through the pressing force of the post  60 . 
   A second method for manufacturing the antenna structure  400  is described as following: 
   first step: forming the metallic case  4  integrated with the antenna pattern  46  by casting, and the antenna pattern  46  having the antenna portion  460 , the ground portion  462 , the feeding section  464  consisted in the antenna portion  460 , the grounding section  466  consisted in the ground portion  462 , the feeding hollow  468  defined in the feeding section  464 , and the grounding hollow  470  defined in the grounding section  466   
   second step: providing the feeding cable  3  which has the inner lead  30 , the metallic shield  31  wrapping the inner lead  30 , the feeding piece  32  soldered to one end of the inner lead  30 , and the grounding piece  33  soldered to one end of the shield  31 ; 
   third step: applying conductive glue in the feeding hollow  468  and the grounding hollow  470  of the antenna body  44 ; and 
   fourth step: adhering the feeding piece  32  of the feeding cable  3  to the feeding section  464  by the conductive glue for establishing the electrical connection therebetween, and adhering the grounding piece  33  of the feeding cable  3  to the grounding section  466  by the conductive glue for establishing the electrical connection therebetween. 
   In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, the antenna pattern of the antenna structure  100 ,  400  may be plated on the insulation plate or may be integrated with metallic case, especially plated on the insulated housing or formed integrated with the metallic housing of the electric apparatus. 
   Therefore, an extra space in the electric apparatus is saved. Furthermore, the electrical connection between the antenna pattern  2 ,  46  and the feeding cable  3  is more stable because the feeding piece  32  and the grounding piece  33  of the feeding cable  3  are adhered to the feeding section  464  and the grounding section  466 . Moreover, the antenna characteristic of the antenna body  44 , such as antenna efficiency and VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio), is improved because the metallic case  4  can be the ground of the antenna body  44 . 
   Furthermore, the antenna pattern  2 ,  44  can be operated in single band or multi-bands. The antenna pattern  2 ,  44  further can be a wireless wide area network antenna operating in telecommunication frequency bands such as GSM 850 MHz, EGSM 900 MHz, DCS 1800 MHz, PCS 1900 MHz, UMTS 2100 MHz and etc, or a location area network antenna operating in data transmission bands such as 2.4 GHz, 5.2 GHz and etc. 
   The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above; various additions, alterations and the like may be made within the scope of the present invention by a person skilled in the art. For example, respective embodiments may be appropriately combined.