Electroplated Antenna on Housing Surface

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional solid sheet metal antennas occupy significant space and restrict device size, failing to achieve optimal radiation patterns and signal reception due to their size constraints.

Innovation Solution

A method involving electroless plating and electroplating is used to form an antenna on a product housing, reducing internal space by covering a substrate with a metal medium, applying a resist, exposing the antenna region, and electroplating with metal materials like copper, nickel, or gold, while removing excess material to create a compact antenna.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a solid sheet metal antenna is used, then the antenna structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the device volume increases and the height is restricted by reserved space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna manufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the antenna with the housing structure by forming the antenna directly on the housing surface through electroless plating and electroplating processes. The housing serves dual purposes as both structural enclosure and antenna substrate, eliminating the need for separate sheet metal antenna components and reducing overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the protective enclosure and the antenna substrate. The surface of the housing is treated to provide both structural integrity and electromagnetic radiation properties, allowing a single component to fulfill multiple roles and reduce device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If a solid sheet metal antenna is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the radiation pattern and signal reception cannot achieve optimum performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsignal reception performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating only the antenna region of the housing with specific surface preparations and plating processes. The antenna region receives electroless plating followed by selective electroplating to create optimized radiation surfaces, while other regions of the housing maintain their original structural properties. This localized treatment enables optimal radiation patterns in critical areas without compromising overall manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the housing reserved space is reduced to decrease device size, then the device becomes more compact, but the antenna cannot achieve optimum radiation pattern and signal reception

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidsignal reception performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the antenna with the housing structure by forming the antenna directly on the housing surface through electroless plating and electroplating processes. The housing serves dual purposes as both structural enclosure and antenna substrate, eliminating the need for separate sheet metal antenna components and reducing overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by treating only the antenna region of the housing with specific surface preparations and plating processes. The antenna region receives electroless plating followed by selective electroplating to create optimized radiation surfaces, while other regions of the housing maintain their original structural properties. This localized treatment enables optimal radiation patterns in critical areas without compromising overall manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for the reduction of internal housing space, simplifies production, and enhances antenna performance by replacing conventional sheet metal antennas, thereby enabling smaller device sizes with improved radiation patterns and signal reception.

Implementation Method 1

the surface of the substrate is electroless plated with a metal medium, so that the surface is covered with the metal medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroless plating: Electroplating

Implementation Method 2

the antenna region is electroplated with metal material to form an antenna main body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroplating: Electroplating

Implementation Method 3

the remaining portion of the resist is removed through dry etching

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDry etching: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS8191231B2Method for manufacturing antenna

Publication Date: 2012.06.05 WISTRON NEWEB CORP

AI summary

A method for manufacturing an antenna includes steps as follows. First, a substrate is provided, wherein a surface of the substrate has an antenna region. Then, the surface of the substrate is electroless plated with a metal medium, so that the surface is covered with the metal medium. Then, the metal medium is covered with a resist. Then, a portion of the resist in the antenna region is removed. Then, the antenna region is electroplated with metal material to form an antenna main body. Then, a remaining portion of the resist is removed, and excluding a portion of the metal medium in the antenna region, the other portion of the metal medium is also removed from the substrate.