-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
All About Flex: Flexible Circuit Antennas
February 4, 2016 | Dave Becker, All Flex Flexible Circuits LLCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
In our world of fabricating custom electronics, a circuit can generally be defined as “a path between two or more points along which an electrical current is carried.” The printed circuit board industry designs and fabricates an incredibly diverse set of rigid and flexible circuits. But it is also true this industry produces many parts that do not carry current between discreet points.
A flexible “circuit” antenna is an example. Flexible circuits consist of a layer of flexible polymer film and a patterned conductive material (generally copper). The variety of polymer materials, and an infinite variety of sizes and copper patterns, allow unique designs across a wide range of frequencies. These custom shaped and uniquely patterned devices can also include components soldered to the copper, creating an electrical and mechanical interconnection between the component and the copper circuit trace.
An antenna functions to absorb electromagnetic waves and turn them into electrical pulses that replicate the pulses coming from the source. In the case of radio transmission, the sound from the source is converted to waves that propagate through space. The antenna receives these waves and the radio device turns the pulses into sound. Radio frequency (RF) is just one of many ranges of frequencies used in communication devices.
Many electronic devices use wireless signals and thereby need antennas. Because these electronic devices have unique mechanical packaging constraints, the ideal antenna may need to conform to a variety of shapes, sizes and three dimensional configurations. Antennas from traditional flexible circuit materials can be configured into just about any shape and size. This utility has occasionally resulted in packaging engineers referring to flexible circuits as “origami interconnects.” It’s a good description as this formability makes them extremely versatile within space-constrained and tightly confined enclosures.
Most antennas in electronic devices are connected to a PCB. Another advantage of a flexible circuit antenna is the antenna and the PCB can be fabricated as an integrated unit, reducing assembly costs while improving reliability. This enables a low cost and highly repeatable solution that offers advantages vs. other types of antennas.
By using PCB manufacturing techniques, highly reliable and repeatable antennas can be produced in high volume. The industry can fabricate, test and assemble antennas and accommodate quick turn production needs. Any communication- or signal-receiving device needs an antenna; the list below includes few of the more common applications:
- Bluetooth for hands-free phones
- GPS tracking, positioning and navigation devices
- Wireless local area networks for mobile hot-spots
- Cameras and gaming
- Signal reception for tablets and smart phones
- Wireless Internet TV and audio
- Telemedicine devices
- Cordless phones
- Personal digital assistants
Dave Becker is vice president of sales and marketing at All Flex Flexible Circuits LLC.
Suggested Items
The Chemical Connection: Reducing Etch System Water Usage, Part 2
05/02/2024 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionIn my last column, I reviewed some relatively simple ways to reduce water usage in existing etch systems: cutting down cooling coil water flow, adding chillers to replace plant water for cooling, lowering flow rate nozzles for rinses, etc. This month, I’ll continue with more ways to control water usage in your etcher. Most of these are not easily retrofittable to existing equipment but should be given serious consideration when new equipment is contemplated. With the right combination of add-ons, it is possible to bring the amount of water used in an etch system to almost zero.
Designer’s Notebook: What Designers Need to Know About Manufacturing, Part 2
04/24/2024 | Vern Solberg -- Column: Designer's NotebookThe printed circuit board (PCB) is the primary base element for providing the interconnect platform for mounting and electrically joining electronic components. When assessing PCB design complexity, first consider the component area and board area ratio. If the surface area for the component interface is restricted, it may justify adopting multilayer or multilayer sequential buildup (SBU) PCB fabrication to enable a more efficient sub-surface circuit interconnect.
Insulectro’s 'Storekeepers' Extend Their Welcome to Technology Village at IPC APEX EXPO
04/03/2024 | InsulectroInsulectro, the largest distributor of materials for use in the manufacture of PCBs and printed electronics, welcomes attendees to its TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE during this year’s IPC APEX EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center, April 9-11, 2024.
ENNOVI Introduces a New Flexible Circuit Production Process for Low Voltage Connectivity in EV Battery Cell Contacting Systems
04/03/2024 | PRNewswireENNOVI, a mobility electrification solutions partner, introduces a more advanced and sustainable way of producing flexible circuits for low voltage signals in electric vehicle (EV) battery cell contacting systems.
Heavy Copper PCBs: Bridging the Gap Between Design and Fabrication, Part 1
04/01/2024 | Yash Sutariya, Saturn Electronics ServicesThey call me Sparky. This is due to my talent for getting shocked by a variety of voltages and because I cannot seem to keep my hands out of power control cabinets. While I do not have the time to throw the knife switch to the off position, that doesn’t stop me from sticking screwdrivers into the fuse boxes. In all honesty, I’m lucky to be alive. Fortunately, I also have a talent for building high-voltage heavy copper circuit boards. Since this is where I spend most of my time, I can guide you through some potential design for manufacturability (DFM) hazards you may encounter with heavy copper design.