Antenna windows in carbon fiber enclosures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11502389-B2
Application number	US-201816976495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2018
Priority date	Apr 24, 2018
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

In example implementations, an enclosure is provided. The enclosure includes a first layer of carbon fiber and a second layer of a carbon fiber pattern fabricated from a plastic. The first layer of carbon fiber is formed in a shape of a portable electronic device. An antenna window is formed in the first layer of the carbon fiber. The second layer of the carbon fiber pattern has a same shape and a same size as the first layer of carbon fiber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An enclosure, comprising:
a first layer of carbon fiber that is formed in a shape of a portable electronic device;
an antenna window formed in the first layer of the carbon fiber, wherein the antenna window is laser cut into the first layer of carbon fiber; and
a second layer of a carbon fiber pattern fabricated from a plastic, wherein the second layer has a same shape and a same size as the first layer of carbon fiber, and wherein the second layer is positioned to cover the first layer including the antenna window.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of carbon fiber comprises a unidirectional carbon fiber composite or a multi-directional weaved carbon fiber composite.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the antenna window is injection molded into an opening of the first layer of the carbon fiber.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the antenna window comprises a glass or a clear plastic.

5. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the antenna window is located over a location of a wireless antenna of the portable electronic device.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein a shape and a size of the antenna window is based on a shape and a size of the wireless antenna.

7. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the second layer is adhered to the first layer of carbon fiber via out-mold decoration process.

8. An apparatus, comprising:
a wireless antenna;
a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless antenna; and
an enclosure to enclose the wireless antenna and the processor, wherein the enclosure comprises:
a first layer of carbon fiber;
an antenna window formed in the first layer of the carbon fiber, wherein the antenna window is laser cut into the first layer of carbon fiber; and
a second layer of a carbon fiber pattern fabricated from a plastic, wherein the second layer has a same shape and a same size as the first layer, and wherein the second layer is positioned to cover the first layer including the antenna window.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the antenna window is injection molded into an opening of the first layer of the carbon fiber.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the antenna window comprises polycarbonate.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the antenna window is located over a location of the wireless antenna of the portable electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , enclosure further comprises:
an adhesive layer between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the adhesive layer is cured via an out-mold decoration process.

13. A method, comprising:
cutting a carbon fiber material into a shape of a portable electronic device;
cutting an opening in the carbon fiber material in a location where a wireless antenna of the portable electronic device is located, wherein the cutting the opening is performed via a laser cutting operation;
injection molding an antenna window into the opening;
applying an adhesive layer over the carbon fiber material and the antenna window;
applying a carbon fiber pattern onto the adhesive layer, so that the carbon fiber pattern covers the carbon fiber material and the antenna window; and
adhering the carbon fiber pattern onto the carbon fiber material via an out-mold decoration process that cures the adhesive layer.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the injection molding is performed with a glass fiber or a plastic.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the antenna window comprises at least one of a rectangular shape, a “T” shape, or an “L” shape.

16. The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer applied between the first layer of carbon fiber and the second layer.

17. The enclosure of claim 16 , wherein the adhesive layer is cured to couple the second layer onto the first layer of carbon fiber.

18. The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is formed as part of the first layer of carbon fiber.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Lin Chien-Ting
• Chang Chi Hao
• Wu Kuan-Ting

Classifications

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• H01Q1/2266 Primary

  disposed inside the computer · CPC title

• H01Q1/364

  using a particular conducting material, e.g. superconductor · CPC title