WO2005069432A1

WO2005069432A1 - Pcmcia electronic housing equipped with an antenna and process for manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2005069432A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/000192
Authority: WO
Inventors: M'hamed Drissi; Klifa Hadre; Frédéric HAUTIER; David Lemarechal; Jean Razafiarivelo; Antoine Fares-Karam; Stéphane BARLERIN
Original assignee: Fci
Priority date: 2004-01-09
Filing date: 2005-01-10
Publication date: 2005-07-28
Also published as: FR2865099A1; TW200603709A

Abstract

The invention relates to a PCMCIA electronic housing (1). Such a housing comprises an upper cover (2) and a lower cover (3), the upper cover and the lower cover are connected to form a cavity (5) inside of which is placed an electronic card (4). Such a housing is equipped with at least one antenna (51, 29, 39, 42, 45, 46) designed to communicate information to at least one electronic component (11) that is placed on the electronic card. To reduce the bulkiness of this housing equipped with such an antenna, the invention provides that the antenna be interposed between one of the covers and the card, and that at least one part of an external surface (47, 48) of the cover corresponding to a location of an internal surface (49, 50) of this same cover opposite from which is placed the antenna, is lacking metalizing.

Description

PCMCIA ELECTRONIC HOUSING EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTENNA AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF.

The object of the present invention is a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) electronic housing equipped with an antenna. Another object of the invention is a process for manufacturing such a housing. More particularly, the invention finds its utilization, in the domain of housings designed to. contain a card meeting the criteria set by the PCMCIA standard. Such electronic cards are widely utilized, more particularly for adding memory • capacity and/or functionality to a computer, more particularly to portable computers. These cards are present in housings with a connector to a rear extremity of the housing, this rear extremity meeting specific dimensional criteria.

A PCMCIA electronic housing comprises an electronic card, an upper cover and a lower cover. The upper cover and the lower cover are closed one on the other in such a way as to delimit a cavity inside of which is placed the electronic card. The electronic card carries at least one electronic component that is connected to at least one supply line printed on the card. This supply line allows the component to be connected to an antenna. Such a housing is designed to be inserted by its rear extremity in a slot of an electronic apparatus, for example in a slot of a computer. This slot then comprises a shape that is adapted to the shape of a housing in such a way as to maintain this housing relatively fixedly in the apparatus. Within this slot, the component is electrically connected through its connector to an additional connector situated in the bottom of this slot. In the prior art, adding an antenna extension to a front part of the housing is known. The front part of the housing comprises a connector designed to receive in correspondence another additional connector of an antenna extension module . However, by adding this antenna extension to the front part of the housing, a bulky housing and a connection between the module and the housing that may be fragile is obtained. To at least partially resolve these problems, the invention provides a PCMCIA electronic housing according to claim 1.

This housing is then formed of a single block equipped with at least one antenna placed within the cavity. The antenna is more specifically integrated in at least one of the covers. The antenna is placed within the cavity while being placed between one of the covers and the supply line.

A part of the external surface of at least one of the covers corresponding to a location of the antenna in the cavity of the housing is lacking metalizing. This part of the cover of the housing that is lacking metalizing may thus allow the antenna to emit radiofrequency waves across this same cover.

Furthermore, the housing according to the invention possibly comprises one and/or the other of the following characteristics: the antenna is formed by a metal plate that is deformed according to the shape of the cover opposite from which the antenna is designed to be placed; the antenna is printed on a flexible support or "flex" in such a way that it is possible to attach this flexible support on the cover while adapting the shape of this flex and thus of this antenna to the shape of the corresponding cover; the antenna results from an impression of electrically conductive ink on the inner surface of at least one of the covers; this impression may be performed by electrodeposition (electrodeposition is understood to refer to a use of an electric current to deposit a metallic electrically conductive ink on a support) ; or rather this impression may be performed chemically or by using vacuum technologies; in the latter case the impression of ink by chemicals or vacuum does not require the use of electric current and is called the Electroless technique; for example, the antenna may be printed by MID (or Molded Interconnection Device) technology; by this latter MID technology, the antenna may be formed following selective impression of a catalytic ink (non conductive) on which the metalizing is done; or rather by this latter MID technology the antenna may be achieved following MID metalizing as such using etchings and chemical activations; the upper cover and lower cover are formed by molding a plastic material; one may then advantageously obtain an optimal utilization of the antenna formed by the conductive ink, or by the flex glued forming an integral part with the molded half shells due to the precision of the molding technique in general that allows coplanarity, parallelism and a constant strict distance between the entire surface of the element radiating the antenna and the plane of the mass to be obtained; - the upper cover is formed by a front upper half shell and by a rear upper half shell; the lower cover is also formed of a front lower half shell and by a rear lower half shell; the front and rear half shells are connected to each other in correspondence by fitting one in the other according to an axis that is parallel to a plane formed by the electronic card; each of the rear half shells is specifically placed opposite the electronic component; the front half shells are specifically placed opposite the antenna; thus, only each of the rear half shells is advantageously metalized while at least one external surface of each of the front half shells is lacking metalizing; the rear half shells thus metalized then form an electromagnetic screen so as to protect the electronic component against the radiofrequency waves emitted or received by the antenna and thus against the possible electromagnetic disturbances generated by the electronic apparatus itself; the external surface of the half shells may be partially metalized by going round the location of the antenna; - the antenna may be connected to the corresponding supply line either by direct contact or by electromagnetic coupling; in the case where the connection of the antenna with the supply line is achieved by electromagnetic coupling, it is possible to avoid, by soldering, a possible failure of the supply contacts; thus, despite the severity of the geometric constraints and reliability constraints in a PCMCIA card, the supply process o.f the antenna is simplified. One may provide that the housing be inserted in the slot of the electronic apparatus in such a way that a part of the housing containing the antenna is placed outside of the apparatus. The part of the housing containing the antenna may then advantageously allow the antenna to emit or receive radiofrequency waves without being disturbed by the electronic apparatus.

The invention also provides a process for manufacturing a PCMCIA housing according to claims 11 to 20. The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These are given for indication purposes only and in no way limit the invention. The figures show: Figure 1 : an exploded view of a PCMCIA electronic housing according to the invention; Figures 2a to 2c : schematic representations of an antenna, according to a first variation of the invention; - Figures 3a to 3b: schematic representations of an antenna, according to a second variation of the invention; Figure 4 : a schematic representation of an antenna, according to a third variation of the invention.

Figure 1 represents an exploded schematic view of a PCMCIA electronic housing 1 according to the invention. The electronic housing 1 comprises an upper cover 2, a lower cover 3 and an electronic card 4.

Each of these covers 2 and 3 fixedly meet in such a way as to delimit a cavity 5. Each of the covers 2 and 3 comprises an external surface 47 or 48, and an internal surface 49 or 50. More specifically, the internal surfaces 49 and 50 of each of the covers 2 and 3 delimits the cavity 5.

This cavity 5 allows the electronic card 4 to be enclosed between the two covers 2 and 3. The two covers are closed one on the other by using fixation means . These fixation means may be for example at least one rod on one of the two covers and at least one stud 8 on the other cover. The stud 8 delimits an opening 9 in a shape that is complementary to the shape of the rod 7. The electronic card 4 comprises a rigid flat substrate. The card 4 forms a plane 10 at the level of which are disposed at least one electronic component 11 and at least one conductive track (not represented) connecting the component 11 to another component (not represented) . The card 4 presents a front part 12 and a rear part 13. The rear part 13 is provided for being connected with a connector 14. The connector 14 is an interface allowing the card 4 to be connected to an additional connector of the connector 14. For example, this additional connector is presented by an electronic apparatus, and is situated in a slot (not represented) that is provided to fixedly support the PCMCIA housing. This slot comprises a shape that is adapted to the shape of the housing to fixedly maintain such a housing according to the invention in the electronic apparatus .

According to the invention, the PCMCIA housing also comprises at least one antenna 51, Figure 1. This antenna 51 is placed in the cavity 5 between the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3. A supply line 15, printed on the card 4, allows the antenna 51 to be connected to the electronic component 11. The antenna 51 is placed in the cavity 5 while being connected to the supply line 15.

At least one location of the external surface 47, 48 of at least one of the covers 2, 3 corresponding to a location of internal surface 49, 50 of this same cover where the antenna 51 is placed is lacking metalizing. By lacking metalizing, the same location of the external surface allows the antenna to transmit radiofrequency waves .

According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper cover 2 is formed by a front upper half shell 16 and by a rear upper half shell 17. The lower cover 3 is formed by a front lower half shell 18 and by a rear lower half shell 19. The front upper half shell 16 and the front lower half shell 18 are disposed one facing the other. The rear upper half shell 17 and the rear lower half shell 19 are also disposed facing each other.

Each of the front half shells 16, 18 and each of the corresponding rear half shells 17, 19 are connected to each other by fitting according to an axis that is parallel to the plane 10 of the card 4 for respectively forming the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3. The upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 thus formed are then connected by complementarity. For example, the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 are fitted one in the other according to an axis that is perpendicular to the plane 10 of the card by using at least one stud 8 and at least one rod 7 in correspondence as previously described.

According to the invention, the antenna 51 is placed between the front half shells 16, 18. More precisely, the antenna 51 is placed between one of the front half shells and the supply line 15 as represented in Figure 1.

The front upper half shell 16 and the rear upper half shell 17 respectively comprise an internal surface 20 and

21 on the one hand and an external surface 22 and 23 on the other hand. The front lower half shell 18 and the rear lower half shell 19 also respectively comprise an internal surface 24 and 25 on the one hand, and an internal [sic] surface 26 and 27 on the other hand. The front upper half shell 16 and the rear upper half shell

17 meet to form the upper cover 2 while forming a single external surface 47 and a single internal surface 49. The front lower half shell and the rear lower half shell meet to form the lower cover 3 while forming a single external surface 48 and a single internal surface 50. To allow the antenna to emit or receive radiofrequency waves, the external surfaces 22 and 23 of the front half shells 16, 18 are lacking metalizing. More precisely, at least one part of the external surface 22 and 23 of the front half shells 16, 18 corresponding to a location of the antenna on the internal surface 20, 21 of each of these same front half shells lacks metalizing. One may provide metalizing on the remainder of the external surface of these front half shells 16, 18.

One may provide metalizing on the external surfaces 26 and 27 of the rear half shells 17, 19 to protect the operation of the electronic component 11 from possible electromagnetic disturbances linked to the waves generated by the other components present at the surroundings of the PCMCIA housing.

According to a first variation of the invention, Figures 2a to 2c, the antenna is formed from a metal plate. Figure 2a represents such an antenna according to a perspective view. Figure 2b represents a bottom view of the housing and illustrates the position of the antenna with relation to the internal surface 20, 21 of the corresponding front half shell 16, 18. Figure 2c illustrates a position of the antenna with relation to the external surface 22, 23 of one of the corresponding front half shells 16, 18.

The metal plate is transformed after die forging to form a thin sheet 29 comprising at least one flexible connection leg 30 in a globally triangular shape. This leg 30 has a curved extremity 31 forming a plane that is parallel to plane 10 of the card 4. This antenna communicates with the component 11 through the leg 30 that is positioned with its curved extremity 31 by resting against a supply line 54, Figures 2a and 2c. This thin sheet 29 is placed against the internal surface 20, 21 of one of the corresponding front half shells 16, 18, Figure 2b. The thin sheet 29 is advantageously constructed in such a way that it is adapted to the shape of the corresponding front half shell.

To be attached to the front half shell, the thin sheet 29 comprises at least one fixation tab. In the example of Figure 2b, this thin sheet 29 comprises four fixation tabs 31, 32, 33 and 34 designed to be inserted in an additional pin 35, 36, 37 and 38 respectively. In this example, the extremity 31 also forms a fixation tab. The pins 35, 36, 37 and 38 are formed by the corresponding front half shell 16, 18. These pins stand perpendicularly with relation to a plane formed by this same front half shell . Each of the tabs may be folded to be hooked above the corresponding pin.

The connection leg 30 is attached to a pin 35 through the curved extremity 31 that may be fixedly hooked to the pin 35.

According to a second variation of the invention, Figures 3a to 3b, another type of antenna may be achieved. Figure

3a represents a partial exploded view of the housing.

Figure 3b represents a bottom view of the housing and illustrates the position of an antenna 39 with relation to an internal surface 20, 21 of the corresponding front half shell 16, 18. The antenna 39 is achieved after impression of a metal layer on a flexible support 40 or

"flex." This flexible support is placed between one of the covers and the electronic card. Due to its deformable properties, the flexible support may then advantageously be positioned and fixed against the internal surface of the corresponding front half shell while being adapted to the shape of this same front half shell, whatever this shape may be .

In the example 3a, at least one of the front half shells 16, 18 comprises a recess 41 extending in a plane formed by this same front half shell while being directed according to a direction perpendicular to a direction extending from the front part 12 to the rear part 13 of the card. This recess 41 delimits from the front part 12 in the direction of the rear part 13, a first portion 52 and a second portion 53 of the corresponding front half shell. With relation to an axis that is perpendicular to the plane formed by the card, the first portion 52 is removed from the plane 10 formed by the card 4 and the second portion 53 is close to the plane 10 formed by the card. The support as well as the recess 41 are achieved in such a way that the antenna 39 may be placed in contact of a supply line 43 when the upper cover 2 is closed on the lower cover 3. In this same example of Figure 3a, the support 40 has a trapezoidal shape and the antenna 39 has a rectangular shape. But the support and the antenna may be of different shapes.

The antenna 39 may be connected to the line 43 by a direct contact . The support then comprises a thickness that is measured according to an axis that is perpendicular to the plane 10 of the card 4, permitting the antenna 39 to be positioned in the contact of the supply line 43 when the upper cover 2 and the lower cover 3 are closed on each other. But the antenna 39 may also be connected to the line 43 without being placed in direct contact with the line 43 and the connection between this same antenna 39 and the line 43 may be achieved by electromagnetic coupling. In this example, Figures 3a to 3b, the support is coated with a first antenna 39 and a second antenna 42. The first antenna 39 and the second antenna 42 are respectively connected to a first supply line 43 and to a second supply line 44. But the first antenna 39 and the second antenna 42 may be respectively placed facing each other on the front upper half shell 16 and on the front lower half shell 18 while being separated from each other by the card 4. The antenna placed opposite a side of the card 4 on which the supply line is not printed may communicate in this case with the line by electromagnetic coupling.

In a third variation of the invention, Figure 4, another type of antenna 45 may be obtained by direct metalizing performed on the internal surface of at least one of the two front half shells.

The metalizing may be performed by electrodeposition. Or rather the metalizing may be performed chemically or by using vacuum technologies. For example, the antenna may be achieved by MID technology.

The antenna forms a circle. In the example of Figure 4, a first antenna 45 and a second antenna 46 are achieved by MID technology. Each of these antennas 45 and 46 is designed to be connected to a corresponding supply line (not represented) formed on the electric card 4. Such antennas 45, 46 are connected by electromagnetic coupling as previously mentioned for the antenna formed on a flexible support .

MID technology may occur in at least one molding of a plastic piece to form at least one of the covers. Without entering into detail, for implementing such technology a molded form (in plastic) having the required reliefs and the shapes is achieved. One then proceeds with ^' a selective etching of a surface of the molded part with activation of this surface, particularly with a catalyst such as copper or palladium that may possibly be integrated in the plastic mass or be produced separately with the chemical solutions or vacuum technologies. The selective etching may be achieved for example following a previous photomasking. After this etching, a metalizing layer is achieved. The metalizing layer obtained adopts the geometry of the etched surfaces. Particularly, the external surface of each of the covers 2 and 3 may be metalized by this MID technology.

Furthermore, the antennas 45 and 46 may be obtained by this MID technology.

By this MID technology, each of the covers may be molded and the external surface of each of the covers may be partially metalized while going round the corresponding location of the antenna.

According to this MID technology, it is possible to achieve in the third variation of the invention, Figure 4, a first molding of a first plastic material Ml to form the cover 2, 3. Then a second molding of a second plastic material M2 is achieved. This second plastic material M2 will be specifically used to achieve at least one antenna 45. In fact, this second plastic material M2 is at least partially metalized to form the antenna. In this case, the second plastic material may comprise a thickness achieved in such a way that the printed antenna is placed in direct contact with the corresponding supply line when the upper cover and lower cover are closed one on the other. Generally, the covers 2 and 3 may be achieved by molding. Thus, one may then advantageously obtain an - optimal utilization of the antenna formed by the conductive ink, or by the glued flex forming an integral part with the molded half shells due to the precision of the molding technique in general that allows coplanarity, parallelism and a constant strict distance between the entire surface of the element radiating the antenna and the plane of the mass to be obtained.

The manufacturing process of such a housing is the following. The upper cover 2 is achieved by forming a front upper half shell 16 and a rear upper half shell 17. The lower cover 3 is achieved by forming a front lower half shell 18 and a rear lower half shell 19. At least one antenna 51, 29, 39, 42, 45, 46 is then achieved.

In the case where the antenna is formed from a metal plate, the plate is deformed to form an antenna 29 that is placed so as to rest against the internal surface 20, 21 of one of the two front half shells 16, 18.

In the case where the antenna is formed on a flex 40, at least one antenna 39, 42 is printed on the flex, then the flex is glued on the internal surface 20, 21 of one of the two front half shells 16, 18 while adapting the shape of the flex to the shape of the corresponding front half shell and while placing the antenna opposite the corresponding supply line 43, 44.

In the case where the antenna is achieved directly on the front half shell, the internal surface 20, 21 of the corresponding front half shell of the cover is partially metalized to form the antenna 45, 46 by electrodeposition or chemical means or by vacuum as previously mentioned. Then the electronic component 11 is placed on the electronic card 4 and this component is connected to the corresponding supply line.

Then the front upper half shell 16 is connected to the rear upper half shell 17 according to an axis that is parallel to the plane of the card 4 to form the upper cover 2 and the front lower half shell 18 is connected to the rear lower half shell 19 according to an axis that is parallel to the plane of the card 4 to form the lower cover 3.

Lastly, the upper cover 2 is connected to the lower cover 3 according to an axis that is perpendicular to the plane formed by the card to form the cavity while placing the antenna 51, 29, 39, 42, 45, 46 between the corresponding supply line and the front half shell while placing the component 11 between the two rear half shells.

Lastly, the connector 14 is inserted against the rear part 13 of the card 4.

The housing thus formed may then be inserted by the part 13 in a slot (not represented) of an electronic apparatus (not represented) . The connector 14 is connected with an additional connector placed in the bottom of the slot. The housing may be inserted in such a way that the part of the housing comprising the antenna is placed outside of the slot. By being placed outside of the slot, the antenna may then receive or emit radiofrequency waves without being disturbed by the electronic apparatus .

Claims

1. A PCMCIA electronic housing comprising an upper (2) and a lower (3) cover, the upper and lower covers delimiting a cavity (5) of the housing, each of the covers delimiting an external surface (47, 48) and an internal surface (49, 50) , the internal surface delimiting the cavity, and an electronic card (4) disposed in the cavity and on which is placed at least one electronic component (11) , characterized in that at least one antenna (51) is placed in the cavity while being connected to the electronic component by a supply line (15, 54, 43, 44) and while being placed between at least one of the covers and the supply line, and at least one location of the external surface of at least one of the covers corresponding to a location of the internal surface of this same cover opposite from which is placed the antenna, is lacking metalizing.

2. The housing according to claim 1, in which the upper cover and the lower cover are each formed of a front half shell (16, 18) and by a rear half shell (17, 19) , the electronic component being situated between the rear upper half shell (17) and the rear lower half shell (19) and the antenna being situated between the front upper half shell (16) and the front lower half shell (18) .

3. The housing according to one of claims 1 to 2, in which the antenna is formed of a metal plate that is positioned resting against the internal surface of the corresponding cover.

4. The housing according to one of claims 1 to 3 , in which at least one of the covers comprises at least one pin (35, 36, 37, 38) standing perpendicularly with relation to a plane formed by the cover, and the antenna comprises at least one connection leg (30) and at least one fixation tab (31, 32, 33, 34), the connection leg is connected to the supply line (54) and the fixation tab is attached to the corresponding pin (35, 36, 37, 38) to maintain the antenna on the corresponding cover.

5. The housing according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the antenna (39, 42) is printed on a flexible support (40) , the flexible support being attached to the corresponding cover in such a way that the antenna is placed opposite the supply line (43, 44) .

6. The housing according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the internal surface (49, 50) of the cover is partially metalized to form the antenna, the cover being metalized in such a way that the antenna is placed facing the supply line.

7. The housing according to claim 6, in which the antenna is formed by electrodeposition.

8. The housing according to claim 6, in which the antenna is formed by impression of electrically conductive ink by chemical means or by vacuum technology.

9. The housing according to claim 6, in which the antenna is formed by MID technology.

10. The housing according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the housing is inserted in an electronic apparatus in such a way that the part of the housing comprising the antenna is placed outside of the apparatus .

11. A process for manufacturing a PCMCIA housing, comprising the following steps - an upper cover (2) and a lower cover (3) are achieved, at least one electronic component is placed on an electronic card (4) , the component being connected to a supply line (15, 43, 44) achieved on the card, characterized by the fact that - at least one antenna (51, 29, 39, 42, 45, 46) is achieved, and that the upper cover is connected to the lower cover to form a cavity (5) inside of which is placed the card while connecting the antenna to the supply line.

12. The process according to claim 11, in which an external surface (47, 48) of at least one of the covers is metalized while going round a location of the external surface corresponding to a location of the internal surface (49, 50) opposite from which is placed the antenna.

13. The process according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that a front upper half shell (16) and a rear upper half shell (17) are achieved, a front lower half shell (18) and a rear lower half shell (19) are achieved, the front upper half shell is connected to the rear upper half shell to form the upper cover (2) according to an axis that is parallel to a plane formed by the card, the front lower half shell is connected to the rear lower half shell to form the lower cover (3) , according to an axis that is parallel to a plane formed by the card, and the upper cover and lower cover are closed one on the other while placing the antenna between the front upper half shell and the front lower half shell.

14. The process according to one of claims 11 to 13, in which a metal plate is cut, the plate is deformed to achieve an antenna (29) , such an antenna being adapted to the shape of the corresponding cover while being placed against the internal surface (49, 50) of this same cover, and while being connected to the supply line (54) .

15. The process according to one of claims 11 to 14, in which at least one antenna (39, 42) is printed on a flexible support ( 0) , and the flexible support is fixed against the internal surface of the corresponding cover, while connecting the antenna to the supply line.

16. The process according to one of claims 11 to 15, in which the internal surface of at least one of the covers is partially metalized to form the antenna.

17. The process according to claim 16, characterized in that the metalizing is achieved by electrodeposition.

18. The process according to claim 16, characterized in that the metalizing is achieved by chemical means or by vacuum technology.

19. The process according to claim 16, characterized in that the antenna is achieved by MID technology.

20. The process according to claims 11 to 19, in which the housing is inserted in an electronic apparatus in such a way that the part of the housing comprising the antenna is placed outside of the apparatus .