Opportunity
Wireless communication is the backbone of achieving “digital twins”, enabling seamless interaction between the physical and digital worlds. While current wireless systems have successfully integrated electronics, vehicles, and appliances into the data ecosystem, they remain limited to conventional devices. A key challenge lies in embedding wireless communication components into everyday environments in a non-intrusive and aesthetically pleasing manner, making them natural connection points between reality and data. Existing decorative antennas primarily focus on outdoor base stations, leaving a gap in elegant and flexible solutions for indoor use. This patent offers an innovative solution by embedding antennas seamlessly into any non-metallic structure. Leveraging the classic patch antenna design, it delivers excellent performance while maintaining adaptability. This concept is particularly suited for applications in digital twin-enabled smart homes and smart cities, where both functionality and aesthetics are essential.
Technology
The core concept of this technology lies in embedding, printing, or spraying metallic structures at predefined positions before the original manufacturing processes are completed. This approach ensures full compatibility with subsequent steps without compromising the structural integrity of the object. These subsequent steps also act as a protective layer during the design process, providing additional durability. By using discrete feeding mechanisms, this design achieves higher performance limits and enhanced adaptability. Most importantly, this method eliminates the issue of antenna obstruction, allowing it to operate more efficiently. The technology seamlessly integrates antennas into non-metallic structures, ensuring they remain functional while blending harmoniously with their surroundings.
Advantages
- Low cost, simple structure.
- Aesthetic Integration: The conductive ink seamlessly integrates antennas into decorative designs, ensuring harmony with the environment.
- High Scalability: Easily customizable in size, shape, and placement for diverse applications.
Applications
- Embellished antenna: Hidden antennas in paintings or sculptures for wireless communication.
- Smart Homes: Decorative Wi-Fi antennas that blend into walls or furniture.
- Smart Cities: Facilitates dense IoT deployments with integrated localization and connectivity.
- Wearable Technology: Integration into fashion or accessories with conductive fabrics/inks.
