US5844523A — Electrical and electromagnetic apparatuses using …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 142 words

An electromagnetic structure comprising: a first conductive substrate having a first side and a second side; a first dielectric layer having a first side and a second side, said second side of said first conductive substrate adjacent said first side of said first dielectric layer, said first dielectric layer consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan □) of less than about 0.2 and a sufficient, non-zero amount of a dielectric filler selected from the group, consisting of undoped ceramics, doped ceramics and mixtures thereof to provide a dielectric constant of about 1 to about 50 in the first dielectric layer; a second conductive layer having a first side and a second side, said second side of said first dielectric layer adjacent said first side of said second conductive layer; and feeding means for feeding said first conductive substrate.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 142 words

An electromagnetic structure comprising: a first conductive substrate having a first side and a second side; a first dielectric layer having a first side and a second side, said second side of said first conductive substrate adjacent said first side of said first dielectric layer, said first dielectric layer consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan □) of less than about 0.2 and a sufficient, non-zero amount of a dielectric filler selected from the group, consisting of undoped ceramics, doped ceramics and mixtures thereof to provide a dielectric constant of about 1 to about 50 in the first dielectric layer; a second conductive layer having a first side and a second side, said second side of said first dielectric layer adjacent said first side of said second conductive layer; and feeding means for feeding said first conductive substrate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 1, wherein said first conductive substrate comprises a first microstrip patch.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 2, wherein said feeding means comprises a microstrip transmission line connected to said microstrip patch.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 87 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises: a second dielectric substrate having first and second faces, said first face of said second dielectric substrate adjacent said second face of said second conductive layer; and a microstrip transmission line having first and second faces, said first face of said transmission line adjacent said second face of said second dielectric substrate and aligned with said first conductive substrate; said second conductive substrate having an aperture therethrough, said aperture aligned with said first conductive substrate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 4, wherein said second dielectric substrate comprises a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan δ) of less than about 0.2.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 59 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 5, wherein said second dielectric layer further comprises a sufficient, non-zero amount of a filler to provide a predetermined dielectric constant from about 1 to about 50 in the second dielectric layer, said dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer having a lower value than the dielectric constant of said first dielectric layer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 1, wherein said first dielectric layer further comprises a polymeric filler.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 54 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises: a thermoplastic polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, and copolymers of ethylene and propylene; and an elastomeric component selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, natural rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR), ethylene-propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and silicone rubber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 8, wherein the thermoplastic component is polypropylene and the elastomeric component is crosslinked or uncrosslinked EPDM.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 48 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 1, wherein said first conductive substrate is patterned in an array of microstrip patches and wherein said second conductive layer has a plurality of apertures therethrough, each of said apertures aligned with a corresponding microstrip patch from said array of microstrip patches.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

An electromagnetic structure according to claim 1, wherein the loss tangent (tan δ) of the thermoplastic elastomer is less than about 0.005.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 118 words

An electromagnetic structure comprising: a first conductive substrate having a first side and a second side; a first dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side, said second side of said first conductive substrate adjacent said first side of said first dielectric substrate, said first dielectric substrate consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan □) of less than about 0.2 and about 5% to about 60% by volume of thermoplastic elastomer of a dielectric filler selected from the group consisting of undoped ceramics, doped ceramics and mixtures thereof to provide a dielectric constant of about 1 to about 50 in the dielectric substrate; and feeding means for feeding said first conductive layer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 118 words

An electromagnetic structure comprising: a first conductive substrate having a first side and a second side; a first dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side, said second side of said first conductive substrate adjacent said first side of said first dielectric substrate, said first dielectric substrate consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan □) of less than about 0.2 and about 5% to about 60% by volume of thermoplastic elastomer of a dielectric filler selected from the group consisting of undoped ceramics, doped ceramics and mixtures thereof to provide a dielectric constant of about 1 to about 50 in the dielectric substrate; and feeding means for feeding said first conductive layer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 12, wherein said first conductive substrate has a slot therethrough.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 70 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 13, wherein said feeding means comprises: a second dielectric substrate having first and second faces, said first face of said second dielectric substrate adjacent said first side of said first conductive substrate; and a microstrip transmission line having first and second faces, said first face of said transmission line adjacent said second face of said second dielectric substrate and perpendicularly aligned with said slot.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 14, wherein said second dielectric substrate comprises a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan δ) of less than about 0.2.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 15, wherein said second dielectric substrate fuirther comprises a sufficient non-zero amount of a filler to provide a predeterniined dielectric constant from about 1 to about 50, said dielectric constant having a lower value than the dielectric constant of said first dielectric substrate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electromagnetic structure according to claim 12, wherein said dielectric substrate further comprises a polymeric filler.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

An electromagnetic structure according to claim 12, wherein the loss tangent (tan δ) of the thermoplastic elastomer is less than about 0.005.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 101 words

An electronic display system for both visual and electromagnetic data communication, said system comprising: display means having visual information thereon; antenna means for electromagnetic communication, said antenna means comprising at least one dielectric substrate, said dielectric substrate consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan □) of less than about 0.2 and a sufficient, non-zero amount of a dielectric filler selected from the group consisting of undoped ceramics, doped ceramics and mixtures thereof to provide a dielectric constant of about 1 to about 50 in the dielectric substrate; and coupling means for allowing coupling to said antenna means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 101 words

An electronic display system for both visual and electromagnetic data communication, said system comprising: display means having visual information thereon; antenna means for electromagnetic communication, said antenna means comprising at least one dielectric substrate, said dielectric substrate consisting essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer with a loss tangent (tan □) of less than about 0.2 and a sufficient, non-zero amount of a dielectric filler selected from the group consisting of undoped ceramics, doped ceramics and mixtures thereof to provide a dielectric constant of about 1 to about 50 in the dielectric substrate; and coupling means for allowing coupling to said antenna means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 124 words

The electronic display system for both visual and electromagnetic data communication according to claim 19, wherein said display means further comprises retrorefiective sheeting having first and second faces, wherein said dielectric substrate has first and second faces, said first face of said dielectric substrate adjacent said second face of said retrorefiective sheeting and wherein said antenna means further comprises: radiating means disposed between said second face of said retroreflective sheeting and said first face of said dielectric substrate for radiating electromagnetic energy; and a generally planar electrically conductive member having a first face and a second face for acting as a ground plane for said radiating means, said first face of said electrically conductive member being adjacent said second face of said dielectric substrate.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 149 words

The electronic displaay system for both visual and electromagnetic data communication according to claim 19, wherein said antenna means comprises a first conductive substrate with a first side and a second side, and a first side of the dielectric substrate is adjacent the second side of the first conductive substrate, and a second side of the dielectric substrate is adjacent a first side of a second conductive layer, and wherein said coupling means comprises: a second dielectric substrate having first and second faces, said first face of said second dielectric substrate adjacent a second side of said second conductive layer; and a microstrip transmission line having first and second faces, said first face of said transmission line adjacent said second face of said second dielectric substrate and aligned with said first conductive substrate; said second conductive substrate having an aperture therethrough, said aperture aligned with said first conductive substrate.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 55 words

The electronic display system according to claim 19, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer comprises: a thermoplastic polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, and copolymers of ethylene and propylene; and an elastomeric component selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, natural rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR), ethylene-propylene diene rubber (EPDM) and silicone rubber.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electronic display system according to claim 22, wherein the thermoplastic component is polypropylene and the elastomeric component is crosslinked or uncrosslinked EPDM.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 23 words

An electronic display system according to claim 19, wherein the loss tangent (tan δ) of the thermoplastic elastomer is less than about 0.005.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-11-30	2002-06-01	2002-12-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-11-30	2006-06-01	2006-12-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-11-30	2010-06-01	2010-12-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical and electromagnetic apparatuses using laminated structures having thermoplastic elastomeric and conductive layers

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