September 26, 2006
NTN Develops "Rubber Antenna Material"
with Variable Dielectric Constant Ratio
The NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has succeeded in developing a "rubber antenna material" made from rubber and ceramic particles whose dielectric constant ratio(Notes1) can be set as needed. This makes it ideal for use in high dielectric RF antennas.
The market for wireless LAN and RFID (ID via RF waves) products used at RF has expanded drastically over recent years. This also means an increase in material used in antennas for these products. Ceramic was mainly used up to now as the antenna material, but ceramic antennas lack freedom in the antenna design since the dielectric constant ratio cannot be set as needed. One type of antenna material that allows varying the dielectric constant ratio is plastic (composite of resin mixed with ceramic powder), however, this has two drawbacks: (1) forming the terminal is difficult, (2) product cost remains high due to complex molds. Moreover these ordinary antennas are made of hard material so they don't stand up well against impacts, and have little flexibility.
The new "rubber antenna material" developed by NTN, however, uses rubber as the base material so it is soft and easy to apply to curved surfaces. Moreover, the ratio of high dielectric RF ceramic powder in the material can be adjusted so the antenna dielectric constant ratio can be set as needed. Another benefit is that this material is sheet-molded by thermal compression so that even large-size sheets that were hard to form from ceramic or plastic can be easily molded.
| (Notes1) Dielectric constant ratio: |
Rate of dielectric constant across a vacuum. Dielectric constant is one indicator of electrical or magnetic effect in material. |
[Features]
- Hybrid material of rubber and high dielectric ceramic powder
- Dielectric constant ratio can be set to an optional figure
- Flexible
- Made tougher to withstand impacts and shocks
- Easily machined by cutting or grinding, etc.
- Material formed by thermal compression
- Easy molding of large-size sheets
[Photo]
Patch antenna using newly developed material
Material applied to curved surface