Abstract: Disclosed are body impact protection systems. The body impact protection system may comprise at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network. Another embodiment may be directed to a protection system comprising at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network overlapping and adjacent to at least one liner or gel. Further embodiments may comprise the combination of multiple body impact protection systems in a single protective garment or device. Impact protection systems may be designed to protect various body features, such as for example, the head, shoulders, elbows, arms, wrists, hands, chest, torso, thighs, knees, shins, ankles, feet, and the like. The inventive body impact protection system affords more protection from the force of an impact and comfort than conventional body impact protection systems.

Abstract: Antenna apparatus includes a driven trace coupled to a dielectric body and extending parallel to a ground plane. The driven trace includes first and second branches and an impedance-tuning portion that joins the first and second branches. Each of the first and second branches are configured to resonate at a respective radio-frequency (RF) band. The respective RF bands may or may not be the same. The antenna apparatus also includes a first conductive pathway extending from the driven trace through the dielectric body and configured to feed the driven trace. The antenna apparatus also includes a second conductive pathway that extends from the driven trace through the dielectric body and electrically connects the driven trace to the ground plane. The impedance-tuning portion extends between the first and second conductive pathways.

Abstract: Disclosed are body impact protection systems. The body impact protection system may comprise at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network. Another embodiment may be directed to a protection system comprising at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network overlapping and adjacent to at least one liner or gel. Further embodiments may comprise the combination of multiple body impact protection systems in a single protective garment or device. Impact protection systems may be designed to protect various body features, such as for example, the head, shoulders, elbows, arms, wrists, hands, chest, torso, thighs, knees, shins, ankles, feet, and the like. The inventive body impact protection system affords more protection from the force of an impact and comfort than conventional body impact protection systems.

Abstract: Disclosed are body impact protection systems. The body impact protection system may comprise at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network. Another embodiment may be directed to a protection system comprising at least one plate element layer, such as an interconnected meshed plate element network overlapping and adjacent to at least one liner or gel. Further embodiments may comprise the combination of multiple body impact protection systems in a single protective garment or device. Impact protection systems may be designed to protect various body features, such as for example, the head, shoulders, elbows, arms, wrists, hands, chest, torso, thighs, knees, shins, ankles, feet, and the like. The inventive body impact protection system affords more protection from the force of an impact and comfort than conventional body impact protection systems.

Abstract: A communication system includes an antenna assembly and a housing holding the antenna assembly. The antenna assembly has an antenna element having a substrate and a dual dipole antenna circuit including a low-band ground terminal, a low-band feed terminal, a high-band ground terminal and a high-band feed terminal and a transmission line electrically connected to the dual dipole antenna circuit. The housing includes an upper shell and a lower shell meeting at an interface having upper and lower strain relief components at the interface to receive the transmission line. The upper shell has an upper locating feature and the lower shell has a lower locating feature interfacing to locate the upper shell relative to the lower shell.

Abstract: A communication system includes an antenna assembly and a housing holding the antenna assembly. The antenna assembly has an antenna element having a substrate and a dual dipole antenna circuit including a low-band ground terminal, a low-band feed terminal, a high-band ground terminal and a high-band feed terminal and a transmission line electrically connected to the dual dipole antenna circuit. The housing includes an upper shell and a lower shell meeting at an interface having upper and lower strain relief components at the interface to receive the transmission line. The upper shell has an upper locating feature and the lower shell has a lower locating feature interfacing to locate the upper shell relative to the lower shell.

Abstract: An antenna assembly for a wireless device includes an antenna cable having a feed line and a ground shield and a substrate. The antenna includes a low band ground terminal, a low band feed terminal, a high band ground terminal and a high band feed terminal. The low band ground terminal is electrically coupled to the ground shield of the antenna cable and capacitively coupled to the feed line of the antenna cable. The low band feed terminal is electrically coupled to the feed line of the antenna cable. The high band ground terminal is electrically coupled to the ground shield of the antenna cable and capacitively coupled to the feed line of the antenna cable. The high band feed terminal is electrically coupled to the feed line of the antenna cable. The low band ground terminal and the high band ground terminal are ground plane independent.

Abstract: Antenna apparatus includes a driven trace coupled to a dielectric body and extending parallel to a ground plane. The driven trace includes first and second branches and an impedance-tuning portion that joins the first and second branches. Each of the first and second branches are configured to resonate at a respective radio-frequency (RF) band. The respective RF bands may or may not be the same. The antenna apparatus also includes a first conductive pathway extending from the driven trace through the dielectric body and configured to feed the driven trace. The antenna apparatus also includes a second conductive pathway that extends from the driven trace through the dielectric body and electrically connects the driven trace to the ground plane. The impedance-tuning portion extends between the first and second conductive pathways.

Abstract: Wireless communication device includes a conductive wall having an antenna slot. The wireless communication device also includes an antenna sub-assembly positioned relative to the antenna slot to form a multi-band slot antenna. The multi-band slot antenna includes a dielectric body and a feed trace coupled to the dielectric body. The feed trace is operably aligned with the antenna slot. The multi-band slot antenna also includes a parasitic trace coupled to the dielectric body. The parasitic trace is operably aligned with the antenna slot and spaced apart from the feed trace. The feed trace is configured to communicate at a first frequency band and the parasitic trace enables the multi-band slot antenna to communicate at a second frequency band. The first frequency band is based on a size and shape of the parasitic trace.

Abstract: Electronic articles, antennae, and processes of producing electronic articles are disclosed. The electronic article includes a rigid substrate having a non-planar region and a sintered conductive ink positioned on the non-planar region. The antenna is a specific type of electronic article covered by the disclosure. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna has a light transmission of at least 85%. The process includes positioning a substrate having a non-planar region, applying a conductive ink to the non-planar region, and sintering the conductive ink on the non-planar region thereby producing the sintered conductive ink on the electronic article and/or producing an antenna having a light transmission of at least 80%.

Abstract: Antenna apparatus includes a system ground and an antenna sub-assembly including a feed pad and a ground pad that are configured to have a cable terminated thereto. The ground pad is electrically coupled to the system ground. The antenna sub-assembly includes a first level having a radiating trace that is electrically coupled to the feed pad. The radiating trace is configured for communication within a designated radio frequency (RF) band. The antenna sub-assembly also includes a second level that is stacked with respect to the first level and has a reflector. The reflector is vertically aligned with a portion of the radiating trace to block RF emissions therefrom.

Abstract: Wireless communication device includes a casing having a body wall that includes an inner surface that surrounds an interior cavity of the casing. The casing has an edge that defines an opening to the interior cavity. The wireless communication device also includes an antenna element positioned at the opening or within the interior cavity. The antenna element has an outer edge that is shaped to extend generally along and spaced apart from the inner surface such that the outer edge and the inner surface form an operative slot therebetween. The wireless communication device also includes a feed line communicatively coupled to the operative slot. The feed line and the operative slot form a slot antenna that is configured to at least one of transmit or receive radio-frequency (RF) waves.

Abstract: Wireless communication device includes a first device section. The first device section has a first edge. The wireless communication device also includes a second device section that has a second edge. The wireless communication device also includes a floating hinge that joins the first and second edges and permits the first and second device sections to move between a closed state and an operating state. The floating hinge and the first device section are rotatable about a first axis of rotation that extends through the floating hinge. The floating hinge and the second device section are rotatable about a second axis of rotation that extends through the floating hinge. The floating hinge includes a slot antenna that is communicatively coupled to a processor and is configured to at least one of transmit wireless signals or receive wireless signals.

Abstract: An antenna circuit board assembly comprises a substrate having a ground plane comprised of a conductive material; a first antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; a second antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; a third antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; and a plurality of features etched into the ground plane, each of the plurality of features having a respective length and a respective width. The respective length and the respective width of each of the plurality of features are selected to increase isolation between the first, second, and third antenna elements.

Abstract: Wireless communication device includes a conductive wall having an antenna slot. The wireless communication device also includes an antenna sub-assembly positioned relative to the antenna slot to form a multi-band slot antenna. The multi-band slot antenna includes a dielectric body and a feed trace coupled to the dielectric body. The feed trace is operably aligned with the antenna slot. The multi-band slot antenna also includes a parasitic trace coupled to the dielectric body. The parasitic trace is operably aligned with the antenna slot and spaced apart from the feed trace. The feed trace is configured to communicate at a first frequency band and the parasitic trace enables the multi-band slot antenna to communicate at a second frequency band. The first frequency band is based on a size and shape of the parasitic trace.

Abstract: A primer layer comprising a polyvinyl butyral resin enhances adhesion of silver nanoparticle inks onto plastic substrates. The primer layer comprises a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin having a polyvinyl alcohol content between about 18 wt. % to about 21 wt. %. The PVB resin may also have a glass transition temperature greater than about 70° C. Optionally, the PVB primer layer may further be enhanced by cross-linking using a melamine-formaldehyde resin. Conductive traces formed on plastic substrates having the PVB primer layer exhibit an acceptable cross-hatch adhesion rating with little to no degradation of adhesion being observed after exposure to 4-days salt mist aging or 1-day high humidity aging.

Abstract: An alkoxysilane comprising a functional group is used as an additive in the silver nanoparticle ink, and as an adhesion promoter (or primer layer) on the surface of the substrate in order to enhance the adhesion of silver nanoparticle inks on temperature-sensitive plastic substrates. The combination of the functionalized alkoxysilane both in the ink and on the substrate's surface provides enhanced adhesion after annealing the ink at a low temperature. The adhesion of the annealed films improves from a 0B-3B level to 4B-5B when tested according to ASTM D3359. No degradation of adhesion and no change of color are observed after aging the annealed films in a humidity chamber.

Abstract: Antenna apparatus includes a system ground and an antenna sub-assembly including a feed pad and a ground pad that are configured to have a cable terminated thereto. The ground pad is electrically coupled to the system ground. The antenna sub-assembly includes a first level having a radiating trace that is electrically coupled to the feed pad. The radiating trace is configured for communication within a designated radio frequency (RF) band. The antenna sub-assembly also includes a second level that is stacked with respect to the first level and has a reflector. The reflector is vertically aligned with a portion of the radiating trace to block RF emissions therefrom.

Abstract: Wireless communication device includes a first device section. The first device section has a first edge. The wireless communication device also includes a second device section that has a second edge. The wireless communication device also includes a floating hinge that joins the first and second edges and permits the first and second device sections to move between a closed state and an operating state. The floating hinge and the first device section are rotatable about a first axis of rotation that extends through the floating hinge. The floating hinge and the second device section are rotatable about a second axis of rotation that extends through the floating hinge. The floating hinge includes a slot antenna that is communicatively coupled to a processor and is configured to at least one of transmit wireless signals or receive wireless signals.

Abstract: An antenna circuit board assembly comprises a substrate having a ground plane comprised of a conductive material; a first antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; a second antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; a third antenna element mounted to the substrate and coupled to the ground plane; and a plurality of features etched into the ground plane, each of the plurality of features having a respective length and a respective width. The respective length and the respective width of each of the plurality of features are selected to increase isolation between the first, second, and third antenna elements.