Development of an Antenna Material Based on Rubber that has Flexibility and High Impact Resistance

Recently, the markets have been dramatically expanding in the field of equipment for high-frequency wireless LAN, RFID (radio frequency identification), UWB, GPS, terrestrial digital broadcasting and home network, etc. In this context, a diversity of dielectric antennas are currently used. A material of dielectric antenna used for these applications is preferably needed to feature a higher dielectric constant and a lower dielectric loss tangent. By using a highly dielectric material for an antenna, a compact antenna can be designed thanks to frequency shortening effect of wave that is transmitted in the dielectric material. Incidentally, use of a material of low dielectric loss tangent will help suppress heat generation-induced energy loss and can improve antenna performance. Conventional antennas have often been consisted of a ceramic material, and the relative dielectric constant for a ceramic material cannot be arbitrarily selected. Consequently, degree of freedom in designing antenna is low. As an antenna material capable of arbitrary selection of relative dielectric constant, resin type 1) (composite material containing ceramic powder) is available. However, these materials have involved drawbacks that include 1 surface treatment is needed to improve adhesiveness for electrode strips, and 2 injection-forming with a high dielectric material having a larger portion of ceramic powder is difficult. Furthermore, these conventional antenna materials are hard and brittle,