Antennas went inside the smartphone case. LDS versus Press Technology, which will win?
<‘Galaxy Note 3’ with the all-in-one antenna technology applied to the rear case>
The competition between the printed electronics industry and the press industry in the fast-growing market for smartphone cases with built-in antennas is heating up.
The early market is dominated by companies with the printed electronics technology, but as the press antenna technology is gradually evolving, the market is quite likely to be shaken. In addition to traditional antenna makers, injection molding companies are also entering the market for smartphone cases with built-in antennas, and intense competition in the market is anticipated.
According to the industry on December 4, a number of antennas, e.g. 3G, LTE, Bluetooth and WiFi, are integrated into the rear case for smartphones. The purpose is to implement a thin smartphone design, and enhance the efficiency of circuitry design.
Samsung Electronics (SEC) is most active in adopting the case with built-in antennas. SEC put 5~6 antennas in the rear case of the Galaxy Note 3, which the company released recently. The company is highly likely to adopt the case with built-in antennas for some models of the Galaxy S5 series scheduled to be released next year.
Currently, the main technology for cases with built-in antennas is laser direct structuring (LDS). When rear cases are made, a special additive is mixed in the resin. When this material comes in contact with laser, oxidation will occur. Laser is used to pattern antennas in the rear case, and the patterns are plated. Not only antenna makers like Partron and EMW, but also injection molding companies like INTOPS and Woojeon & Handan are concentrating their investments in the LDS technology.
If the LDS technology is used to make cases with built-in antennas, development of smartphones can be accelerated. “When we were developing the Galaxy S3, it took us more than three weeks to change the antenna frequency design for different countries and regions,” said an insider from an antenna manufacturer. “As we began to use the LDS-type cases with built-in antennas, we could reduce the development time to 3~4 days.” However, the LDS method involves heavy capital investment, and it is vulnerable to external shock. If the user drops the smartphone and the rear case breaks, some communication functions may not work.
In contrast, in the press method, even if the rear case breaks, the antennas will not be damaged at all. So it is attracting public attention. Existing press antennas used to be found in low-priced smartphones. Processing with fine patterns was difficult, and there was limitation to reducing the thickness of metal. However, as the double injection technology has been adopted recently, the press-type case with built-in antennas laid the foundation for penetrating the high-value-added market. Recently LS Mtron, Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Daesan Electronics are developing cases with built-in antennas using the press process.
“Until now the LDS technology for cases with built-in antennas seems to be taking the lead in the early market,” said a securities analyst. “However, as processes and materials technologies keep developing, the table may be turned in favor of the press process.”
The competition between the printed electronics industry and the press industry in the fast-growing market for smartphone cases with built-in antennas is heating up.
The early market is dominated by companies with the printed electronics technology, but as the press antenna technology is gradually evolving, the market is quite likely to be shaken. In addition to traditional antenna makers, injection molding companies are also entering the market for smartphone cases with built-in antennas, and intense competition in the market is anticipated.
According to the industry on December 4, a number of antennas, e.g. 3G, LTE, Bluetooth and WiFi, are integrated into the rear case for smartphones. The purpose is to implement a thin smartphone design, and enhance the efficiency of circuitry design.
Samsung Electronics (SEC) is most active in adopting the case with built-in antennas. SEC put 5~6 antennas in the rear case of the Galaxy Note 3, which the company released recently. The company is highly likely to adopt the case with built-in antennas for some models of the Galaxy S5 series scheduled to be released next year.
Currently, the main technology for cases with built-in antennas is laser direct structuring (LDS). When rear cases are made, a special additive is mixed in the resin. When this material comes in contact with laser, oxidation will occur. Laser is used to pattern antennas in the rear case, and the patterns are plated. Not only antenna makers like Partron and EMW, but also injection molding companies like INTOPS and Woojeon & Handan are concentrating their investments in the LDS technology.
If the LDS technology is used to make cases with built-in antennas, development of smartphones can be accelerated. “When we were developing the Galaxy S3, it took us more than three weeks to change the antenna frequency design for different countries and regions,” said an insider from an antenna manufacturer. “As we began to use the LDS-type cases with built-in antennas, we could reduce the development time to 3~4 days.” However, the LDS method involves heavy capital investment, and it is vulnerable to external shock. If the user drops the smartphone and the rear case breaks, some communication functions may not work.
In contrast, in the press method, even if the rear case breaks, the antennas will not be damaged at all. So it is attracting public attention. Existing press antennas used to be found in low-priced smartphones. Processing with fine patterns was difficult, and there was limitation to reducing the thickness of metal. However, as the double injection technology has been adopted recently, the press-type case with built-in antennas laid the foundation for penetrating the high-value-added market. Recently LS Mtron, Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Daesan Electronics are developing cases with built-in antennas using the press process.
“Until now the LDS technology for cases with built-in antennas seems to be taking the lead in the early market,” said a securities analyst. “However, as processes and materials technologies keep developing, the table may be turned in favor of the press process.”
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