Portfolio
Component
Batteries
Most of our consumer electronics customers have a complicated industrial design requiring a custom battery pack. For an external battery pack cosmetics are just as important as function.
Internal Antennas
Our extensive experience with the cellular phone market has made us experts in successful collaboration with RF engineers to design single-band Bluetooth antennas, as well as tri-band and quad-band cellular internal antennas. Whether it is a stamped element or a flex film/flexible circuit antenna we have found the secret to creating a top performing antenna is flexibility in the prototyping process. A design that allows for “fine tuning” during the product development process saves time and money for our customers.
We are also able to save money by integrating the antenna contacts into the antenna itself, as shown on this cell phone antenna. We work closely with industry leaders such as Centurion, Parlex, and Bi-Link to establish the testing and strict tolerances required when manufacturing an antenna.
Connectors
All of the consumer electronic devices we design require interconnects of various forms. The pogo pin connector is often used to achieve the level of miniaturization and functionality our customer needs. If possible we will select an off-the-shelf component, saving our customers the cost and lead time required for a custom connector. Frequently the unique geometry of a novel device will require a custom connector, and in those cases we have the tools and experience to do the job.
Similarly we have experience with spring or cantilever beams style connectors for a variety of applications, including data transfer for test fixtures, RF connections, low power, and high power / battery applications. We work directly with expert manufacturers such as I.M.S., Molex, and Tyco to deliver the connector our customers need.
External Antennas
We have a strong experience base serving our customers in the cellular phone market and have successfully collaborated with RF engineers to design retractable, stub, and rotating tri-band and quad-band external antennas.
Because an external antenna is vulnerable to bending, impact, and the “fiddle factor” a higher level of mechanical design, often with the use of F.E.A. (Finite Element Analysis) is required to provide the quality and ruggedness our customers expect.
We have worked with manufacturers such as Centurion and Galtronics to establish the testing and strict tolerances required when producing an antenna.
Keypads
For data input devices such as a keypad, both form and function are critical. For most of our customers the keypad is an integral part of the industrial design of their product.
To achieve the desired form we have utilized several different materials and surface finishes. We have used painted and laser etched silicon rubber when our customers desired a softer finish. For a crisp, clean look we have used plastic keys or hard caps. Whatever you product look requires we can engineer a quality keypad that achieves your desired form, and continues to performs its critical function after time and repeated use.
We have working relationships with keypads manufacturers all around the world, such as Top Bound, Molex, and Polymatech.
Switches
When designing or selecting a proper switch for a given application tactile feel and high cycle durability are critical. At Porticos we have been using switches in our designs for many years and are experienced with all types of SMA (Surface Mount Assembly) switches as well as more customized metal dome assemblies.
We have worked with manufacturers like ITT/C&K and Molex to integrate each switch we design successfully into the final product.
Cameras
Cameras seem to be popping up in all sorts of devices and Porticos is well positioned to incorporate them into your product. We have experience packaging both CCD and CMOS cameras into electronic products, including the integration of LED camera flash and lens design.
A camera is a complex component. Because of the large amount of data transferred through the connection, RF Interference shielding is often required. Special design considerations are critical to allow for proper viewing angles, durability protection for long term image stability, and the tight tolerances required for individual component focusing. We have built expertise in this area and have successful working relationships with manufacturers that produce miniaturized cameras, including Sony and Phillips.
Displays
Many of the products we design contain LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) of various sizes and complexities. In today’s competitive product development landscape customers are requiring complex mechanical design to achieve miniaturization, durability and drop resistance, as well as sophisticated RF interference shielding. We have working relationships with many of the industry leaders in display manufacturing, such as Sony and Phillips, and have successfully integrated these competitive customer requirements into our designs by working closely with the manufacturers. As the world of displays rapidly evolves we are staying on the leading edge by incorporating TFT (thin-film-transistor), OLED (organic LED backlighting), and other exciting new display technologies into our customer’s products.
Overlays
Attention to the finishing touches is often what separates your products from the rest. At Porticos your success is our success. A label can be the center of focus for your product as it displays your brand and communicates a perceived quality to your customer.
We have worked with manufacturers such as FB Johnston and GM Nameplate to design labels of various materials including Mylar and polycarbonate, to achieve the proper look for the final product. Many times that look is enhanced with a domed or curved label, and by adding LED or fiber optic back lighting.
Whether you need to add a co-brand or are looking to proudly display your company’s logo, we can design a label that will look as polished and respectable as you are.
Lightguides and Lightpipes
Proper lighting can enhance the usability and perceived value of your product. At Porticos we have experience with a wide range of lighting solutions. With basic ray-tracing software we have designed custom light guides and reflectors for buttons, displays, indicators and other applications.
This handheld sensor required strong backlighting of a large indicator lens, using only two LEDs. The solution was three-fold:
1 – “Reverse-mount” the LEDs, to position them farther from the illuminated surface.
2 – Design a snap-in diffuser (Fresnel lens) to improve efficiency and uniformity.
3 – Specify a frosted surface on the indicator surface, to further diffuse the light and to obscure any view into the device.
Every project has different goals and requirements. In this instance, our client asked that the characters G and 2 emit light uniformly from their edges, while being perfectly opaque on their surfaces. The result is an uncanny glow around the product logo.
The design of the lighting scheme was tied closely to the corporate identity, and both had to be carefully integrated into the underlying mechanics to achieve economical, easy-to-assemble subassembly that met our client’s requirements.
When space is precious, it is possible to incorporate light-guide functionality into another component. In this case, the entire frame of a mobile phone was designed with the intention of illuminating portions of the surface. This required special attention to material, geometry, and painting.
Acoustics
Many of the products we design require the specialized custom packaging and routing of acoustics. We are experienced in creating sealed back volumes designed to provide the tuned, specific sound pressure levels required for the final product. We have designed parts with both large and miniaturized poly-phonic speakers and microphones.
As the (Push To Talk) functionality proliferates in the cellular phone industry we have built our expertise, especially as it relates to back volume tricks and hearing safety. We have working relationships with manufacturers such as Panasonic and Hosiden, to help bring you your total acoustic solution.
LEDs
Proper lighting can enhance the usability and perceived quality of your product. At Porticos we have experience with a wide range of LED lighting solutions.
Lighting is a collaboration between mechanical, electrical, and design disciplines. A lighting scheme must be developed that fits on the PCB, provides the desired illumination, and lends itself to robust, economical fabrication.
We have also used bi-color and tri-color LEDs for indicator lights. In other applications, we have employed infrared and ultraviolet LEDs, and even laser-diodes.
We select the proper component from top manufacturers, such as Lumex, Dialight and Nichia, depending on the light output requirements and the unique geometry surrounding the application. Many LEDs can be SMA (Surface Mount Assembly), but we also have experience designing for thru-hole and other discrete applications.