Patent ID: 11862870
Assignee: THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Field: Telecommunications (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 7:
8. An antenna array, comprising:
a ground plane; and
a plurality of unit cells disposed on the ground plane, each unit cell comprising a three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiating element comprising a conductive material, the 3D conformal radiating element of each unit cell being conformal on a hemispherical shape,
the antenna array being a reflectarray or a transmitarray,
each unit cell further comprising an electrically insulating substrate disposed on the ground plane and on which the 3D conformal radiating element is disposed,
the electrically insulating substrate of each unit being in direct physical contact with the ground plane and with the 3D conformal radiating element of the respective unit cell,
each unit cell having a maximum height, measured in a direction perpendicular to the ground plane, of 5 millimeters,
the antenna array having a beamwidth coverage of at least 60° with a gain beamwidth drop from the broadside of no more than 3 decibels (dB),
the antenna array having a reflection phase range of at least 300°,
the 3D conformal radiating element comprising a central conductive portion and a plurality of dipole arms each connected to the central conductive portion, and
the plurality of dipole arms each connected to the central conductive portion via a switch, such that if the switch connecting a dipole arm to the central conductive portion via a switch is on, that dipole arm is active, and if the switch connecting a dipole arm to the central conductive portion via a switch is off, that dipole arm is not active.