Antenna arrays on curved and flat substrates

Abstract

An antenna system according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first substrate, which may include an antenna array, which may have a plurality of antenna elements. The antenna system may further include a second substrate, which may be spaced apart from the first substrate and may include radio frequency circuitry, which may be operable to transmit radio frequency signals for communication via the antenna array. The first substrate may have a curved configuration relative to the second substrate such that at least one of the plurality of antenna elements may be disposed on a curved surface of the first substrate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Priority Claim This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 232,837, filed on August 13, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to an antenna system for use in a wireless communication system, such as an antenna system for use in a cellular communication system.

Background Art

[0003] To facilitate communication over a cellular network, an antenna system, such as a patch array antenna system, can be coupled to various types of electronic devices (e.g., laptops, tablets, smartphones, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, etc.). Cellular networks operating according to the fourth generation (4G) technical standard for broadband cellular networks are widely used and have recently evolved to provide voice communication and medium to high data rate transmission over a large area with a stable and reliable network. Communication systems are migrating to the fifth generation (5G) technical standard for broadband cellular networks.

[0004] The 5G network can provide substantially higher data rates and lower latency and can be applicable for voice, data, and IoT applications. The 5G communication protocol can be implemented using, for example, an antenna array configured to facilitate multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication and / or communication in a higher frequency band (e.g., a frequency band in the range of about 24 gigahertz (GHz) to about 86 GHz). Each of these antenna arrays can include a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., radiating elements). The antenna elements can be individually and / or collectively controlled by one or more control devices of the communication and / or antenna system to communicate signals (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signals) in MIMO mode (e.g., 4×4 MIMO mode). Thereby, higher data rates and lower latency can be provided in wireless communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0005] Aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the embodiments.

[0006] An antenna system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can include a first substrate that can include an antenna array that can have a plurality of antenna elements. The antenna system can further include a second substrate that can be spaced apart from the first substrate and can include a radio frequency circuit operable to transmit a radio frequency signal for communication via the antenna array. The first substrate can have a curved configuration with respect to the second substrate such that at least one of the plurality of antenna elements can be disposed on a curved surface of the first substrate.

[0007] A method of manufacturing an antenna system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can include forming, on a first substrate, an antenna array that can have a plurality of antenna elements. The method can further include forming, on a second substrate, a radio frequency circuit that can be operable to transmit a radio frequency signal for communicating via the antenna array. The first substrate can be spaced apart from the second substrate and can have a curved configuration relative to the second substrate such that at least one of the plurality of antenna elements can be formed on a curved surface of the first substrate.

[0008] A method of configuring an antenna system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can include communicating, by one or more processors, a radio frequency signal using an antenna array. The antenna array can include a plurality of antenna elements disposed on a first substrate that can have a curved configuration relative to a second substrate that can be spaced apart from the first substrate. The second substrate can include a radio frequency circuit that can be operable to transmit a radio frequency signal for communicating via the antenna array. The method can further include adjusting, by one or more processors, a main lobe of a radiation pattern associated with the antenna array from a first direction to a second direction. At least one of the plurality of antenna elements can be disposed on a curved surface of the first substrate.

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the various embodiments of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description and the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the related principles of the present disclosure.

[0010] Reference is made to the accompanying drawings while the detailed description of the embodiments directed to those skilled in the art is set forth herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The repeated use of reference numerals in this specification and the accompanying drawings is intended to represent the same or similar features or elements of the present disclosure.

[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the embodiments and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still further embodiments. Therefore, aspects of the present disclosure are intended to embrace such modifications and variations.

[0014] Unless otherwise specified, when used in this specification, approximate terms such as "substantially", "essentially" and / or "about" refer to being within a range of 10 percent (%) error from the stated value. When referred to in this specification, the term "substantially perpendicular" refers to being within about 10 degrees (°) from perpendicular. When referred to in this specification, the terms "or" and "and / or" are generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., in other words, "A or B" or "A and / or B" are each intended to mean "A or B or both"). When referred to in this specification, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. can be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to indicate the position or importance of individual components.

[0015] As used herein, the terms “couple,” “couples,” “coupled,” and / or “coupling” refer to chemical bonds (e.g., chemical junctions), communication couplings, electrical and / or electromagnetic couplings (e.g., capacitive coupling, inductive coupling, direct and / or connection coupling, etc.), mechanical couplings, operational couplings, optical couplings, and / or physical couplings. As referred to herein, the term “entity” refers to a human, user, end-user, consumer, computing device and / or program (e.g., processor, computing hardware and / or software, application, etc.), agent, machine learning (ML) and / or artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, model, system and / or application, and / or another type of entity capable of implementing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure as described herein, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and / or included in the appended claims.

[0016] Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to antenna systems. Existing antenna array systems, such as patch array antenna systems, that can be used in 5G networks and / or implement 5G communication protocols generally include an antenna array of antenna elements (e.g., a patch antenna array of radiating elements) disposed on a first flat substrate, and an RF circuit disposed on a second flat substrate coupled to the first flat substrate. The RF circuit is operable to transmit RF signals that communicate via the antenna elements. Such patch array antenna systems are also generally operable to implement a beamforming operation using some or all of the antenna elements to adjust the radiation pattern such that the main lobe of the radiation pattern associated with the antenna array is adjusted from one direction to another direction, and / or are coupled thereto. Beamforming refers to a combination of different antenna beams that increases signal strength in a particular direction (e.g., the direction of a base station) to enhance a communication link.

[0017] A problem with such existing patch array antenna systems is that it is difficult to maintain substantially equal gain values in one or more directions during such beamforming operations. For example, when performing a beamforming operation using an existing patch array antenna system having antenna elements (e.g., a patch antenna array having radiating elements) disposed on a flat substrate as described above, it is difficult to maintain substantially equal gain values in the Y direction (e.g., along the Y axis) without changing the input power while steering the main lobe in the azimuth direction. That is, for example, such a flat substrate on which the antenna elements are disposed has no room for compensating for the low gain values associated with adjacent antenna elements to provide substantially equal gain in all directions.

[0018] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, an antenna system, such as a patch array antenna system, can include a first substrate that can include a patch antenna array having a plurality of patch antennas. In such embodiments, the antenna system can further include a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate and having an RF circuit operable to transmit an RF signal that communicates through the patch antenna array. In such embodiments, the first substrate can have a curved configuration relative to the second substrate such that at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed on a curved surface of the first substrate (e.g., on a curved surface of a section of the first substrate having a curved configuration).

[0019] For example, according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the curved configuration of the first substrate can be formed as a convex configuration with respect to the second substrate, and the second substrate can have a substantially flat configuration. In this exemplary embodiment, the first substrate can have an end portion and a central portion, and a first distance between the end portion and the surface of the second substrate is less than a second distance between the central portion and the surface of the second substrate. In other exemplary embodiments, the first substrate can be formed such that the curved configuration can include one or more convex curve configurations and / or one or more concave curve configurations. In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more of a plurality of patch antennas can be formed on the first substrate using a laser direct structuring (LDS) process to provide for the formation of at least one of such patch antennas on the curved surface of the first substrate (e.g., on the curved surface of a section of the first substrate having a curved configuration).

[0020] In some embodiments, a patch array antenna system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can include and / or be coupled to one or more control devices operable to implement a beamforming operation using some or all of the patch antennas to adjust the radiation pattern such that the main lobe of the radiation pattern of the antenna array is adjusted from a first direction to a second direction. As referred to herein, a "main lobe" refers to the lobe of the radiation pattern associated with the highest gain. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the main lobe can be associated with a first gain in a first direction and a second gain in a second direction, and the second gain can be approximately equal to the first gain (e.g., within about 20% of the first gain). In these embodiments, the first direction can be substantially perpendicular from a central point on the second substrate, and the second direction can be at an angle of about 45 degrees (°) from the central point on the second substrate.

[0021] To facilitate the above-described beamforming operation, patch antenna systems according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can further include an RF power supply circuit disposed on a first side of a second substrate, and a ground plane disposed on a second side of the second substrate, where the second side can be opposite to the first side. In these embodiments, the ground plane can have one or more slots, and the RF power supply circuit can be operable to couple an RF signal to one or more of a plurality of patch antennas via the one or more slots. In one embodiment, at least one first slot of the one or more slots can extend in a first direction, and at least one second slot of the one or more slots can extend in a second direction, where the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. In this example, the RF power supply circuit can couple an RF signal to the one or more slots, which can propagate the RF signal to excite one or more of the patch antennas, which can then communicate the RF signal. In some embodiments, one or more of the patch antennas can be used to communicate one or more RF signals and / or support the communication of one or more RF signals via a cellular communication protocol (e.g., 5G protocol) in MIMO mode and / or diversity mode in a frequency band ranging from about 24 GHz to about 86 GHz via a patch antenna array.

[0022] Aspects of the present disclosure provide a number of technical effects and advantages. For example, an antenna system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can be used to increase the gain of an antenna array (e.g., the surface of an antenna array) in one or more directions with respect to the antenna array so that the antenna array (e.g., a patch antenna array) can provide substantially equal gain in any direction. In some embodiments, the antenna system is implemented in one or more components of a cellular network to provide substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to the antenna array during beamforming operations. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the antenna system is implemented in one or more components of a 5G network, such as a 5G base station, to provide substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to the antenna array during beamforming operations. In this example, the implementation of such an antenna system in such a 5G network can increase the signal strength and / or speed of RF signals to provide a higher data rate and / or lower latency across the 5G network. In this example, the increased data rate and / or lower latency across such a 5G network can facilitate improved performance and / or lower operating costs associated with one or more communication and / or computing components of the 5G network (e.g., mobile devices, processors, servers, memory devices, etc.).

[0023] [[ID=③]] In additional or alternative exemplary embodiments, since one or more of a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., radiating elements) can be formed on the first substrate using an LDS process, antenna systems according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can further comprise a simplified manufacturing process of an antenna system that can provide substantially equal gain in any direction protruding from the antenna array during beamforming operations. In these embodiments, such a simplified manufacturing process can reduce the costs associated with manufacturing and / or implementing the antenna system in accordance with a cellular network (e.g., a 5G network) and / or a cellular protocol (e.g., a 5G protocol).

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an antenna system 100 that can promote substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to an antenna array according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the antenna system 100 can include a first substrate 102 that can have an antenna array 104 disposed on a surface 106 (e.g., the upper surface) of the first substrate 102. In this exemplary embodiment, the antenna array 104 can include a plurality of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (where “104N” refers to the total amount of antenna elements). In this exemplary embodiment, the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can each have surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N (where “108N” refers to the total amount of surfaces). In some embodiments, the first substrate 102 can be formed using, for example, an insulating substrate. For example, in some embodiments, the first substrate 102 can be formed using a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate material such as a flame-retardant 4 (FR-4) material.

[0025] Although FIG. 1 depicts a single antenna array 104 disposed on the surface 106 of the first substrate 102 and having four antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not so limited. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art can, using the disclosure provided herein, dispose one or more additional antenna arrays 104 on the surface 106 of the first substrate 102 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and that such one or more additional antenna arrays 104 can each have more or fewer antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the antenna system 100 can further include a second substrate 110 that can be spaced apart from the first substrate 102. In this exemplary embodiment, the second substrate 110 can be coupled (e.g., communicatively coupled, electrically coupled, electromagnetically coupled, operationally coupled, etc.) to the first substrate 102. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the second substrate 110 can include an RF circuit that can be operable to transmit RF signals that communicate via the antenna array 104. For example, as described below and illustrated in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the second substrate 110 can include an RF power feeding circuit (not illustrated in the figure) and / or a ground plane formed thereon, the ground plane can have one or more slots, and the RF power feeding circuit can be operable to couple an RF signal to one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N via one or more slots. In this example, based at least in part on the coupling of the RF signal to one or more of such antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N, the antenna array 104 and / or one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can communicate RF signals. In some embodiments, the second substrate 110 can be formed using, for example, an insulating substrate. For example, in some embodiments, the second substrate 110 can be formed using a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate material such as FR-4 material.

[0027] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the first substrate 102 can be formed and / or include a curved configuration with respect to the second substrate 110 such that at least one of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed on a curved surface of the first substrate 102 (e.g., the curved surface of at least one section of the first substrate 102). In some embodiments, at least one of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be formed and / or integrated on the curved surface of the first substrate 102 such that at least one corresponding surface of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, and / or 108N has the same curved configuration as that of such a curved surface of the first substrate 102. For example, as illustrated in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, one or more (e.g., all) of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be formed on the surface 106 of the first substrate 102, and the surface 106 can be a convex curved surface with respect to the second substrate 110. In this embodiment, one or more (e.g., all) of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same convex curved configuration as that of the surface 106. In some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curved configuration (e.g., convex, concave, etc.) as that of the surface 106 and can be substantially coplanar with the surface 106. In some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curved configuration (e.g., convex, concave, etc.) as that of the surface 106 and can be formed on the first substrate 102 so as to be disposed on a plane adjacent to the surface 106 (e.g., a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 106 adjacent to the surface 106).

[0028] Although the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 depicts the first substrate 102 as having a single convex curve configuration and a surface (e.g., surface 106) relative to the second substrate 110, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not so limited. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art, using the disclosure provided herein, in some embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the first substrate 102 can be formed as and / or include one or more convex curve configurations and / or surfaces, one or more concave curve configurations and / or surfaces, one or more bi-concave curve configurations and / or surfaces, and / or one or more uneven curve configurations and / or surfaces relative to the second substrate 110.

[0029] In some embodiments, one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (e.g., multiple antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N) can constitute and / or be provided as antenna elements defined by laser direct structuring (LDS). In these embodiments, one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (e.g., multiple antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N) can be formed on the first substrate 102 using an LDS process such that at least one of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed on a curved surface (e.g., surface 106) of the first substrate 102.

[0030] In some embodiments, the antenna system 100 can be provided as a patch array antenna system, and the antenna array 104 can be provided as a patch antenna array. In these embodiments, the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be provided as radiating elements of such a patch antenna array operable to communicate RF signals (e.g., transmit and / or receive RF signals).

[0031] Although not depicted in the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the antenna system 100 can further include and / or be coupled to a control circuit having one or more control devices configured to operate one or more antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N to communicate one or more signals (e.g., one or more RF signals), support communication of such one or more signals, and / or perform beamforming operations. Non-limiting exemplary embodiments of such a control circuit having such one or more control devices are described below as control circuit 1100 and illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0032] In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, control circuit 1100 and / or one or more of its control devices can be used to implement beamforming operations. For example, in these embodiments, the antenna system 100 can further include and / or be coupled to control circuit 1100 (FIG. 11) and / or one or more of its control devices operable to implement a beamforming operation to adjust the radiation pattern such that the main lobe of the radiation pattern of antenna array 104 is adjusted from a first direction to a second direction. In these exemplary embodiments, the main lobe can be associated with a first gain in the first direction and a second gain in the second direction, and the second gain can be approximately equal to the first gain (e.g., within about 20% of the first gain). In these exemplary embodiments, the first direction can be substantially perpendicular from a central point on the second substrate 110, and the second direction can be in a direction of about 45° or another direction from the central point on the second substrate 110.

[0033] To implement such beamforming operations described in the above embodiments, the control circuit 1100 and / or one or more of its control devices can be used according to various embodiments of the present disclosure to adjust the power and / or phase of one or more signals (e.g., one or more RF signals) that can communicate with one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N. In some embodiments, the control circuit 1100 and / or one or more of its control devices can be used to implement a phase shift on such one or more signals using a delay line that introduces a time delay to the signals communicated using the delay line. In other embodiments, the control circuit 1100 and / or one or more of its control devices can be used to implement a phase shift on such one or more signals using a phase shifter.

[0034] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the antenna system 100 depicted in FIG. 1 can be implemented in one or more components of a cellular network to provide substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to the antenna array 104 during beamforming operations. For example, in one embodiment, the antenna system 100 can be implemented in one or more components of a 5G cellular communication network, such as a 5G base station, to provide substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to the antenna array 104 during beamforming operations. For example, the antenna system 100 can be implemented in such one or more components to provide substantially equal gain in one or more directions with respect to the surface 106 and / or the surface 108 such that the antenna array 104 and / or the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, and / or 104N can provide substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to the antenna array 104 during beamforming operations.

[0035] In some embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be operable to communicate one or more signals (e.g., one or more RF signals) and / or support the communication of one or more signals via a cellular communication protocol such as a 5G cellular communication protocol. In some embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be operable to communicate such one or more signals and / or support their communication via cellular communication in MIMO mode (e.g., 4×4 MIMO mode) or diversity mode. In some embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be operable to communicate such one or more signals and / or support their communication via cellular communication in MIMO mode or diversity mode in a frequency band range from about 24 GHz to about 86 GHz.

[0036] Although an example embodiment of antenna system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 depicts the second substrate 110 as having a planar configuration with respect to the first substrate 102, it should be understood that example embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, the second substrate 110 according to example embodiments of the present disclosure can have a curved configuration. For example, in such an example embodiment, the second substrate 110 can have the same or a different curved configuration as that of the first substrate 102 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0037] An exemplary embodiment of the antenna system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is depicted as having a curved configuration of the first substrate 102 with respect to the second substrate 110, and while such a curved configuration can be curved with respect to a two-dimensional (2D) space, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the first substrate 102 and / or the second substrate 110 can be formed such that one or both of such substrates have a curved configuration (e.g., a 3D configuration) in a three-dimensional (3D) space without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the first substrate 102 and / or the second substrate 110 can be formed such that one or both of the substrates have a dome-shaped configuration.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the non-limiting example antenna system 100 of FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first substrate 102 can include an end portion 202 and a central portion 204. In this exemplary embodiment, the first distance d1 between the end portion 202 and the surface 206 of the second substrate 110 can be less than the second distance d2 between the central portion 204 and the surface 206 of the second substrate 110.

[0039] Although the exemplary embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the first substrate 102 as having a single convex curve configuration with respect to the second substrate 110, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not so limited. For example, those skilled in the art will understand that, using the disclosure provided herein, in some exemplary embodiments, the first substrate 102 can be formed as and / or include one or more convex curve configurations and / or one or more concave curve configurations with respect to the second substrate 110 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the first substrate 102 can be formed as and / or include one or more of the various curved configurations exemplified in the exemplary embodiments described and depicted in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

[0040] Although an exemplary embodiment of the antenna system 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 depicts the second substrate 110 as having a flat configuration with respect to the first substrate 102, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, the second substrate 110 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can have a curved configuration. For example, in such an exemplary embodiment, the second substrate 110 can have the same or a different curved configuration as that of the first substrate 102 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0041] An exemplary embodiment of the antenna system 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 depicts the first substrate 102 as having a curved configuration with respect to the second substrate 110, and such a curved configuration can be curved with respect to a 2D space, but it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, the first substrate 102 and / or the second substrate 110 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be formed such that one or both of such substrates have a curved configuration (e.g., a 3D configuration) in a 3D space without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the first substrate 102 and / or the second substrate 110 can be formed such that one or both of the substrates have a dome-shaped configuration.

[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a second substrate 110 of the non-limiting antenna system example 100 described above and depicted in FIG. 1. In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the second substrate 110 can include a radio frequency (RF) power supply circuit (not illustrated in FIG. 3) and / or a ground plane 302 disposed thereon. In these embodiments, the RF power supply circuit can be disposed on a first side (e.g., the lower side, not illustrated in FIG. 3) of the second substrate 110, and the ground plane 302 can be disposed on a second side (e.g., the upper side) of the second substrate 110, and the second side can be opposite to the first side. In these embodiments, the ground plane 302 can include one or more slots 304a, 304b, and the RF power supply circuit can be operable (e.g., via a control circuit 1100) to couple an RF signal to one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N via the one or more slots 304a, 304b. In these embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 3, at least one first slot 304a of the one or more slots can extend in a first direction (e.g., horizontally across FIG. 3), and at least one second slot 304b of the one or more slots can extend in a second direction (e.g., vertically across FIG. 3), and the first direction can be substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates an overview of an example of a radiation pattern 400 that can be obtained by implementing an antenna system having flat parallel substrates. For example, the radiation pattern 400 can be obtained by implementing a beamforming operation using the antenna system 402 depicted in FIG. 4. The antenna system 402 depicted in FIG. 4 includes a first flat substrate 404 spaced from and / or coupled to a second flat substrate 406. The first flat substrate 404 includes an antenna array (not illustrated in FIG. 4) having a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., radiating elements of a patch antenna array, not illustrated in FIG. 4), such as a patch antenna array. The second flat substrate 406 includes an RF circuit (not illustrated in FIG. 4) operable to transmit an RF signal communicating through the antenna array. The RF circuit includes an RF feeding circuit and a ground plane having one or more slots, and the RF feeding circuit is operable to couple an RF signal to the plurality of antenna elements through the one or more slots.

[0044] When performing a beamforming operation using the antenna system 402, the main lobe 408 of the radiation pattern 400 is adjusted from a first direction D1 to a second direction D2 and / or toward a third direction D3. The first direction D1 may be substantially perpendicular from a central point on the second flat substrate 406, and the second direction D2 and / or the third direction D3 may be in a direction defined by an angle θ from a central point on the second flat substrate 406, and such an angle θ may be about 45° or another suitable angle. In the radiation pattern 400, the main lobe 408 is associated with a first gain 408a in the first direction D1, a second gain 408b in the second direction D2, and / or a third gain 408c in the third direction D3. As illustrated by the radiation pattern 400 in FIG. 4, the second gain 408b in the second direction D2 and the third gain 408c in the third direction D3 are substantially smaller than the first gain 408a in the first direction D1. To overcome such a deficiency, one or more antenna systems and / or methods are described herein with reference to the accompanying figures that provide improved gain uniformity in any direction with respect to the antenna array.

[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates an overview diagram of an example of a non-limiting radiation pattern 500 that can be obtained by implementing one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the radiation pattern 500 can be obtained by implementing beamforming operations according to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure using one or more antenna systems described herein, such as the antenna system 100 (e.g., via the control circuit 1100 described below with reference to FIG. 11).

[0046] For example, when performing beamforming operations using the antenna system 100 according to one or more example embodiments described herein (e.g., via the control circuit 1100), the main lobe 502 of the radiation pattern 500 can be adjusted from the first direction D1 to the second direction D2 and / or toward the third direction D3. In the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the first direction D1 may be substantially perpendicular from a central point on the second substrate 110, and the second direction D2 and / or the third direction D3 may be in a direction defined by an angle θ from a central point on the second substrate 110, and such an angle θ may be about 45°. In the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the main lobe 502 can be associated with a first gain 502a in the first direction D1, a second gain 502b in the second direction D2, and / or a third gain 502c in the third direction D3. As illustrated by the radiation pattern 500 in the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the second gain 502b in the second direction D2 and / or the third gain 502c in the third direction D3 may be approximately equal to the first gain 502a in the first direction D1. For example, as illustrated by the radiation pattern 500 in the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the second gain 502b in the second direction D2 and / or the third gain 502c in the third direction D3 may be approximately equal to (e.g., within about 20% of) the first gain 502a in the first direction D1.

[0047] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example of a non-limiting antenna system 600 according to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure. According to one example embodiment of the present disclosure, the antenna system 600 can constitute and / or be provided as a non-limiting alternative example embodiment of the antenna system 100 described and illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0048] As illustrated in the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the antenna system 600 can include a first substrate 602 that can be formed as and / or include a single concave curve configuration with respect to a second substrate 110. In this example embodiment, the first substrate 602 can be formed using the same material (e.g., FR-4) as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1. In this example embodiment, the first substrate 602 can include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0049] Referring to the embodiment examples described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, in the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 6, one or more of the antenna array 104 (not illustrated in FIG. 6) and / or the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (not illustrated in FIG. 6) can be arranged (e.g., formed and / or integrated) on the surface 604 (e.g., the upper surface) such that at least one of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed in the curved section of the surface 604 of the first substrate 602. In this embodiment example, the surface 604 can be formed as and / or include the same concave curved configuration as that of the first substrate 602 with respect to the second substrate 110. In this embodiment example, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N (not illustrated in FIG. 6) respectively corresponding to one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can have the same curved configuration as that of the surface 604. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curved configuration as that of the surface 604 and be substantially coplanar with the surface 604. In some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curved configuration as that of the surface 604 and be formed on the first substrate 602 so as to be disposed in a plane adjacent to the surface 604 (e.g., a parallel or substantially parallel plane adjacent to the surface 604).

[0050] As illustrated in the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 6, the first substrate 602 can include an end portion 606 and a central portion 608. In this embodiment example, the first distance d1 between the end portion 606 and the surface 206 of the second substrate 110 can be made greater than the second distance d2 between the central portion 608 and the surface 206 of the second substrate 110.

[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example of a non-limiting antenna system 700 according to one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure. According to one example embodiment of the present disclosure, the antenna system 700 can constitute and / or be provided as a non-limiting alternative example embodiment of the antenna system 100 described and illustrated in FIG. 1 above.

[0052] As illustrated in the example embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the antenna system 700 can include a first substrate 702 that can be formed as and / or include a single convex and single concave curve configuration with respect to a second substrate 110. In this example embodiment, the first substrate 702 can be formed using the same material (e.g., FR-4) as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1. In this example embodiment, the first substrate 702 can include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0053] Referring to the embodiment examples described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, in the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 7, one or more of the antenna array 104 (not illustrated in FIG. 7) and / or the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (not illustrated in FIG. 7) can be arranged (e.g., formed and / or integrated) on the surface 704 (e.g., the upper surface) such that at least one of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed in the curved section of the surface 704 of the first substrate 702. In this embodiment example, the surface 704 can be formed and / or include the same single convex and single concave curve configuration as that of the first substrate 702 with respect to the second substrate 110. In this embodiment example, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N (not illustrated in FIG. 7) corresponding to one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 704. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 704 and can be substantially coplanar with the surface 704. In some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 704 and can be formed on the first substrate 702 so as to be disposed in a plane adjacent to the surface 704 (e.g., a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 704 adjacent to the surface 704).

[0054] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example of a non-limiting antenna system 800 according to one or more embodiment examples of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment example of the present disclosure, the antenna system 800 can constitute and / or be provided as a non-limiting alternative embodiment example of the antenna system 100 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0055] As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, the antenna system 800 can include a first substrate 802 that can be formed as and / or include a single concave and single convex curve configuration with respect to the second substrate 110. In this exemplary embodiment, the first substrate 802 can be formed using the same material (e.g., FR-4) as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the first substrate 802 can include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0056] Referring to the exemplary embodiment described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, one or more of the antenna array 104 (not illustrated in FIG. 8) and / or the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (not illustrated in FIG. 8) can be disposed (e.g., formed and / or integrated) on the surface 804 (e.g., the upper surface) such that at least one of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed in the curved section of the surface 804 of the first substrate 802. In this exemplary embodiment, the surface 804 can be formed as and / or include the same single concave and single convex curve configuration as that of the first substrate 802 with respect to the second substrate 110. In this exemplary embodiment, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N (not illustrated in FIG. 8) respectively corresponding to one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 804. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 804 and can be substantially coplanar with the surface 804. In some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 804 and can be formed on the first substrate 802 so as to be disposed in a plane adjacent to the surface 804 (e.g., a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 804 adjacent to the surface 804).

[0057] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example of a non-limiting antenna system 900 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the antenna system 900 can constitute and / or be provided as a non-limiting alternative embodiment of the antenna system 100 described and illustrated in FIG. 1 above.

[0058] As illustrated in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the antenna system 900 can include a first substrate 902 that can be formed as and / or include a single convex and double concave curve configuration with respect to a second substrate 110. In this embodiment, the first substrate 902 can be formed using the same material (e.g., FR-4) as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the first substrate 902 can include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0059] Referring to the embodiment examples described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, in the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 9, one or more of antenna array 104 (not illustrated in FIG. 9) and / or antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (not illustrated in FIG. 9) can be arranged (e.g., formed and / or integrated) on surface 904 (e.g., the upper surface) such that at least one of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed in a curved section of surface 904 of the first substrate 902. In this embodiment example, surface 904 can be formed as and / or include the same single convex and double concave curve configuration as that of the first substrate 902 with respect to the second substrate 110. In this embodiment example, one or more of surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N (not illustrated in FIG. 9) respectively corresponding to one or more of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can have the same curve configuration as that of surface 904. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of surface 904 and can be substantially coplanar with surface 904. In some embodiments, one or more of surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of surface 904 and can be formed on the first substrate 902 so as to be disposed in a plane adjacent to surface 904 (e.g., a plane parallel or substantially parallel to surface 904 adjacent to surface 904).

[0060] FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an example of a non-limiting antenna system 1000 according to one or more embodiment examples of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment example of the present disclosure, antenna system 1000 can constitute and / or be provided as a non-limiting alternative embodiment example of antenna system 100 described above and illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0061] As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, the antenna system 1000 can include a first substrate 1002 that can be formed as and / or include a single concave and double convex curve configuration with respect to a second substrate 110. In this exemplary embodiment, the first substrate 1002 can be formed using the same material (e.g., FR-4) as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the first substrate 1002 can include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the first substrate 102 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0062] Referring to the exemplary embodiments described above and illustrated in FIG. 1, in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, one or more of the antenna array 104 (not illustrated in FIG. 10) and / or antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N (not illustrated in FIG. 10) can be disposed (e.g., formed and / or integrated) on a surface 1004 (e.g., the upper surface) such that at least one of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed in a curved section of the surface 1004 of the first substrate 1002. In this exemplary embodiment, the surface 1004 can be formed as and / or include the same single concave and double convex curve configuration as that of the first substrate 1002 with respect to the second substrate 110. In this exemplary embodiment, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N (not illustrated in FIG. 10) corresponding to one or more of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 1004. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 1004 and can be substantially coplanar with the surface 1004. In some embodiments, one or more of the surfaces 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N can have the same curve configuration as that of the surface 1004 and can be formed on the first substrate 1002 so as to be disposed in a plane adjacent to the surface 1004 (e.g., a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 1004 adjacent to the surface 1004).

[0063] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a non-limiting control circuit 1100 that can be associated with one or more of the non-limiting antenna system examples of the present disclosure to promote substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to an antenna array according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, the control circuit 1100 can be associated with one or more of the antenna systems 100, 600, 700, 800, 900, and / or 1000 to promote substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to an antenna array according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit 1100 is included and / or coupled to such an antenna system to configure one or more of its antenna arrays to communicate one or more signals (e.g., one or more RF signals), support communication of such one or more signals, and / or perform beamforming operations.

[0064] As illustrated in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, the control circuit 1100 can be coupled to a first antenna system 1100a and / or a second antenna system 1100b. In this embodiment, the first antenna system 1100a and / or the second antenna system 1100b can include the same structure, material, and / or configuration as that of the antenna system 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, the first antenna system 1100a and / or the second antenna system 1100b can further include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the antenna system 100.

[0065] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the first antenna system 1100a and the second antenna system 1100b can each include a first antenna array 1102a and a second antenna array 1102b. In this embodiment, the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b can include the same structure, material, and / or configuration as that of the antenna array 104 described above with reference to FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b can further include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the antenna array 104.

[0066] As illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the first antenna array 1102a and the second antenna array 1102b can each include a plurality (e.g., eight) of antenna elements (not annotated in FIG. 11) that can each include the same structure, material, and / or configuration as that of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N described above with reference to FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, such a plurality of antenna elements can each include and / or provide the same functionality as that of the antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N.

[0067] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the control circuit 1100 can configure the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the control circuit 1100 can configure the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b to communicate one or more signals (e.g., one or more RF signals), support the communication of such one or more signals, and / or perform beamforming operations, and the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b can provide substantially equal gain in any direction with respect to the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b, respectively.

[0068] FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment that can be supported by a first antenna array 1102a having a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., eight) for the first through Nth protocols (where "N" refers to the total number of protocols), which can include a 5G communication protocol. In this embodiment, a second antenna array 1102b having a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., eight) can be used to support the communication of the first antenna array 1102a by being configured to perform a secondary function (e.g., MIMO, diversity, etc.) or by being configured to perform a beamforming operation.

[0069] The control circuit 1100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be operable to configure the antenna elements of the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b between supporting a secondary function and supporting a beamforming operation.

[0070] As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, the first through Nth transceivers 1104 (where "N" refers to the total amount of transceivers 1104) can be associated with (e.g., coupled to) the first antenna array 1102a to process signals according to the first through Nth protocols that can include a 5G communication protocol. Other protocols that can be supported by the transceivers 1104 in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can include, but are not limited to, 2G protocol, 3G protocol, 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol, and / or another cellular communication protocol.

[0071] As further illustrated in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, the (N + 1) through (N + M)th transceivers 1106 can be associated with (e.g., coupled to) the second antenna array 1102b to perform their originally intended functions in conjunction with one or more of the first through Nth protocols that can include a 5G communication protocol. Other protocols that can be supported by the transceivers 1106 in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can include, but are not limited to, 2G protocol, 3G protocol, 4G (LTE) protocol, and / or another cellular communication protocol.

[0072] The control circuit 1100 depicted in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 can include a first switching component 1108 and a second switching component 1110. In this exemplary embodiment, the first switching component 1108 and the second switching component 1110 can be coupled to each other via a phase-shifting component 1112. In this exemplary embodiment, the phase-shifting component 1112 can be configured to provide a multiplexed phase shift between signals communicated between antenna elements of the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b in order to implement beamforming functionality. For example, in this embodiment, the phase-shifting component 1112 can include a plurality of transmission lines of different electrical lengths that can serve as delay lines that can selectively couple to one or more antenna elements using the first switching component 1108 and / or the second switching component 1110. In additional and / or alternative embodiments, the phase-shifting component 1112 can include one or more phase shifters configured to implement a phase shift on signals communicated via the phase-shifting component 1112.

[0073] The first switching component 1108 of the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 11 can include a plurality of first switches (e.g., transistors or other switching devices) configured to selectively couple individual antenna elements of the first antenna array 1102a to the phase-shifting component 1112. The second switching component 1110 of the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 11 can include a plurality of second switches (e.g., transistors or other switching devices) configured to selectively couple individual antenna elements of the second antenna array 1102b to the phase-shifting component 1112. In this exemplary embodiment, the first switching component 1108 can include paths that are to be opened, grounded, or shorted to components or modules within the system, as represented by block 1114.

[0074] The control circuit 1100 depicted in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 can include a module 1116 configured to select one or more of the transceivers 1104 to be coupled to individual antenna elements of the first antenna array 1102a for a certain period of time. In this exemplary embodiment, the module 1116 can be coupled to a power coupler and / or splitter 1118 that can be configured to select while providing signals to the first antenna array 1102a and / or the first switching component 1108. In this exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1100 can include a module 1120 configured to select one or more of the transceivers 1106 to be coupled to individual antenna elements of the second antenna array 1102b for a certain period of time.

[0075] In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, a controller 1122 (e.g., a processor, a microprocessor, and / or another type of controller configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in one or more memory devices) can be coupled to various components of the control circuit 1100, such as the first switching component 1108, the second switching component 1110, the phase shifter component 1112, the module 1116, the module 1120, and / or the power coupler and / or splitter 1118, to control the selection of paths and / or phase shifts.

[0076] The control circuit 1100 depicted in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 can control the elements to communicate one or more signals via a communication protocol by controlling the module 1116 to couple the selected transceiver(s) of the transceivers 1104 to one or more antenna elements in the first antenna array 1102a. In this exemplary embodiment, the communication protocol can be, for example, a 5G communication protocol. In this exemplary embodiment, one or more of the antenna elements in the first antenna array 1102a can be configured to communicate signals via the communication protocol in MIMO mode.

[0077] The control circuit 1100 depicted in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 can configure one or more of the antenna elements in the second antenna array 1102b to be in a first mode or a second mode. According to this exemplary embodiment, in the first mode, one or more of the second antenna elements are configured to provide a secondary function (e.g., MIMO, diversity, etc.) to support the communication of the first antenna elements via a communication protocol.

[0078] More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, when one or more antenna elements of the second antenna array 1102b are used in MIMO or diversity mode, the controller 1122 can control the second switching component 1110 and the module 1120 to selectively couple one or more of the antenna elements of the second antenna array 1102b to an appropriate transceiver among the transceivers 1106. Additionally or alternatively, in this exemplary embodiment, the controller 1122 can control the first switching component 1108 to selectively couple one or more of the antenna elements of the first antenna array 1102a to the block 1114 (e.g., open, grounded, shorted, etc.). In this exemplary embodiment, the controller 1122 can also control the components to decouple one or more antenna elements of the first antenna array 1102a from one or more antenna elements of the second antenna array 1102b, otherwise.

[0079] In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 11, when in the second mode, the control circuit 1100 can control one or more of the antenna elements of the second antenna array 1102b and / or the first antenna array 1102a to support the beamforming operation performed on the first antenna element. For example, in this exemplary embodiment, the first switching component 1108 and the second switching component 1110 can be controlled by the controller 1122 to connect a path to the phase shifter component 1112 to couple two or more antenna elements of the first antenna array 1102a and / or the second antenna array 1102b. In this exemplary embodiment, the phase shifter component 1112 can be configured to and / or perform a phase shift between radiation patterns associated with the antenna elements to perform the beamforming operation.

[0080] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of an example of a non-limiting method 1200 that can be implemented to fabricate one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the method 1200 can be implemented to fabricate the antenna systems 100, 600, 700, 800, 900, and / or 1000 and / or one or more components of such antenna systems.

[0081] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, at 1202, method 1200 can include forming, on a first substrate (e.g., first substrate 102), an antenna array (e.g., antenna array 104) having a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N). In some embodiments, at 1202, method 1200 can include forming, on a first substrate (e.g., first substrate 102), an antenna array (e.g., antenna array 104) having a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N) using an LDS process such that at least one of the antenna elements (e.g., at least one of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N) is disposed on a curved surface (e.g., surface 106) of the first substrate. For example, as described above with reference to FIG. 1, one or more of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be provided as LDS-defined antenna elements. In these embodiments, one or more of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N can be formed on first substrate 102 using an LDS process such that at least one of antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N is disposed on a curved surface (e.g., surface 106) of first substrate 102.

[0082] In this embodiment, at 1204, method 1200 can include forming, on a second substrate (e.g., second substrate 110), a radio frequency circuit operable to transmit radio frequency signals for communicating via the antenna array, the first substrate being spaced apart from the second substrate and having a curved configuration (e.g., a concave curved configuration, a convex curved configuration, etc.) with respect to the second substrate such that at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is formed on a curved surface (e.g., surface 106) of the first substrate.

[0083] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of an example of a non-limiting method 1300 that can be implemented to operate one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, method 1300 can be implemented to operate one or more of antenna systems 100, 600, 700, 800, 900, and / or 1000 using control circuit 1100 as described above with reference to the example embodiments illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0084] In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, at 1302, method 1300 can include communicating a radio frequency signal using an antenna array (e.g., antenna array 104) by one or more processors (e.g., controller 1122), the antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements (e.g., antenna elements 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N) disposed on a first substrate (e.g., first substrate 102) having a curved configuration (e.g., a concave curved configuration, a convex curved configuration, etc.) with respect to a second substrate (e.g., second substrate 110) spaced apart from the first substrate, the second substrate including a radio frequency circuit operable to transmit a radio frequency signal for communication via the antenna array.

[0085] In this example embodiment, at 1304, method 1300 can include adjusting, by one or more processors (e.g., controller 1122), a main lobe (e.g., main lobe 502) of a radiation pattern (e.g., radiation pattern 500) associated with the antenna array from a first direction (e.g., first direction D1) to a second direction (e.g., second direction D2), at least one of the plurality of antenna elements being disposed on a curved surface (e.g., surface 106) of the first substrate.

[0086] The methods (e.g., method 1200 and / or method 1300) described herein and / or illustrated in the accompanying figures according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure depict steps that are performed in a particular order for purposes of illustration and discussion. Those skilled in the art will understand that, using the disclosure provided herein, any of the various steps of such methods can be adapted, omitted, rearranged, include steps not illustrated, performed simultaneously, and / or modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0087] Although the subject matter of the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that upon reaching the above understanding, modifications, variations, and equivalents of such embodiments can be readily produced. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is presented by way of example and not limitation, and the present disclosure does not exclude including such modifications, variations, and / or additions to the subject matter of the present invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Description of the Reference Numerals

[0088] 100 Antenna system 102 First substrate 104 Antenna array 104a, 104b, 104c, 104N Antenna elements 106 Surface 108a, 108b, 108c, 108N Surfaces 110 Second substrate 202 End portion 204 Central portion 206 Surface 302 Ground plane 304a First slot 304b Second slot 400 Radiation pattern 402 Antenna system 404 First flat substrate 406 Second flat substrate 408 Main lobe 408a First gain 408b Second gain 408c Third Gain 500 radiation pattern 502 Main Robe 502a First Gain 502b Second Gain 502c Third Gain 600 Antenna System 602 First substrate 604 Surface 606 End part 608 Central part 700 Antenna System 702 First substrate 704 Surface 800 Antenna System 802 first substrate 804 Surface 900 Antenna System 902 First substrate 904 Surface 1000 Antenna System 1002 first substrate 1004 Surface 1100 control circuit 1100a First Antenna System 1100b Second Antenna System 1102a First antenna array 1102b Second Antenna Array 1104 Transceiver 1106 Transceiver 1108 First Switching Component 1110 Second Switching Component 1112 Phase Shift Component 1114 Block 1116 Module 1118 Power combiner and / or divider 1120 Module 1122 Controller d1 First distance d2 Second distance D1 First Direction D2 Second Direction D3 The third direction

Claims

1. A first substrate comprising an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, A second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate and comprising a radio frequency circuit operable to transmit a radio frequency signal for communication via the antenna array, The first substrate having a curved configuration with respect to the second substrate such that at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed on a curved surface of the first substrate, The curved configuration comprising at least one of a plurality of convex curve configurations or one or more concave curve configurations, An antenna system.

2. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate comprises an end portion and a central portion, and a first distance between the end portion and a surface of the second substrate is less than a second distance between the central portion and the surface of the second substrate.

3. Further comprising one or more control devices, the one or more control devices being Operable to implement a beamforming operation to adjust the radiation pattern such that a main lobe of the radiation pattern of the antenna array is adjusted from a first direction to a second direction, The antenna system provides a first gain in the first direction and a second gain in the second direction, and the second gain is approximately equal to the first gain, according to claim 1 of the antenna system described.

4. The antenna system according to claim 3, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to a central point on the second substrate, and the second direction is at an angle of about 45 degrees from the central point on the second substrate.

5. The radio frequency circuit is A radio frequency feeding circuit disposed on a first side of the second substrate, A ground plane disposed on a second side of the second substrate, the second side being opposite to the first side, The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the ground plane comprises one or more slots, and the radio frequency feeding circuit is operable to couple the radio frequency signal to one or more of the plurality of antenna elements via the one or more slots.

6. The antenna system according to claim 5, wherein at least one first slot of the one or more slots extends in a first direction, at least one second slot of the one or more slots extends in a second direction, and the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

7. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are radiating elements of a plurality of patch antennas.

8. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of antenna elements are operable to communicate one or more signals or support communication of the one or more signals via a cellular communication protocol.

9. Forming an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements on a first substrate; Forming a radio frequency circuit on a second substrate operable to transmit a radio frequency signal for communication via the antenna array, wherein the first substrate is spaced from the second substrate and has a curved configuration with respect to the second substrate such that at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is formed on a curved surface of the first substrate, the curved configuration comprising at least one of a plurality of convex curve configurations or one or more concave curve configurations. A method of manufacturing an antenna system.

10. The step of forming the antenna array having the antenna elements on the first substrate includes the step of forming the antenna elements on the first substrate using a laser direct structuring process, according to the method of claim 9.

11. The step of forming the radio frequency circuit on the second substrate operable to transmit the radio frequency signal for communication via the antenna array includes forming a radio frequency feeding circuit on a first side of the second substrate; forming a ground plane having one or more slots on a second side of the second substrate, the second side being opposite the first side, wherein the radio frequency feeding circuit is formed on the first side of the second substrate such that it is operable to couple the radio frequency signal to one or more of the plurality of antenna elements via the one or more slots, according to the method of claim 9.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of forming the ground plane having the one or more slots on the second side of the second substrate such that at least one first slot of the one or more slots extends in a first direction and at least one second slot of the one or more slots extends in a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

13. communicating a radio frequency signal using an antenna array by one or more processors, the antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the first substrate having a curved configuration with respect to a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a radio frequency circuit operable to transmit the radio frequency signal for communication via the antenna array; adjusting, by the one or more processors, a main lobe of a radiation pattern associated with the antenna array from a first direction to a second direction; at least one of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed on a curved surface of the first substrate; the curved configuration comprises at least one of a plurality of convex curve configurations or one or more concave curve configurations; A method of configuring an antenna system.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the antenna system provides a first gain in the first direction and a second gain in the second direction, and the second gain is substantially equal to the first gain.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular from a central point on the second substrate and the second direction is at an angle of about 45 degrees from the central point on the second substrate.

16. The step of adjusting, by the one or more processors, the main lobe of the radiation pattern from the first direction to the second direction, The method according to claim 13, comprising adjusting, by the one or more processors, at least one of power or phase of the radio frequency signal to one or more of the plurality of antenna elements.

17. The step of operating one or more of the plurality of antenna elements based at least in part on the radio frequency signal to communicate one or more signals or to support the communication of the one or more signals via a cellular communication protocol in at least one of a multiple-input multiple-output mode or a diversity mode in a frequency band range from about 24 gigahertz to about 86 gigahertz via the antenna array by the one or more processors The method of claim 13, further comprising

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