# US 11,309,618 B2 · Antenna array and method for manufacturing thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,309,618 B2 - Document ID: US11309618B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/764,002 - Filed: 2018-10-08 - Published: 2020-10-22 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-15 - Assignees: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy - Applicants: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy - Inventors: Jussi Säily; Antti Lamminen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309618B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/085: {Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base} - H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)} - H01Q 21/08: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)} - H01Q 21/20: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path {(slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062)} - H01Q 21/205: {providing an omnidirectional coverage (turnstile aerials H01Q21/26)} - H05K 3/4691: {Rigid-flexible multilayer circuits comprising rigid and flexible layers, e.g. having in the bending regions only flexible layers} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided antenna array comprising: a plurality of parallel antenna elements arranged on a printed circuit board laminate comprising a flexible substrate layer on a rigid substrate layer comprising portions specific to one or more antenna elements, said flexible substrate layer comprising a feed network, wherein the rigid substrate layer is configured movable between a first arrangement of the portions of the rigid substrate layer, where the antenna array has a planar form, and a second arrangement of the portions of the rigid substrate layer, where the antenna array is curved around one or more axes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna array comprising: a plurality of parallel radiating antenna elements arranged on a printed circuit board laminate comprising a flexible substrate layer on a rigid substrate layer comprising portions specific to one or more radiating antenna elements, said flexible substrate layer comprising a feed network, wherein the rigid substrate layer is configured movable between a first arrangement of the portions of the rigid substrate layer, where the radiating antenna elements are coplanar, and a second arrangement of the portions of the rigid substrate layer, where at least two of the radiating antenna elements are non-planar with respect to each other, and wherein the radiating antenna elements are connected to one or more neighboring antenna elements by the flexible substrate and the portions of the rigid substrate layer are separated by spacers or grooves between at least some adjacent radiating antenna elements that provide moving said adjacent radiating antenna elements between the arrangements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate layer and the rigid substrate layer are low-loss substrates, the rigid substrate layer comprises fiber glass reinforced material and the flexible substrate layer is attached to the rigid substrate layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate comprises one or more cavities for connecting components directly to the rigid substrate layer under the flexible substrate layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein at least one arrangement of the portions of the rigid substrate layer comprises that the antenna array is concave or convex in one or more planes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the antenna array is a wide beamwidth sector antenna or an omnidirectional antenna. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the antenna array is a millimeter wave antenna array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate layer provides at least one of feeding radio frequency signals, control signals and voltage for the antenna elements and associated active or passive electrical components such as phase shifters, amplifiers or switches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The antenna array according to claim 1, wherein a ground plane is arranged on the flexible layer for isolating the feed network from the rigid layer. ### Claim 9 A method for manufacturing an antenna array, comprising: obtaining a printed circuit board laminate comprising a flexible substrate layer comprising a feed network attached on a rigid substrate layer; dividing the rigid substrate layer into portions specific to one or more radiating antenna elements such that the radiating antenna elements are configured movable between a first arrangement of the portions of the rigid substrate layer, where the radiating antenna elements are coplanar, and a second arrangement of the portions of the rigid substrate layer, where at least two of the radiating antenna elements are non-planar with respect to each other and wherein the radiating antenna elements are connected to one or more neighboring antenna elements by the flexible substrate and the portions of the rigid substrate layer are separated by spacers or grooves between at least some adjacent radiating antenna elements that provide moving said adjacent radiating antenna elements between the arrangements; and installing one or more active or passive electrical components on the flexible substrate layer for feeding at least one of radio frequency signals, control signals and voltage for the antenna elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method for manufacturing an antenna array according to claim 9, further comprising forming the spacers or grooves by milling the rigid substrate layer between the antenna elements.