Flexible aperture fed patch antenna

An antenna assembly comprising:

• a first flexible layer including a conductive ground plane on a first layer of dielectric material;
• a second flexible layer including an array of conductive patches on a second layer of dielectric material;
• wherein the first and second flexible layers are rollable or foldable, to provide a stowed position for the antenna assembly and a deployed position for the antenna assembly;
• a first roller configured to rotate around a first axis of rotation, wherein (i) in the stowed position, the first flexible layer including the ground plane and the first layer of dielectric material is rolled around the first roller, and (ii) in the deployed position, the first flexible layer including the ground plane and the first layer of dielectric material is at least partially unrolled from the first roller;
• and
• a second roller configured to rotate around a second axis of rotation, wherein (i) in the stowed position, the second flexible layer including the array of conductive patches and the second layer of dielectric material is rolled around the second roller, and (ii) in the deployed position, the second flexible layer including the array of conductive patches and the second layer of dielectric material is at least partially unrolled from the second roller;
• a support structure;
• wherein a first end of the first flexible layer including the ground plane and the first layer dielectric material is attached to the first roller, and a second end of the first flexible layer including the ground plane and the first layer dielectric material is attached to the support structure;
• and
• wherein a first end of the second flexible layer including the array of conductive patches and the second layer dielectric material is attached to the second roller, and a second end of the second flexible layer including the array of conductive patches and the second layer dielectric material is attached to the support structure.