Extendable user communication device with low profile patch antenna for satellite communications

A method comprising:

• presenting, at a flexible display of a communication device, a user interface comprising a trigger control for executing a communication application, the communication device comprising a flexible display support structure moveably attached to and positionable on a base housing between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base housing, one of the flexible display support structure and the base housing having an antenna surface that is covered while the flexible display support structure is in the retracted position and uncovered while the flexible display support structure is in the extended position by the other one of the flexible display support structure and the base housing, the flexible display coupled across a front side of the base housing and the flexible display support structure to present a larger portion of the flexible display while the flexible display support structure is in the extended position and a smaller portion of the flexible display while the flexible display support structure is in the retracted position;
• and
• in response to identifying a trigger received at the flexible display to execute a communications application stored in memory of the communication device:
• configuring a communication subsystem of the communication device to allow the communication device to communicate with a communications satellite via at least one of an uplink and a downlink via a patch antenna positioned on the antenna surface and comprising:
• (i) a ground plane;
• (ii) a substrate comprising a low dielectric constant and low loss material and positioned on the ground plane;
• and (iii) a conductive radiator patch positioned on the substrate;
• determining that the flexible display support structure is in the extended position;
• detecting an orientation of the patch antenna;
• and
• communicating, via the communications subsystem and the patch antenna with the communications satellite, in response to determining that the flexible display support structure is in the extended position and detecting the patch antenna is oriented upward.

A computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable storage device;
• and
• program code on the computer readable storage device that when executed by a processor associated with a communication device, the program code enables the communication device to provide functionality of:
• presenting, at a flexible display of the communication device, a user interface comprising a trigger for executing a communication application, the communication device comprising a flexible display support structure moveably attached to and positionable on a base housing between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base housing, one of the flexible display support structure and the base housing having an antenna surface that is covered while the flexible display support structure is in the retracted position and uncovered while the flexible display support structure is in the extended position by the other one of the flexible display support structure and the base housing, the flexible display coupled across a front side of the base housing and the flexible display support structure to present a larger portion of the flexible display while the flexible display support structure is in the extended position and a smaller portion of the flexible display while the flexible display support structure is in the retracted position;
• and
• in response to identifying a trigger received at the flexible display to execute a communications application stored in memory of the communication device:
• configuring a communication subsystem of the communication device to allow the communication device to communicate with a communications satellite via at least one of an uplink and a downlink via a patch antenna positioned on the antenna surface and comprising:
• (i) a ground plane;
• (ii) a substrate comprising a low dielectric constant and low loss material and positioned on the ground plane;
• and (iii) a conductive radiator patch positioned on the substrate;
• determining that the flexible display support structure is in the extended position;
• detecting an orientation of the patch antenna;
• and
• communicating, via the communications subsystem and the patch antenna with the communications satellite, in response to determining that the flexible display support structure is in the extended position and detecting the patch antenna is oriented upward.