Low-cost HDMI-D packaging technique for integrating an efficient reconfigurable antenna array with RF MEMS switches and a high impedance surface

A method of making an antenna comprising the steps of:

• (a) patterning a layer of insulating medium to form openings therein;
• (b) depositing a metal layer on the previously deposited insulating layer, as patterned, and pattering the metal layer as needed;
• (c) depositing a layer of insulating medium on the previously deposited metal layer, as patterned, and patterning the layer of insulating medium to form openings therein;
• (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) as needed to form a multilayered high impedance surface having an upper surface with antenna segments having been patterned from a metal layer previously deposited thereat in accordance with step (b), an array of metallic top elements formed in a layer spaced from the upper surface, the array of metallic top elements having been patterned from a metal layer previously deposited thereat in accordance with step (b), a metallic ground plane formed in a layer spaced from the array of metallic top elements, the metallic ground plane having been formed from a metal layer previously deposited thereat in accordance with step (b);
• (e) placing remotely controlled switches adjacent at least selected ones of said antenna segments for coupling the adjacent antenna segments together in response to an actuating signal associated with each remotely controlled switch;
• and
• (f) disposing actuating signal channels in or adjacent said high impedance surface with distal ends of each channel being operatively associated with a respective one of said remotely controlled switches for coupling the actuating signal carried thereby to the associated remotely controlled switch.

A flexible antenna array comprising:

• (a) a plurality of layers of thin metal and layers of a flexible insulating medium arranged as a sandwich of layers, each layer of the sandwich being patterned as needed to define:
• (i) antenna segments patterned in one of the metal layers,
• (ii) an array of metallic top elements formed in a layer spaced from the the antenna segments, the array of metallic top elements being patterned in another metal layer, and
• (iii) a metallic ground plane formed in a layer spaced from the array of metallic top elements, the metallic ground plane having been formed from still another metal layer;
• and
• (b) an array of remotely controlled switches for coupling selected ones of said antenna segments together.