| CPC H01Q 15/18 (2013.01) [H01Q 15/141 (2013.01); H01Q 15/147 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
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1. A foldable antenna comprising:
an antenna body;
a first straight hinge line in the antenna body which extends across opposite edges of the antenna body and through a hinge convergence point in the antenna body to create a first folding hinge and a second folding hinge which extend in opposite directions from the hinge convergence point;
a second straight hinge line in the antenna body which extends across opposite edges of the antenna body and through the hinge convergence point to create a third folding hinge and a fourth folding hinge which extend in opposite directions from the hinge convergence point, wherein second straight hinge line is perpendicular to first straight hinge line; and
a third straight hinge line in the antenna body which extends across opposite edges of the antenna body and through the hinge convergence point to create a fifth folding hinge and a sixth folding hinge which extend in opposite directions from the hinge convergence point, wherein the third straight line cuts midway between the first folding hinge and the fourth folding hinge and also cuts midway between the second folding hinge and the third folding hinge,
wherein the first straight hinge line, the second straight hinge line, and the third straight hinge line define in the antenna body: a first pair of opposing 90-degree segments, a second pair of adjacent 45-degree segments separated from one another by the fifth folding hinge, and a third pair of adjacent 45-degree segments separated from one another by the sixth folding hinge,
wherein the antenna is foldable from an unfolded configuration by folding the second pair of adjacent 45-degree segments inwardly about the fifth folding hinge, and folding the third pair of adjacent 45-degree segments inwardly about the sixth folding hinge,
wherein the antenna body comprises: a top film layer, a bottom film layer, and a panels layer comprising reflectarray panels between the top film layer and the bottom film layer, and
wherein the top film layer and the bottom film layer include cuts and creases that create the first straight hinge line, the second straight hinge line, and the third straight hinge line in the antenna body.
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