System and method for printing tunable antennas

摘要

The present invention is a method and system for using a 3D printer for printing various tunable antennas. In one embodiment, and exponent antenna is created by printing a board using a 3D printer in combination with vacuum metallization to create the antenna and provide engineered break points for adjusting the printed antenna for the most effective gain. In another embodiment, a spiral cavity backed antenna is printed using a combination of a 3D printer and vacuum metallization. In a third embodiment, a horn antenna is printed using a combination of a 3D printer engineered break points for adjustment and a hinged version with an actuator creating a new antenna.

主权项

1. An antenna device, comprising of
a printed polymer base providing a dielectric substrate; a conductive trace providing the emitting surface on the printed polymer base; and one or more tabs molded into the printed plastic board as break points wherein the breakpoints are used for adjusting the printed antenna for the most effective gain, beam-shape and frequency.