Three-dimensional antenna assembly and applications thereof

Abstract

An antenna assembly includes a substrate, a plurality of spiral dipole antenna sections, and a phase array feeder. The substrate has a three-dimensional shaped region. Each of the spiral dipole antenna sections is supported by a corresponding section of the three-dimensional shaped region and conforms to the corresponding section of the three-dimensional shaped region such that, collectively, the plurality of spiral dipole antenna sections has an overall shape approximating a three-dimensional shape. The spiral dipole antenna sections are coupled together in accordance with a coupling configuration for beamforming and/or power combining. The phase array feeder inputs, or outputs, a phase offset representations of a radio frequency (RF) signal from, or to, the spiral dipole antenna sections and converts between the phase offset representations of the RF signal and the RF signal.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A Radio Frequency (RF) front end comprising:
 a three-dimensional structure formed upon or in a surface of a substrate;   a plurality of antennas, at least a portion of which are formed on the three-dimensional structure, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas conforms to a corresponding portion of the three-dimensional structure and wherein, the plurality of antennas has an overall three-dimensional shape corresponding to the three-dimensional structure; and   a phase array interface configured to:
 interface a plurality of phase offset representations of a radio frequency (RF) signal with the plurality of antennas; and 
 convert between the plurality of phase offset representations of the RF signal and the RF signal. 
   
     
     
         3 . The RF front end of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional structure has a convex shape and is formed upon the surface of the substrate and. 
     
     
         4 . The RF front end of  claim 3 , wherein the convex shape comprises a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         5 . The RF front end of  claim 3 , wherein the convex shape comprises a spherical cap. 
     
     
         6 . The RF front end of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises a concave depression formed within the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The RF front end of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises one or more of:
 a cup shape:   a conical shape;   a cylindrical shape;   a pyramid shape;   a box shape;   a spherical shape;   a parabolic shape; or   a hyperbolic shape.   
     
     
         8 . The RF front end of  claim 2 , wherein the phase array interface is further configured to establish the plurality of phase offset representations of the RF signal in accordance with a selected beam form angle. 
     
     
         9 . The RF front end of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises one of:
 a printed circuit board;   an integrated circuit package substrate; or   a non-conductive fabricated antenna backing structure.   
     
     
         10 . A Radio Frequency (RF) front end comprising:
 receive-transmit isolation circuitry configured to isolate an inbound Radio Frequency (RF) signal from an outbound RF signal;   a phase array interface coupled to the receive-transmit isolation circuitry and configured to:
 convert the output RF signal to a plurality of phase offset representations of the output RF signal; and 
 convert a plurality of phase offset representations of the inbound RF signal to the inbound RF signal; 
   a three-dimensional structure formed upon or in a surface of a substrate; and   a plurality of antennas coupled to the phase array interface, at least a portion of which are formed on the three-dimensional structure, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas conforms to a corresponding portion of the three-dimensional structure and wherein, the plurality of antennas has an overall three-dimensional shape corresponding to the three-dimensional structure.   
     
     
         11 . The RF front end of  claim 10 , further comprising tuning circuitry coupled to the receive-transmit isolation circuitry and configured to tune the receive-transmit isolation circuitry. 
     
     
         12 . The RF front end of  claim 10 , wherein the phase array interface is configured to:
 couple the plurality of phase offset representations of the output RF signal to the plurality of antennas; and   receive the plurality of phase offset representations of the inbound RF signal from the plurality of antennas.   
     
     
         13 . The RF front end of  claim 11 , wherein the three-dimensional structure has a convex shape and is formed upon the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The RF front end of  claim 13 , wherein the convex shape comprises a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         15 . The RF front end of  claim 13 , wherein the convex shape comprises a spherical cap. 
     
     
         16 . The RF front end of  claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises a concave depression formed within the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The RF front end of  claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises one or more of:
 a cup shape:   a conical shape;   a cylindrical shape;   a pyramid shape;   a box shape;   a spherical shape;   a parabolic shape; or   a hyperbolic shape.   
     
     
         18 . The RF front end of  claim 10 , wherein the phase array interface is further configured to establish the plurality of phase offset representations of the RF signal in accordance with a selected beam form angle. 
     
     
         19 . The RF front end of  claim 10 , wherein the substrate comprises one of:
 a printed circuit board;   an integrated circuit package substrate; or   a non-conductive fabricated antenna backing structure.   
     
     
         20 . A Radio Frequency (RF) front end comprising:
 a substrate comprising at least one RF circuit component;   a three-dimensional structure formed upon or in a surface of the substrate;   a plurality of antennas, at least a portion of which are formed on the three-dimensional structure, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas conforms to a corresponding portion of the three-dimensional structure and wherein, the plurality of antennas has an overall three-dimensional shape corresponding to the three-dimensional structure; and   a phase array interface configured to:
 interface a plurality of phase offset representations of a radio frequency (RF) signal with the plurality of antennas; and 
 convert between the plurality of phase offset representations of the RF signal and the RF signal. 
   
     
     
         21 . The RF front end of  claim 20 , wherein the substrate comprises one of:
 a printed circuit board;   an integrated circuit package substrate; or   a non-conductive fabricated antenna backing structure.