Ultra conformal patch antenna array on a doubly curved surface

Patch antenna arrays are widely used for their adaptive radiation characteristics. From a fabrication perspective, such arrays are restricted to planar geometries by standard printed circuit board manufacturing processes, even though flat designs may not be ideal for certain applications. Fabrication of non-planar antenna arrays can be achieved via a slew of unconventional methods, all of which have limitations or drawbacks. In this paper, we present the design and fabrication of a patch antenna array on a predominantly non-planar surface. Though the antenna performance is adversely affected by the introduction of non-planar geometry, countermeasures can be taken in the design phase to compensate for any negative effects, resulting in antenna performance that rivals that of the original planar array.