Origami Folded Antennas

Abstract

An antenna includes a dielectric sheet and a conductive film. The dielectric sheet is folded into a plurality of fold segments and is configured to be compressed into a compressed state and to be expanded into an expanded state. The conductive film is disposed on a portion of the dielectric sheet. The conductive film has a pattern that defines a current path from the bottom of the dielectric sheet to the top of the dielectric sheet. The pattern is configured so that the each of the plurality of fold segments includes a portion of the pattern and so that the portion of the pattern on each fold segment is substantially non-juxtaposed with respect to the portion of the pattern on each adjacent fold segment when the dielectric sheet is fully compressed into the compressed state.