Flex PCB folded antenna

1. A device comprising:

a flexible substrate; and

an end-fire dipole antenna array mounted on the flexible substrate,

wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be oriented so that array gain is oriented in a desired direction away from a plane of the flexible substrate, and wherein the end-fire dipole atenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements oriented to provide different polarizations.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a printed circuit board.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises two end-fire dipole antennas, and wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be folded by approximately one-hundred eighty degrees, and wherein the two end-fire dipole antennas are coupled to one another on a given side of the flexible substrate.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises two end-fire dipole antennas, and wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be folded by approximately one-hundred eighty degrees, and wherein the two end-fire dipole antennas are configured to be driven by signals having at least one of different phases and different amplitudes.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises an antenna element, and wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be curved in front of the antenna element.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises a linear array that includes a plurality of end-fire dipole antennas, and wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be cut with a slit so that a first of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas is offset from a second of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flexible substrate.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas is associated with a first signal port, and wherein the second of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas is associated with a second signal port.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the first signal port is configured to provide a first signal, and wherein the second signal port is configured to provide a second signal.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the second signal is at least one of:

phase shifted relative to the first signal and scaled in amplitude relative to an amplitude of the first signal.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate is configured with a slit in at least two directions to position the first antenna above the second antenna.

11. A method comprising:

mounting an end-fire dipole antenna array on a flexible substrate; and

orienting the flexible substrate so that end-fire dipole antenna array gain is oriented in a desired direction away from a plane of the flexible substrate,

wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements oriented to provide different polarizations.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises two end-fire dipole antennas, the method further comprising:

folding the flexible substrate by approximately one-hundred eighty degrees; and

coupling the two end-fire dipole antennas to one another on a given side of the flexible substrate.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises two end-fire dipole antennas, the method further comprising:

folding the flexible substrate by approximately one-hundred eighty degrees; and

driving the two end-fire dipole antennas using signals having at least one of different phases and different amplitudes.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises an antenna element, the method further comprising:

curving the flexible substrate in front of the antenna element in order to steer a radiation pattern.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises a linear array that includes a plurality of end-fire dipole antennas, the method further comprising:

cutting the flexible substrate with a slit so that a first of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas is offset from a second of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flexible substrate.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas is associated with a first signal port, and wherein the second of the plurality of end-fire dipole antennas is associated with a second signal port.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first signal port is configured to provide a first signal, and wherein the second signal port is configured to provide a second signal.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second signal is at least one of:

phase shifted relative to the first signal and scaled in terms of amplitude relative to an amplitude of the first signal.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the end-fire dipole antenna array comprises a first end-fire dipole antenna and a second end-fire dipole antenna, the method further comprising:

cutting the flexible substrate with a slit in at least two directions; and

folding the flexible substrate so that the first antenna is above the second antenna.

20. An antenna array comprising:

a foldable, flex substrate having a first side, a second side, and a bent connection connecting the first side and the second side;

a first plurality of end-fire dipole antenna mounted to the first side;

a second plurality of end-fire dipole antenna mounted to the second side; and

a feed, at least on the bent connection, connected to both the first and second pluralities of end-fire dipole antenna.

21. The antenna array of claim 20 , wherein the antenna array is used in millimeter radio.