Bi-Directional Loop Antenna Array Using Magic Cube Origami.

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Antenna Engineering
• Metamaterials and Origami Engineering

Background:

• Traditional antenna designs often face limitations in terms of size and portability.
• The integration of origami principles offers a unique approach to reconfigurable and compact antenna structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a novel bi-directional loop antenna array utilizing magic cube origami.
• To demonstrate the antenna's reconfigurable characteristics for minimized volume and high mobility applications.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a series-fed loop antenna array using magic cube origami.
• Numerical simulations and experimental assessments to evaluate antenna performance at 1.39 GHz.
• Analysis of antenna gain, beamwidth, and radiation patterns in folded and unfolded states.

Main Results:

• A single loop antenna on a magic cube achieved a peak gain of 4.03 dBi.
• The three-element array exhibited increased peak gains of 5.2 dBi and 5.53 dBi.
• The half-power beamwidth (HPBW) was significantly reduced from 360° to 40° with the three-element array, indicating directional radiation.

Conclusions:

• The magic cube origami technique enables the creation of a compact, foldable bi-directional loop antenna array.
• The proposed antenna design offers a trade-off between antenna volume and directional radiation characteristics.
• The study validates the feasibility of using origami structures for advanced antenna applications.