received by the International Bureau on 26 April 2019 (26.04.2019)

1. An antenna comprising:

a variable dielectric constant (VDC) layer;

a plurality of radiating patches provided over the VDC layer;

a plurality of signal lines, each terminating in alignment below one of the radiating patches;

a plurality of control lines, each corresponding to one of the signal lines;

a ground plane;

wherein the VDC layer comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) layer, wherein the PDLC layer is in a polymerized and sheared state.

2. (Canceled)

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the ground plane comprises a plurality of windows, each window aligned in a direct line of sight between one of the radiating patches and a corresponding one of the signal lines.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the VDC layer further comprises a top dielectric film and a bottom dielectric films, spacers distributed between the top dielectric film and bottom dielectric film, and wherein the PDLC is dispersed among the spacers.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the signal line is provided over the top dielectric film and the ground plane is provided below the bottom dielectric plane.

6. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein:

the VDC layer further comprises a top dielectric film and a bottom dielectric films, spacers distributed between the top dielectric film and bottom dielectric film, and wherein the PDLC is dispersed among the spacers;

the signal line is provided above the top dielectric film; and

the control line is provided below the bottom dielectric film.

7. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein:

the VDC layer further comprises a top dielectric film and a bottom dielectric films, spacers distributed between the top dielectric film and bottom dielectric film, and wherein the PDLC is dispersed among the spacers;

the signal line is provided below the bottom dielectric film; and

the ground plane is provided above the top dielectric film and comprises a plurality of windows, each window aligned in a direct line of sight between one of the radiating patches and a corresponding one of the signal lines.

8. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of orthogonal signal lines each terminating in alignment below one of the radiating patches and at an orthogonal direction to one of the plurality of signal lines.

9. The antenna of claim 8, further comprising a second ground plane.

10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the second ground plane comprises a plurality of windows, each aligned in a direct line of sight between one of the radiating patches and a corresponding one of the orthogonal signal lines.

11. The antenna of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of second control lines, each corresponding to one of the orthogonal signal lines.

12. The antenna of claim 8, further comprising a second VDC layer positioned between the plurality of signal lines and plurality of orthogonal signal lines.

13. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the VDC layer further comprises a top film, a bottom film, and a plurality of spacers between the top film and the bottom film, and wherein the PDLC is dispersed among the spacers.

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14. An antenna comprising:

a dielectric plate;

at least one radiating patch provided on the dielectric plate;

a ground plane having at least one window, wherein each radiating patch is aligned with one window;

at least one signal line, wherein each signal line is configured for capacitively coupling RF signal to one radiating patch; and,

a liquid crystal layer provided between the signal line and the ground plane and comprising: a top dielectric film, a bottom dielectric film, a plurality of spacers provided between the top dielectric film and the bottom dielectric film, a polymer layer provided between the top dielectric film and the bottom dielectric film, and a plurality of liquid crystal microdomains dispersed in the polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer comprises a shear- stressed polymer layer and the liquid crystal microdomains comprise a shear aligned domains.

15. (Canceled)

16. The antenna of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of control lines, each corresponding to one of the signal lines.

17. The antenna of claim 16, wherein none of the control lines contact any of the signal lines.

18. The antenna of claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of second signal lines positioned below the at least one signal line; and, a second ground plane.

19. The antenna of claim 18, wherein the second ground plane is positioned below the plurality of second signal lines.

20. The antenna of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of second signal line is oriented orthogonally to one of the plurality of first signal line.

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