TRAVELLING WAVE ANTENNA FEED STRUCTURES

摘要

Techniques for implementing series-fed antenna arrays with a variable dielectric waveguide. In one implementation, coupling elements with optional controlled phase shifters are placed adjacent each radiating element of the array. To avoid frequency sensitivity of the resulting array, one or more waveguides have a variable propagation constant. The variable waveguide may use certain materials exhibiting this phenomenon, or may have configurable gaps between layers. Plated-through holes and pins can control the gaps; and/or a 2-D circular or a rectangular travelling wave array of scattering elements can be used as well.

主权项

1. An antenna apparatus comprising:
a waveguide having a top surface, a bottom surface, an excitation end, and a load end, the waveguide formed of two or more layers, with gaps formed between the layers; a control element arranged to adjust a size of the gaps, where the control element may be a piezoelectric, electroactive material or a mechanical position control; and two or more delay elements disposed along the waveguide.