| 摘要 |
The present invention makes it possible to provide a guided wave antenna having a radiation pattern which can be controlled electronically, by control signals derived from a computer or any other suitable source. In this way, the directional characteristics of the antenna can be adjusted and/or scanned rapidly, without any mechanical manipulation of the antenna. In one embodiment, a guided radio wave is launched along an antenna surface having an array of elements which provide variable non-uniform surface impedance adapted to be controlled by electronic signals. For example, each variable impedance element may comprise a wave guide section having one end leading from the antenna surface. Each wave guide section may include a solid-state electronic reflection amplifier having charcteristics which can be varied by supplying control signals to the amplifier, to vary the magnitude and phase angle of the wave reflected from the reflection amplifier. By changing the control signals supplied to any particular reflection amplifier, it is possible to cause attenuation or amplification and phase shift of the guided wave as it passes across the particular wave guide section. A wide variety of solid-state electronic control elements may be provided along one or more surfaces of the antenna. In another embodiment, a wave traveling in a closed subsurface wave guide is coupled into the guided wave open surface structure, using an array of wave guide elements containing electronically controllable amplifiers and phase shifters.
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