Surface-wave waveguide with conductive sidewalls and application in antennas
First Claim
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1. A surface-wave waveguide, comprising:
- a base conductive ground plane comprising opposite side edges;
a pair of conductive side walls, one conductive side wall extending from each side edge of the base conductive ground plane;
a substrate comprising a dielectric material disposed on the base conductive ground plane and between the conductive side walls; and
an impedance sheet disposed on the substrate and between the conductive side walls, wherein edges of the impedance sheet contact an interior of the conductive side walls and ends of the conductive side walls are substantially planar with a surface of the impedance sheet opposite the substrate, the impedance sheet comprising a predetermined impedance characteristic for transmitting an electromagnetic wave.
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Abstract
A surface-wave waveguide may include a base conductive ground plane including opposite side edges and a pair of conductive side walls. One conductive side wall extends from each side edge of the conductive ground plane. The surface-wave waveguide may also include a substrate including a dielectric material disposed on the base conductive ground plane and between the conductive side walls. The surface-wave waveguide may also include an impedance sheet disposed on the substrate and between the conductive side walls. The impedance sheet may include a predetermined impedance characteristic for transmitting an electromagnetic wave.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surface-wave waveguide, comprising:
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a base conductive ground plane comprising opposite side edges; a pair of conductive side walls, one conductive side wall extending from each side edge of the base conductive ground plane; a substrate comprising a dielectric material disposed on the base conductive ground plane and between the conductive side walls; and an impedance sheet disposed on the substrate and between the conductive side walls, wherein edges of the impedance sheet contact an interior of the conductive side walls and ends of the conductive side walls are substantially planar with a surface of the impedance sheet opposite the substrate, the impedance sheet comprising a predetermined impedance characteristic for transmitting an electromagnetic wave. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An antenna system, comprising:
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a plurality of radiating elements configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic energy, each of the radiating elements comprising a surface-wave waveguide, the surface-wave waveguide comprising; a base conductive ground plane comprising opposite side edges; a pair of conductive side walls, one conductive side wall extending from each side edge of the base conductive ground plane; a substrate comprising a dielectric material disposed on the base conductive ground plane and between the conductive side walls; and an impedance sheet disposed on the substrate and between the conductive side walls, wherein edges of the impedance sheet contact an interior of the conductive side walls and ends of the conductive side walls are substantially planar with a surface of the impedance sheet opposite the substrate, the impedance sheet comprising a predetermined impedance characteristic for transmitting an electromagnetic wave. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for electronically steering an antenna system, comprising:
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transmitting an electromagnetic wave along a surface-wave waveguide, the surface-wave waveguide comprising; a base conductive ground plane comprising opposite side edges; a pair of conductive side walls, one conductive side wall extending from each side edge of the base conductive ground plane; a substrate comprising a dielectric material disposed on the base conductive ground plane and between the conductive side walls; and an impedance sheet disposed on the substrate and between the conductive side walls, wherein edges of the impedance sheet contact an interior of the conductive side walls and ends of the conductive side walls are substantially planar with a surface of the impedance sheet opposite the substrate, the impedance sheet comprising a predetermined impedance characteristic for transmitting an electromagnetic wave, wherein the impedance sheet comprises a tunable element; and tuning the tunable element to scan a main radiation lobe of a radiation pattern generated by the antenna system over a range of angles in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the antenna system.
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Specification