PLANAR DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE WITH METAL GRID FOR ANTENNA APPLICATIONS

• Main Authors: FELMAN MIKHAIL, JIA DEXIN, LITVINOV VLADIMIR, KHODOS VICTOR, MANASSON VLADIMIR, ARETSKIN MARK, SADOVNIK LEV, AVAKIAN ARAMAIS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.01.2010
• Subjects: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY

A waveguide includes a dielectric substrate having first and second opposed surfaces defining a longitudinal wave propagation path therebetween; and a conductive grid on the first surface of the substrate and comprising a plurality of substantially parallel metal strips, each defining an axis. The grid renders the first surface of the substrate opaque to a longitudinal electromagnetic wave propagating along the longitudinal wave propagation path and polarized in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of the strips. The grid allows the first surface of the substrate to be transparent to a transverse electromagnetic wave having a transverse propagation path that intersects the first and second surfaces of the substrate and having a polarization in a direction substantially normal to the plurality of metal strips. A diffraction grating on the second surface allows the waveguide to function as an antenna element that may be employed in a beam-steering antenna system.