Planar dielectric waveguide with metal grid for antenna applications

US8059051B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sierra Nevada Company, LLC · US

Inventors

• Vladimir A. Manasson · Los Angeles, US
• Victor Khodos · Torrance, US
• Lev S. Sadovnik · Irvine, US
• Aramais Avakian · Lake Forest, US
• Vladimir I. Litvinov · Aliso Viejo, US
• Dexin Jia · Irvine, US
• Mikhail Felman · Calabasas, US
• Mark Aretskin · Irvine, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 7, 2008
• Grant date: Nov 15, 2011
• Expiry date: May 24, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01Q3/20
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

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.