Reconfigurable dielectric waveguide antenna

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a directional beam antenna which is capable of providing accurate directional transmission and reception with high efficiency and which can be relatively easily manufactured.;SOLUTION: A reconfigurable directional antenna includes a transmission line aligned with and adjacent to a metal antenna element with an evanescent coupling edge having a selectively variable electromagnetic coupling geometry. The shape and direction of the beam to be transmitted or received by the antenna are determined by the selected coupling geometry of the coupling edge, as determined by the pattern of electrical connections selected for physical edge features of the coupling edge. The electrical connections between the edge features are selected by the selective actuation of an array of "on-off" switches that close and open electrical connections between individual edge features. The selection of the "on" or "off" state of the individual switches thus changes the electromagnetic geometry of the coupling edge, and, therefore the direction and shape of the transmitted and received beam.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT