Planar antenna array

Claim 2

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining at least one waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. said waveguide including means defining a slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; c. said broad wall having at least two pairs of crossed slots orthogonal to each other, said pairs of crossed slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said crossed slots being disposed laterally on one side of the centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said broad wall having at least two nonintersecting slots orthogonal to each other, said nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the other side of said centerline from said crossed slots and being positioned in relation to said crossed slots such that radiation from said nonintersecting slots is in phase with radiation from said crossed slots.

Claim 3

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining at least one waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. said waveguide including means defining a slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; c. said broad wall having at least two pairs of crossed slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said pairs of crossed slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said crossed slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said broad wall having at least two nonintersecting slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the other side of said centerline from said crossed slots and being centered longitudinally between said crossed slots, the ends of said nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the other ends thereof.

Claim 4

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining at least one waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. said waveguide including means defining a slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; c. said broad wall having at least two pairs of crossed slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said pairs of crossed slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said crossed slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said broad wall having at least two nonintersecting slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the other side of said centerline from said crossed slots and being centered longitudinally between said crossed slots, the ends of said nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the other ends thereof.

Claim 5

A circularly polarized linear antenna array comprising: a. a rectangular waveguide having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. said first broad wall being corrugated to define a slow-wave structure providing 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; c. said second broad wall having two pairs of crossed nonresonant slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle or 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said pairs of crossed slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said crossed slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said second broad wall having two nonintersecting nonresonant slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the other side of said centerline from said crossed slots and being centered longitudinally between said crossed slots, the ends of said nonintersecting slots that are farthest apart being closest to said centerline.

Claim 6

A circularly polarized linear antenna array comprising: a. a rectangular waveguide having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. said first broad wall being corrugated to define a slow-wave structure providing 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; c. said second broad wall having two pairs of crossed nonresonant slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle or 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said pairs of crossed slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said crossed slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said second broad wall having two nonintersecting nonresonant slots orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, said nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the other side of said centerline from said crossed slots and being centered longitudinally between said crossed slots, the ends of said nonintersecting slots that are farthest apart being closest to said centerline.

Claim 7

A circularly polarized linear antenna array comprising: a. a rectangular Waveguide having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode propagation when excited; b. said first broad wall being corrugated to define a slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; c. said second broad wall having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said second broad wall having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of crossed slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom.

Claim 8

A circularly polarized linear antenna array comprising: a. a rectangular Waveguide having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode propagation when excited; b. said first broad wall being corrugated to define a slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; c. said second broad wall having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said second broad wall having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of crossed slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom.

Claim 9

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining at least one rectangular waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. said waveguide including means defining a slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; c. said broad wall having a plurality of pairs of intersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said broad wall having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom.

Claim 10

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining at least one rectangular waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. said waveguide including means defining a slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; c. said broad wall having a plurality of pairs of intersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; d. and said broad wall having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguide, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom.

Claim 11

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining at least one pair of rectangular waveguides each having a broad wall, said waveguides being parallel and adjacent and each being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguides for feeding said waveguides 180* out of phase; c. said waveguides including means defining slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; D. each of said broad walls having a plurality of pairs of intersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguides are excited; e. each of said broad walls having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern of one of said waveguides being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern of the other of said waveguides.

Claim 12

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining at least one pair of rectangular waveguides each having a broad wall, said waveguides being parallel and adjacent and each being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguides for feeding said waveguides 180* out of phase; c. said waveguides including means defining slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; D. each of said broad walls having a plurality of pairs of intersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguides are excited; e. each of said broad walls having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern of one of said waveguides being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern of the other of said waveguides.

Claim 13

A circularly polarized planar antenna array comprising: a. a pair of rectangular waveguides each having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguides being parallel and adjacent and each being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguides for feeding said waveguides 180* out of phase; c. each of said first broad walls being corrugated to define slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; d. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally one one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguides are excited; e. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern of one of said waveguides being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern of the other of said waveguides.

Claim 14

A circularly polarized planar antenna array comprising: a. a pair of rectangular waveguides each having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguides being parallel and adjacent and each being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguides for feeding said waveguides 180* out of phase; c. each of said first broad walls being corrugated to define slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; d. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally one one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguides are excited; e. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern of one of said waveguides being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern of the other of said waveguides.

Claim 15

A circularly polarized planar antenna array comprising: a. a plurality of rectangular waveguides each having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguides being parallel and adjacent And each being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguides for feeding said waveguides with alternate ones thereof 180* out of phase; c. each of said first broad walls being corrugated to define slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; d. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguides are excited; e. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern of alternate ones of said waveguides being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern of the other of said waveguides.

Claim 16

A circularly polarized planar antenna array comprising: a. a plurality of rectangular waveguides each having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguides being parallel and adjacent And each being capable of supporting a traveling wave TE10 mode of propagation when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguides for feeding said waveguides with alternate ones thereof 180* out of phase; c. each of said first broad walls being corrugated to define slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; d. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally on one side of said centerline at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguides are excited; e. each of said second broad walls having a plurality of pairs of nonintersecting nonresonant slots, the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of 45* to the longitudinal centerline of said waveguides, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally on the opposite side of said centerline from said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to said centerline being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern of alternate ones of said waveguides being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern of the other of said waveguides.

Claim 17

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining a waveguide having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguide being capable of supporting a plurality of traveling wave TE10 modes of propagation along parallel longitudinal axes when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguide for feeding said waveguide with waves which are 180* out of phase along alternate ones of said axes; c. said first broad wall being corrugated to define slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; d. said second broad wall having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots and nonintersecting nonresonant slots disposed in longitudinal rows on alternate sides of each of said axes, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; e. the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes the same distance as said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to one of said axes being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. anD the slot pattern along alternate ones of said axes being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern along the other of said axes.

Claim 18

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining a waveguide having first and second opposing broad walls, said waveguide being capable of supporting a plurality of traveling wave TE10 modes of propagation along parallel longitudinal axes when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguide for feeding said waveguide with waves which are 180* out of phase along alternate ones of said axes; c. said first broad wall being corrugated to define slow-wave structure providing substantially 25 percent reduction in guide wavelength; d. said second broad wall having a plurality of pairs of intersecting nonresonant slots and nonintersecting nonresonant slots disposed in longitudinal rows on alternate sides of each of said axes, the two slots of each of said pairs of intersecting slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited; e. the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes the same distance as said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to one of said axes being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. anD the slot pattern along alternate ones of said axes being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern along the other of said axes.

Claim 19

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining a waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a plurality of traveling wave TE10 modes of propagation along parallel longitudinal axes when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguide for feeding said waveguide with waves which are 180* out of phase along alternate ones of said axes; c. said waveguide including means defining slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; d. said broad wall having a plurality of nonresonant slots arranged in longitudinal rows parallel to said axes, a row of intersecting pairs of slots being on one side of each of said axes and a row of nonintersecting pairs of slots being on the other side of each of said axes, the two slots of each of said pairs of slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes the same distance as said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots on the opposite side of the proximate one of said axes, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to one of said axes being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; e. and the slot pattern along alternate ones of said axes being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern along the other of said axes.

Claim 20

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining a waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a plurality of traveling wave TE10 modes of propagation along parallel longitudinal axes when excited; b. means coupled to said waveguide for feeding said waveguide with waves which are 180* out of phase along alternate ones of said axes; c. said waveguide including means defining slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; d. said broad wall having a plurality of nonresonant slots arranged in longitudinal rows parallel to said axes, a row of intersecting pairs of slots being on one side of each of said axes and a row of nonintersecting pairs of slots being on the other side of each of said axes, the two slots of each of said pairs of slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes the same distance as said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudinally between pairs of intersecting slots on the opposite side of the proximate one of said axes, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to one of said axes being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; e. and the slot pattern along alternate ones of said axes being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern along the other of said axes.

Claim 21

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining a waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a plurality of traveling wave TE10 modes of propagation along parallel longitudinal axes when excited; b. a plurality of mode suppressors disposed in said waveguide for suppressing modes of propagation other than said plurality of TE10 modes; c. means coupled to said waveguide for feeding said waveguide with waves which are 180* out of phase along alternate ones of said axes; d. said waveguide including means defining slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; e. said broad wall having a plurality of nonresonant slots arranged in pairs staggered across said axes at substantially half a guide wavelength spacing intersecting pairs of slots being on one side of each of said axes and nonintersecting pairs of slots being on the other side of each of said axes, the two slots of each of said pairs of slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting s slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes the same distance as said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudInally between pairs of intersecting slots on the opposite side of the proximate one of said axes, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to one of said axes being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern along alternate ones of said axes being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern along the other of said axes.

Claim 22

A circularly polarized antenna array comprising: a. means defining a waveguide having a broad wall, said waveguide being capable of supporting a plurality of traveling wave TE10 modes of propagation along parallel longitudinal axes when excited; b. a plurality of mode suppressors disposed in said waveguide for suppressing modes of propagation other than said plurality of TE10 modes; c. means coupled to said waveguide for feeding said waveguide with waves which are 180* out of phase along alternate ones of said axes; d. said waveguide including means defining slow-wave structure providing a reduction in guide wavelength; e. said broad wall having a plurality of nonresonant slots arranged in pairs staggered across said axes at substantially half a guide wavelength spacing intersecting pairs of slots being on one side of each of said axes and nonintersecting pairs of slots being on the other side of each of said axes, the two slots of each of said pairs of slots being substantially orthogonal to each other and at an angle of substantially 45* to said axes, the centers of said pairs of intersecting slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially one guide wavelength, said intersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes at the locations at which the wall currents are circularly polarized when said waveguide is excited, the centers of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting s slots being longitudinally separated from each other by substantially half a guide wavelength, said nonintersecting slots being disposed laterally from said axes the same distance as said intersecting slots, each pair of said nonintersecting slots being centered longitudInally between pairs of intersecting slots on the opposite side of the proximate one of said axes, the ends of the two slots of each of said pairs of nonintersecting slots that are proximate to one of said axes being farther apart than the ends that are distant therefrom; f. and the slot pattern along alternate ones of said axes being longitudinally displaced substantially half a guide wavelength with respect to the slot pattern along the other of said axes.