Antenna array assembly

An antenna array assembly, comprising:

• a ground plane;
• an array of patch radiator elements having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of patch radiator elements disposed in a plane parallel to a first face of the ground plane;
• and
• a non-conductive cover disposed in a generally parallel relationship to the ground plane such that the array of patch radiator elements is between the non-conductive cover and the ground plane, the non-conductive cover having a first face disposed towards the array of patch radiator elements and a second face disposed away from the array of patch radiator elements,
• wherein at least the first face of the non-conductive cover has an arrangement of alternating parallel ridges and grooves, in which, in a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the first face of the ground plane, the ridges extend towards the array of patch radiator elements and the grooves extend away from the array of patch radiator elements,
• wherein each row of patch radiator elements is disposed in a parallel relationship to each ridge, and
• wherein each row of patch radiator elements in the array of patch radiator elements is aligned with a respective ridge or groove such that adjacent rows of patch radiator elements in the array are arranged such that one is aligned with a groove and the other is aligned with a ridge.

An antenna array assembly, comprising:

• a ground plane;
• an array of patch radiator elements having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of patch radiator elements disposed in a plane parallel to a first face of the ground plane;
• and
• a non-conductive cover disposed in a generally parallel relationship to the ground plane such that the array of patch radiator elements is between the non-conductive cover and the ground plane, the non-conductive cover having a first face disposed towards the array of patch radiator elements and a second face disposed away from the array of patch radiator elements,
• wherein at least the first face of the non-conductive cover has an arrangement of alternating parallel ridges and grooves, in which, in a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the first face of the ground plane, the ridges extend towards the array of patch radiator elements and the grooves extend away from the array of patch radiator elements,
• wherein each row of patch radiator elements is disposed in a parallel relationship to each ridge, and
• wherein each column of patch radiator elements is configured to be disposed as a vertical array of elements fed by a respective feed network when in use, and wherein each groove and each ridge is configured to be disposed horizontally when in use.