Scanning antenna and method for manufacturing scanning antenna

A scanning antenna with a transmission and/or reception region including a plurality of antenna units and a non-transmission and/or reception region other than the transmission and/or reception region, the scanning antenna comprising:

• a TFT substrate including a first dielectric substrate and, a plurality of TFTs, a plurality of gate bus lines, a plurality of source bus lines, and a plurality of patch electrodes, supported by the first dielectric substrate;
• a slot substrate including a second dielectric substrate and a slot electrode formed on a first main surface of the second dielectric substrate, the slot electrode including a plurality of slots arranged corresponding to the plurality of patch electrodes;
• a liquid crystal layer provided between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate;
• a seal portion provided in the non-transmission and/or reception region and surrounding the liquid crystal layer;
• a reflective conductive plate disposed opposing a second main surface of the second dielectric substrate on a side opposite to the first main surface with a dielectric layer interposed between the reflective conductive plate and the second main surface,
• a first spacer structure disposed in the transmission and/or reception region, and defining a first gap between the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate in the transmission and/or reception region;
• and
• a second spacer structure defining a second gap between the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate in the non-transmission and/or reception region, the second gap being wider than the first gap, and
• wherein the second spacer structure is disposed within the seal portion or within a region surrounded by the seal potion.