Semiconductor waveguide antenna with diode control for scanning

Abstract

A single element line scanner applicable to millimeter or submillimeter w beam steering which includes a semiconductor waveguide made of a high resistivity bulk single crystal intrinsic semiconductor material such as silicon. Parallel spaced radiator elements are disposed on one major or top surface of the semiconductor waveguide transverse to the direction of wave propagation along the waveguide. Parallel spaced PIN diodes are disposed on the other or bottom major surface of the semiconductor waveguide transverse to the direction of wave propagation. The PIN diodes are spaced close enough to prevent radiation from escaping outwardly from the bottom major surface and are provided with a variable forward bias to produce a conductivity sheet. The conductivity sheet on the bottom major surface is electronically modulated as a function of the bias current for a given frequency and the variation of such a conductivity sheet changes the wavelengths in the semiconductor waveguide. The changing wavelengths provide variable wavelength spacing between the spaced radiator elements. Each variation of wavelength corresponds to a discrete angle of radiation reinforcement from the radiator elements such that there is provided a single radiation lobe pattern which may be scanned through 180 degrees.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.