Phase shifter and line scanner for phased array applications

A semiconductor waveguide scanning antenna, comprising in combination:

• a length of semiconductor waveguide of rectangular cross section adapted to propagate wave energy along a longitudinal axis transverse to said cross section and having a plurality of spaced parallel metallic elements selectively located on one surface of said waveguide along its length which act as perturbations that interact with the propagated wave energy to produce at least a first radiation pattern directed outwardly from said one surface at a predetermined radiation angle;
• distributed PIN diode means formed from contiguous layers of semiconductive material located on an adjacent surface of said waveguide which is perpendicular to said one surface, said layers being disposed orthogonally with respect to and projecting outwardly from said adjacent surface, so that the PIN diode means lies entirely outside of the rectangular cross section of the semiconductor waveguide, a dielectric insulator layer disposed between said PIN diode means and said adjacent surface;
• and
• means coupled to said PIN diode means for applying a bias potential thereto for controlling the conductivity of said PIN diode means which has the effect of varying the wavelength of said semiconductor waveguide and accordingly the radiation angle of said first radiation pattern.