Flat slot array antenna for TE mode wave

A flat slot array antenna for propagating a TE mode wave, comprising:

• a pair of oppositely disposed metallic plates spaced apart with respect to each other by means of a predetermined distance therebetween so as to form a waveguide space having open sides and a power feed opening defined within one end thereof, each of said plates having a substantially rectangular shape so as to define a rectangular waveguide, and wherein one of said metallic plates has a plurality of power radiating slots defined therein and arranged within a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced rows;
• and
• power feeder means connected to said rectangular waveguide at said power feed opening thereof and comprising a source means for feeding a TE mode wave in a continuous wave mode, the electrical and magnetic fields of which intersect each other perpendicularly within mutually orthogonal planes such that said electrical field is disposed perpendicular to said pair of oppositely disposed metallic plates of said rectangular waveguide while said magnetic field is disposed parallel to said pair of oppositely disposed rectangular metallic plates of said rectangular waveguide, toward said rectangular waveguide such that said TE mode wave propagates with the phase fronts thereof being coaxial, and means for converting each one of said coaxial phase fronts of said TE mode wave into a flat equiphase plane wave at said power feed opening of said waveguide space such that the power fed by said power feeder means is propagated within said waveguide space in said TE mode with said electrical field of each wave being disposed within a flat plane so as to be radiated from said slots of said one of said pair of metallic plates.