Compact wideband microstrip antenna with leaky-wave excitation

A compact wideband leaky-wave excitation microstrip antenna, comprising:

• a plurality of microstrip patches arranged on a top region of a dielectric substrate;
• said dielectric substrate being stacked on a ground plate;
• said plurality of microstrip patches forming a microstrip antenna cavity storing a quantity of stored electrical energy;
• a means for feeding an RF signal extends from said ground plate through said dielectric substrate to an insulation gap within a first microstrip patch of said plurality of microstrip patches;
• said antenna having a given Q factor, a given bandwidth and a given surface area;
• each of said plurality of microstrip patches being separated by a gap and electrically coupled;
• said plurality of microstrip patches, being electrically coupled and arranged on said top region, produce a quantity of electrical coupling to excite leaky-wave radiation having a higher voltage than said quantity of stored electrical energy decreasing said given Q to a reduced Q factor;
• said reduced Q factor resulting in an increased bandwidth wider than said given bandwidth;
• and
• said insulation gap, having a wider diameter than said feeding means, prevents ohmic contact between said feeding means and said first microstrip patch to provide an increased input resistance, an improved impedance matching and a wide bandwidth to permit a decreased antenna surface area.