Antenna apparatus

An antenna apparatus comprising:

• (a) a radial waveguide element;
• said radial waveguide element being oriented generally parallel with a reference plane;
• said radial waveguide element having a first substantially planar conductive element substantially parallel with said reference plane and in parallel spaced relation with a second substantially planar conductive element;
• said radial waveguide element having at least one first signal coupling locus at said first conductive element for coupling signals with a host unit and a plurality of second signal coupling loci distributed in said second conductive element;
• said radial waveguide element effecting distribution of electromagnetic signals between said first signal coupling locus and said plurality of second signal coupling loci;
• (b) a plurality of signal coupling elements;
• each respective said signal coupling element of said plurality of signal coupling elements presenting a respective signal coupling path for effecting an electromagnetic signal coupling association with a respective said second signal coupling locus;
• each said respective signal coupling path being substantially perpendicular with said reference plane;
• and
• (c) a plurality of antenna elements;
• each respective said antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements being associated with a respective said signal coupling element;
• each said respective antenna element being a polygonal shaped element substantially parallel with said reference plane;
• said radial waveguide element, said plurality of signal coupling elements and said plurality of antenna elements cooperating to transfer electromagnetic signals between said host unit and a medium adjacent to said plurality of antenna elements;
• said plurality of signal coupling elements including a plurality of slot-line coupling elements.