Patent ID: 9385435
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: H01Q

Claim Text:
1. An antenna, comprising: a wave-propagating structure; and a plurality of subwavelength patch elements distributed along the wave-propagating structure with inter-element spacings less than one-third of a free-space wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency of the antenna, where the plurality of subwavelength patch elements have a plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses to a guided wave mode of the wave-propagating structure, and the plurality of adjustable individual electromagnetic responses provide an adjustable radiation field of the antenna; wherein the wave-propagating structure includes a conducting surface, and the plurality of subwavelength patch elements corresponds to a plurality of conducting patches respectively positioned at least partially above a respective plurality of irises in the conducting surface; and wherein the plurality of conducting patches is configured to provide a plurality of elliptically-polarized radiation fields responsive to iris-intermediated couplings between the conducting patches and the guided wave mode.