Patent ID: 9577342
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: H01Q

Claim:
1. A dielectric waveguide, comprising: a dielectric substrate having first and second opposed surfaces defining a longitudinal wave propagation path therebetween; and a conductive grid on the first surface of the dielectric substrate and comprising a plurality of substantially parallel metal strips, each defining an axis, wherein each of the metal strips has a centerline, and wherein the centerlines of two adjacent metal strips are separated by a spacing s that is given by the formula s<λ/(1+β/k), where β is the wave propagation constant in the dielectric substrate, k is the wave vector in a vacuum, and λ is the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave propagating through the dielectric substrate along the longitudinal wave propagation path with a defined polarization, whereby the axes of the metal strips in the grid are substantially parallel to the defined polarization of the electromagnetic wave, so as to render the first surface of the dielectric substrate opaque to the electromagnetic wave.