Patent ID: 7518566

Claim:
A waveguide structure for creating a phase gradient between input signals of a system of antenna elements, comprising: a waveguide arrangement on a dielectric microwave substrate having at least one conductive layer on both sides so that there are at least two conductive layers, at least one of the at least two conductive layers being structured and forming a signal side of the waveguide arrangement, another of the at least two conductive layers serving as ground; wherein: the waveguide includes at least one parallel plate guide having beam lobe ports for signal feed and signal pickup; the parallel plate guide includes antenna ports which are coupled via planar feed horns and microstrip conductors to the antenna elements; the parallel plate guide includes a curved-shaped reflector contour so that it functions as a signal reflector; and along the reflector contour of the parallel plate guide, conductive through holes are situated between the conductive layer on the signal side and the another conductive layer which is used as ground, the distance between the through holes and the diameter of the through holes being small relative to a wave length of a guided wave.