Patent ID: 8604991

Claim:
A two-dimensional antenna array for microwave imaging comprising: a plurality of one-dimensional antenna arrays superimposed to form the two-dimensional antenna array for microwave imaging, each of the one-dimensional antenna arrays comprising: two frames which form an array of waveguides, each of the frames including: a plate portion including an array of grooves laid out next to one another in parallel, with each of the grooves having an open end and a closed end, each open end being directed to open in the same direction; and a frame portion arranged adjacent to the plate portion at the closed end side of the grooves, with the frame portion having an opening that opens in a direction perpendicular to both of a direction in which the grooves extend and a direction in which the grooves are laid out; a dielectric substrate held between the two frames by the plate portion and the frame portion of each of the frames, with the dielectric substrate including an array of feeders and microwave receiver circuits, each microwave receiver circuit having a discrete active element, and the array of microwave receiver circuits being exposed from the opening of at least either one of the frames; and mixers each arranged on a corresponding one of the feeders located within a corresponding one of the waveguides; and micro-strip lines, formed on the dielectric substrate, each connected to the corresponding one of the feeders wherein one of the frames includes slot, each of which is adjacent to a corresponding one of the wavelengths in a corresponding plate portion and opens in the opening of a corresponding frame portion, and trenches, each of which connects a corresponding one of the slots and a corresponding one of the waveguides, wherein each of the micro-strip lines is extracted out of the corresponding waveguide via the corresponding trench and connected to the microwave receiver circuits through the corresponding slot, and wherein the frames are superimposed with the dielectric substrate so that the array of grooves forms the array of waveguides, with each of the microwave receiver circuits being electromagnetically connected to a corresponding one of the waveguides.