Patent ID: 8421698

Claim:
A leaky wave antenna, comprising a first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface in parallel to each other, the first electrically conductive surface comprising a two-dimensional array of slots; a feed structure comprising a waveguide structure comprising first and second, at least partially electrically conductive walls in parallel with each other, each wall electrically connecting the first and second electrically conductive surfaces, the second wall being located between the first wall and a region between the first and second electrically conductive surfaces adjacent to at least part of the array of slots, each of the first and second walls comprising a respective series of electrically conductive pillars arranged along a length of each of the first and second walls, the series of pillars of the first wall having a first uniform spacing between each adjacent pillar, the series of pillars of the second wall having a second uniform spacing between each adjacent pillar allowing leaky wave coupling between a wave that travels through the waveguide and waves travelling to or from said region, the second spacing being larger than the first spacing, said waveguide structure being configured to direct an electromagnetic wave pattern travelling between the first and second walls towards the region between the first and second electrically conductive surfaces adjacent to at least part of the array of slots, and/or to collect waves travelling between the first and second electrically conductive surfaces from said region.