Patent ID: 8466845

Claim:
A balanced antipodal tapered slot antenna comprising: a plurality of unit cells arranged in an antenna array, each of said unit cells including at least one antenna element, said antenna element including first and second substrates of a dielectric material; and first, second and third metallic conductors, said first and third conductors being disposed on said first and second substrates, defining a balanced ground plane for said antenna element in a feed region for said antenna element, said second metallic conductor disposed on one of said substrates defining a transmission line in the feed region of said antenna element, wherein substrates and conductors of said elements have a mirrored orientation at least one-dimensionally, said first, second and third metallic conductors having minor image symmetry with respective first, second and third metallic conductors of adjacent antenna elements; and at least one metallic cross wall located between said one antenna element and a further antenna element of said antenna array that is located adjacent said one antenna element; and a feed line coupled to said transmission line for applying excitation signals to said antenna array from driving circuitry.