Patent ID: 7786946

Claim:
A dielectric pipe antenna comprising: a dielectric pipe; and a waveguide for receiving one end of the dielectric pipe; wherein the waveguide comprises: a first section including a first surface facing a flange, a second surface oppositely facing away from the first surface, an upper wall, and a lower wall facing the upper wall; and a second section extending out from the second surface; wherein the first section comprises an upper ridge disposed on the upper wall of the first section and a lower ridge disposed on the lower wall of the first section, wherein the second section comprises an upper conductor extending out from a top portion of the second surface and a lower conductor extending out from a lower portion of the second surface with a gap between the upper conductor and the lower conductor, and wherein the dielectric pipe comprises: a hollow tubular dielectric sleeve portion having an external sleeve diameter and an internal sleeve diameter; and a tapered dielectric pipe portion having an internal pipe diameter, a first outer pipe diameter at a first location of the tapered dielectric pipe portion, and a second outer pipe diameter at a second location of the tapered dielectric pipe portion, wherein the first outer pipe diameter is larger than the second outer pipe diameter, and wherein the first location is between the hollow tubular dielectric sleeve portion and the second location.