Asymmetric ridge waveguide radiating element for a scanned planar array

A novel linear array radiating element for use in a large low-sidelobe, planar slot array electronically scanned in azimuth is described. The planar array consists of many vertical resonant linear array elements; i.e. single ridge waveguides with broadwall shunt slots, closely spaced to avoid array grating lobes when the array is scanned in azimuth. Traditional linear broadwall slot arrays require alternating slot displacement from the waveguide centerline, which generates undesirable secondary beams in skewed directions during electronic scan. To eliminate the secondary beams, a design has been devised in which all slots are exactly collinear and lie on the waveguide centerline. The methods considered to achieve the required waveguide asymmetry, the design procedure used in the successful approach, and the experimental results obtained with a demonstration model are presented