A single-layer slotted leaky waveguide array antenna for mobile reception of direct broadcast from satellite

This paper proposes a single-layer slotted leaky waveguide array antenna for mobile DBS reception. A single-layer feed structure is proposed, where the feed waveguide is in the same layer as the radiating waveguides. This results in the simple fabrication of slotted waveguide arrays, suitable for mass production. Short radiating leaky waveguides are used to get a large beam-tilting angle of about 50° for the horizontal installation of the antenna and a beamwidth broad enough to dispense with mechanical steering in the elevation plane. A prototype antenna sized 30 cm by 21 cm has a maximum of 74% efficiency and more than 69% efficiency within the DBS band. It also has a broad l-dB beamwidth of 7.5° in the elevation plane, which enables clear DBS reception by a picture tube display over about one-third the area of Japan without elevation tracking