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Abstract

A system and method for prescribing an amplitude distribution to a leaky-wave microstrip antenna having an array of radiating cells. The leaky-wave microstrip antenna includes a grounded element, a dielectric member coupled to the grounded element and a top conducting strip coupled to the dielectric member, the conducting strip including a first and second non-radiating conducting strip and a plurality of radiating cells. This distribution requires that the microstrip antenna possess a variable leakage-constant profile along its length, and is chosen so as to yield an H-plane power-gain pattern having low sidelobes. The leakage-constant profile is achieved by configuring the width and inter-cell spacing of the antenna radiating cells and keeping the phase constant fixed. The length or loading of the radiating cells may also be manipulated to achieve the desired leakage constant profile. This results in the desired distribution along the antenna's aperture and yields a power-gain pattern with low sidelobes. The antenna is excited by two equal-amplitude and 180.degree. out-of-phase signals. These signals are applied to the feed end of the microstrip at two feeding ports. The microstrip antenna length is chosen such that more than 97% of the input power is radiated by the traveling electromagnetic, wave, while the remaining power is absorbed by the resistively terminated antenna end.

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