A single-layer waveguide slot array antenna using diaphragms for easy manufacture and high performance

We proposed a single-layer waveguide slot array antenna, in which the slots and the waveguides are located on the same plate without separation, which may alleviate the necessity of electrical contact between the upper slot plate and the lower waveguide plate. Inductive diaphragms near slots at the radiating waveguides allowed easy milling and high performance of the antenna. A waveguide slot 16/spl times/16 array antenna with diaphragms at 38 GHz band for Broadband Multimedia Wireless Service has been designed, manufactured, and measured. The measured and the simulated results agree very well even only with the mechanical contact between the slot-corrugation upper body and the flat lower plane. The proposed antenna will be practical in view of the manufacture cost and the performance level.