Low-Profile Mobile DBS Receiving System using a Single-Layer Slotted Leaky Waveguide Array

This paper proposes a single-layer slotted leaky waveguide array for mobile DBS reception. A single-layer feeding structure is proposed, where the feed waveguide is attached to the same layer of the radiating waveguides. It brings simple fabrication suitable for the mass production of slotted waveguide arrays. Short radiating leaky waveguides are used to have a large beam-tilting angle of about 50 degrees sufficient for perfectly horizontal installation of the antenna and a broad beamwidth in the elevation plane. A model antenna sized 30 cm by 21 cm has 78 % efficiency in peak and more than 60 % efficiency in DBS band, which is sufficient for clear DBS reception by a picture tube display. It has also a broad 1dB-down beamwidth of 6.5 degrees in the elevation plane, which covers about one-third area of Japan without the elevation tracking. K- and Ka-band antennas are also fabricated for advanced mobile satellite communication experiments in Japan. They also have high efficiency more than 60 % at each design frequency.