An asymmetric feeding X-band active frequency-scanning leaky-wave antenna

An asymmetric feeding X-band active leaky-wave antennas is developed, to excite the first high order mode of the microstrip leaky wave antenna. One is the asymmetric feeding leaky-wave antenna which integrated with a HEMT oscillator, and the other is the frequency-tuned leaky-wave antenna which integrated with a varactor-tuned HEMT VCO. The microstrip leaky-wave antenna is operated in the first higher mode. To excite the first higher mode, the microstrip leaky-wave antenna is fed asymmetrically. The dominant mode excitation has been successfully suppressed by adding a sequence of covered wire in the center of the microstrip leaky wave antenna. The design of these active leaky-wave antennas is discussed and the beam scanning phenomena of the antenna is presented. The HEMT oscillator frequency is controlled by tuning the varactor DC bias and the beam scanning is demonstrated. The measured scanning angle agree with prediction, it is close to 30 degrees as the VCO frequency tuned from 8.06 GHz to 9GHz.