Meta-structure antenna array

1. An antenna structure, comprising:

a substrate forming a waveguide structure having a plurality of layers, comprising;

a first dielectric layer;

a second dielectric layer;

a slotted conductive layer positioned between the first and second layers; and

an array of radiating elements positioned proximate the second layer,

wherein the waveguide structure is configured for propagating electromagnetic waves along the waveguide structure; and

a beam-tilting means coupled to the array of radiating elements, adapted to control a reactance of the array of radiating elements to correspond to a plurality of dielectric materials of varying dielectric constants,

wherein the waveguide structure is reconfigurable.

2. The antenna structure as in claim 1 , wherein the array of radiating elements comprises a plurality of sections corresponding to a plurality of equivalent dielectrics to introduce a different phase shift in the electromagnetic waves.

3. The antenna structure as in claim 2 , wherein the beam-tilting means causes the antenna structure to generate a resultant radiation beam tilted from the normal and wherein the beam-tilting means is positioned separate from the antenna structure and coupled to the antenna structure.

4. The antenna structure as in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sections has a pattern of repeating equivalent dielectrics.

5. The antenna structure as in claim 1 , wherein the radiating elements are metamaterial unit cells or meta-structure unit cells.

6. The antenna structure as in claim 1 , wherein the waveguide structure is a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW).

7. The antenna structure as in claim 1 , wherein the first dielectric layer forms a portion of the waveguide structure having a plurality of transmission paths for propagation of a transmission signal comprising the electromagnetic waves.

8. The antenna structure as in claim 7 , wherein the slotted conductive layer has slots configured along each of the plurality of transmission paths corresponding to the array of radiating elements.

9. The antenna structure as in claim 7 , wherein the plurality of transmission paths are coupled to a power distribution structure.

10. The antenna structure as in claim 9 , wherein the beam-tilting means is configured in the power distribution structure as a reactance control module.

11. A method of operating an antenna structure, comprising:

providing a transmission signal to the antenna structure, wherein the antenna structure comprises:

a substrate forming a waveguide structure having a plurality of layers, comprising;

a first dielectric layer;

a second dielectric layer;

a slotted conductive layer positioned between the first and second layers; and

an array of radiating elements positioned proximate the second layer, wherein the waveguide structure is configured for propagating electromagnetic waves along the waveguide structure; and

a beam-tilting means coupled to the array of radiating elements, adapted to control a reactance of the array of radiating elements to correspond to a plurality of dielectric sections that comprise one or more dielectric materials of varying dielectric constants, wherein the waveguide structure is reconfigurable;

propagating the transmission signal along the waveguide structure of the antenna structure and via one of the dielectric layers of the waveguide structure into the plurality of dielectric sections;

tilting, via the plurality of dielectric sections, a radiated energy at different angles;

radiating, via a plurality of radiating elements, a beam of radiation based on the tilted radiated energy; and

reconfiguring the antenna structure to change propagation of radiation beams.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the array of radiating elements comprises a plurality of equivalent dielectrics that introduces a phase shift in the beam of radiation.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising mapping a control parameter of the antenna structure to propagation angle.