Antenna device and method for emitting electromagnetic waves using the antenna device

1. An antenna apparatus ( 1 ) for emitting electromagnetic waves, comprising:

a waveguide ( 2 ) that comprises two plates ( 3 ) arranged in parallel to one another of an electrically conductive material, between which a dielectric material is arranged; and

a feed apparatus ( 4 ) by means of which electromagnetic waves can be coupled into the waveguide ( 2 ), which waves then propagate along the waveguide ( 2 ) and are emitted at an edge ( 5 ) of the waveguide ( 2 ) that is remote from the feed apparatus ( 4 ),

wherein the dielectric material can be influenced, by a controller of the antenna apparatus ( 1 ), such that at least one first region ( 9 ) having a first permittivity and at least one second region ( 10 ) having a second permittivity is formed, such that the electromagnetic waves coupled into the waveguide ( 2 ) preferably propagate through the at least one first region ( 9 ) and are emitted in said preferred propagation direction ( 11 ).

2. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the waveguide ( 2 ) is shaped in the manner of a circular sector and the feed apparatus ( 4 ) feeds in the electromagnetic wave in the center of the circle, and

wherein the at least one first region ( 9 ) and the at least one second region ( 10 ) each form smaller circular sectors, within the waveguide, proceeding ( 2 ) from the center of the circle.

3. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the waveguide ( 2 ) comprises an outer peripheral edge that extends along a plurality of mutually adjoining chords, and the feed apparatus ( 4 ) feeds the electromagnetic wave into the center of the circle, and

wherein edges of the at least one first region ( 9 ) and of the at least one second region ( 10 ) that proceed from the center of the circle each extend, in a circumferential circle, through the points of intersection of a chord assigned to the first and second region ( 9 , 10 ), respectively.

4. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the dielectric material can be influenced, by the controller of the antenna apparatus ( 1 ), such that two first regions ( 9 ) having a first permittivity and at least one second region ( 10 ) therebetween, having a second permittivity, are formed.

5. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 4 ,

wherein the dielectric material of the at least one first region ( 9 ) is a dielectric solid, the shape of which corresponds to the first region ( 9 ), and the orientation of which relative to the feed apparatus ( 4 ) can be changed.

6. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 5 ,

wherein the dielectric material comprises a dielectric solid, in particular barium strontium titanate.

7. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the dielectric material is a fluid having an anisotropic permittivity.

8. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 7 ,

wherein the controller in each case comprises a plurality of electrodes ( 12 ) that are arranged on the plates ( 3 ) of the waveguide ( 2 ) and are isolated therefrom, between which an electric field can be generated, as a result of which the permittivity of the fluid arranged between the plates ( 3 ) can be influenced, and a first region ( 9 ) having a first permittivity and at least one second region ( 10 ) having a second permittivity can be specified.

9. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 8 ,

wherein each electrode ( 12 ) is designed in the form of a strip or a narrow circular sector, and extends from the feed apparatus ( 4 ) to a remote edge of the associated plate ( 3 ) of the waveguide ( 2 ).

10. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 2 ,

wherein each electrode ( 12 ) comprises a regularly or irregularly curved course along the edges thereof, and/or has a regularly or irregularly three-dimensionally structured surface.

11. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the two plates ( 3 ) are mutually spaced, in an edge region ( 5 ) remote from the feed apparatus ( 4 ), by a distance that increases as the distance from the feed apparatus ( 4 ) increases.

12. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein edge regions ( 5 ) of the two plates ( 3 ) are each arranged, relative to antenna apparatus waveguide plane of the parallel regions of the plates ( 3 ) of the waveguide ( 2 ), at a specified angle, such that the electromagnetic waves are emitted at angle of between 0° and 90° relative to the waveguide plane.

13. The antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the antenna apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of waveguides ( 2 ) that are stacked on top of one another and into which electromagnetic waves can be coupled via a common feed apparatus ( 4 ) or via a plurality of separate feed apparatuses ( 4 ) that are each assigned to a waveguide ( 2 ).

14. A method for emitting electromagnetic waves using an antenna apparatus ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein at least one first region ( 9 ) having a first permittivity and at least one second region ( 10 ) having a second permittivity is formed using the controller, such that the electromagnetic waves coupled into the waveguide ( 2 ) preferably propagate through the at least one first region ( 9 ) and are emitted in said preferred propagation direction ( 11 ).

15. The method according to claim 14 ,

wherein the at least one first region ( 9 ) is formed as a circular sector or a triangle and the orientation of the circular sector or triangle relative to the feed apparatus ( 4 ) is adjusted depending on a specified emission direction.

16. The method according to claim 14 ,

wherein the at least one first region ( 9 ) is formed as a circular sector or a triangle and the angular range covered by the circular sector or triangle is adjusted depending on a specified directional focusing.

17. The method according to claim 14 ,

wherein a plurality of antenna apparatuses are arranged so as to be mutually spaced and are operated in a synchronized manner.