Mechanically reconfigurable waveguide-slot single element using tuning screws

A mechanically reconfigurable waveguide-slot single radiating element is presented. The tuning mechanism consists on three metallic screws introduced through the bottom wall of the feeding waveguide. The insertion length of the tuning screws and the distance to the slot are used to control the radiated signal as well as to maintain a good input matching response. Several prototypes with different slot lengths have been manufactured to experimentally validate the reconfigurable performance. The proposed triple tuning screw waveguide-slot radiator provides a low cost and simple mechanism to conform a reconfigurable array antenna.