Leaky-wave antenna at 77 GHz

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) technology is being used for many purposes in reconfigurable devices due to its advantages compared to other technologies, e.g., varactors. In this paper MEMS are suggested to be used for the development of leaky-wave antenna for 77 GHz. Antenna comprises a right left handed transmission line, where a microstrip is used as the right handed transmission line. The left handed loading comprises series reconfigurable MEMS capacitors and shunt narrow strip inductors. Analytical design, simulation and measurement of a planar leaky-wave antenna structure are carried out and compared.