An electronically controlled monolithic array antenna includes a
transmission line through which an electromagnetic signal may be
propagated, and a metal antenna element defining an evanescent coupling
edge located so as to permit evanescent coupling of the signal between
the transmission line and the antenna element. The antenna element
includes a conductive ground plate; an array of conductive edge elements
defining the coupling edge, each of the edge elements being electrically
connected to a control signal source, and each of the edge elements being
electrically isolated from the ground plate by an insulative isolation
gap; and a plurality of switches, each of which is selectively operable
in response to the control signal to electrically connect selected edge
elements to the ground plate across the insulative isolation gap so as to
provide a selectively variable electromagnetic coupling geometry of the
coupling edge.