3:1-Bandwidth millimeter-wave PUMA array

A planar-printed PUMA array at 4mm scale is presented that operates over roughly 12GHz to 38GHz (approximately 3:1 bandwidth), demonstrating PUMA technology manufactured at millimeter-wave scales. The simple design consists of a single layer of Rogers 3003 material plated front and back with through vias, sandwiched between a structural metal backing and a superstrate radome layer. The aperture is less than 0.4 wavelengths thick at the highest frequency of operation. Scan performance is excellent, with VSWR <; 2 for 45-degree scans in all planes, VSWR <; 3 for 60-degree scans in all planes and over all frequencies. Measured results are presented.