On the Design of 6:1 mm-Wave PUMA Arrays

A matching network is integrated into the latest version of the PUMA array (presented in a fellow paper [1]) to increase the bandwidth. The PUMAv3.2 is scalable to mm-wave frequencies (approximate to 45 GHz) and increases bandwidth from 4.5:1 to 6:1. We investigate the difficulties and possible solutions associated with integrated matching network PUMA designs. Part of the enabling technical aspects is a capacitively loaded coplanar waveguide section etched into the ground plane that connects to a stripline matching network at the backplane. Infinite array full-wave simulations of a dual-polarized PUMAv3.2 suggest 7.5-45 GHz (6:1) operation with good VSWR levels out to theta = 45 degrees and a peak of 8.5 dB cross-pol. in certain diagonal cuts.