A Dual-Polarized Fully-Planar Inverted-L Element (DP-FILE) Array

This work introduces the first, to our knowledge, PCB-based dual-polarized antenna array covering the Q (33-50 GHZ), V (50-75 GHZ), and part of the W-band (75-110 GHZ), called the dual-polarized fully planar inverted-L element (DP-FILE) array. To enable operation at high mmWave frequencies (> 50 GHz), the DP-FILE array employs an extremely compact unit-cell architecture composed of two orthogonal FILE radiators and a common ground via (CGV), requiring only three vias per unit cell. According to infinite array predictions, the DP-FILE array achieves common mode and scan blindness-free performance from 34 GHz to 94 GHz (2.75:1 bandwidth ratio), while scanning up to ±45° in all principal planes and preserving its VSWR < 3. To experimentally validate the array’s performance, a finite 25×25 DP-FILE prototype is fabricated and measured. Excellent agreement is observed between the measured and simulated results.