A New Phased Array Construct: Intra-element Monoliths Printed & Attached to a CircuiT board (IMPACT)

A new realization of broadband phased array is introduced. The structure consists of individual additively manufactured metallic radiating elements excited through coaxial apertures on a conventional printed circuit feed board. Metallic intra-element structures which we refer to as “monoliths”, include well-known broadband features such as a Vivaldi-like flare, tight capacitive coupling to neighboring elements, and built-in shorting posts to provide a balanced feed. The construct includes additional performance-enhancing RF features such as height-variable capacitance as well as RF-benign mechanical features which make the construct light weight, repeatable, and suitable for automated pick-and-place fabrication.