Patent Publication Number: US-11652299-B2

Title: Wideband dipole array with differential feeding

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Examples in the present disclosure relate to a balanced feed for an antenna element with integrated common-mode rejection realized in printed circuit board (PCB) technology. This approach extends the bandwidth of the aperture. The feeding structure is applied to phase-coincident dual-polarized (horizontal and vertical), offset dual-pol apertures, or single polarized (linear pol) apertures. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wide band antennas and arrays are essential for high-resolution radar and tracking systems, high data rate communication links, and multi-waveform, multi-function front ends. Various array technologies have been developed that are capable of extremely wide bandwidth (up to 10:1 or more). However, many existing designs are limited by their electrical thickness, scanning performance, or use of lossy materials. Tightly coupled dipole arrays (TCDAs) are low profile and efficient with wide bandwidth, good scan performance, and low cross polarization. 
     TCDAs have demonstrated large impedance bandwidths and scanning performance in a low profile of (λ High /2). These ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) arrays are extensions of the Current Sheet Array (CSA) concept. The first CSAs achieved 4:1 bandwidth by introducing capacitive coupling between antenna elements to counter the effect of ground plane inductance. Additional bandwidth was later achieved by introducing integrated wideband printed balun feeds to be optimized along with the dipole elements. Such TCDA with integrated feeds have been demonstrated to extend bandwidths, reduce size by more than half, and cut weight by a factor of 5, all with an order of magnitude cost reduction. Further optimizations of the TCDA were addressed to increase impedance bandwidths up to 20:1 via substrate loading, scan down to 75° through Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) superstrates, and operate at millimeter-wave frequencies. As a result, TCDAs were designed from 300 MHz up to 90 GHz with VSWR&lt;3. 
     These types of TCDAs employ wideband single-ended (unbalanced) feeds, but these feeds are not suited for the direct chip integration required for 5G applications. The latter is important as future integrated transceivers are likely to be differential to accompany the balanced transmission lines on the RF side of the chips. The major challenge in the design of a full differential radio is the reduction of the common mode currents that can exist at the aperture and in between the ports that feed the aperture. These common mode currents can greatly reduce the impedance bandwidth. Indeed, differential feeds have been proposed in the past, but they are narrowband with limited scanning capability. Therefore, most past arrays have employed only single-ended feeds to achieve wideband scanning. However, these single-ended feeds suffer from distortions introduced by noise from common-mode, power supplies, or general electromagnetic interference (EMI), drastically affecting antenna performance. One exemplary TCDA that was designed to overcome these challenges is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 10,320,088. 
     A notable technique is to use unbalanced feeds with shorting posts to mitigate common mode resonances, resulting in 5:1 bandwidth after external impedance matching has been discussed as a Planar Ultrawideband Modular Antenna (PUMA) Array. The PUMA Array is fabricated with planar etched circuits and plated vias, thus it can be fabricated as a multilayer microwave PCB, and does not require external baluns. The PUMA array consists of a dual-offset dual-polarized version of tightly-coupled dipoles above a ground plane, fed by unbalanced feed-line scheme. The PUMA Array has shorting vias at its dipole arms, enabling direct connection to standard RF interfaces and modular construction. The placement of the plated vias controls the frequency of a catastrophic common mode that would otherwise occur near mid-band since the array is fed unbalanced. 
     In the PUMA Array, the dipole elements, ground plane, and dielectric layers provide wideband performance, based upon the current sheet principle. However, the feed and dipole arrangements of the PUMA array are unique inasmuch as it requires the unbalanced feed. The unbalanced feed lines are utilized without exciting the catastrophic common-mode resonance found in 2D unbalanced fed arrays. More importantly, this feeding method avoids “cable organizers,” since the unbalanced feed lines do not support the scan-induced common-modes typical of balanced fed arrays. This allows the entire PUMA Array (radiating elements and feed lines) to be fabricated as a single microwave multilayer PCB, with the feed lines and shorting posts implemented as plated vias. Also, the unbalanced feed lines in the PUMA Array connect to standard 50Ω interfaces (coax, stripline, microstrip, CPW, etc.) without an external balun. An additional advantage derived from the unbalanced feed arrangement and the dual-offset, dual-polarized offset (egg-crate) lattice is modularity. As PUMA array modules can be formed by intersecting planes passing between the feed line vias, therefore a PUMA Array can be built and assembled modularly. 
     SUMMARY 
     Although the aforementioned PUMA Array has some advantages, there still exists a need for a TCDA that does not use balun. One particular need exists when differential signals (i.e., balanced) signals are fed/input into the antenna. This need has arisen inasmuch as the PUMA Array requires unbalanced feeds/inputs. Particularly, there exists a need to overcome the design of the PUMA Array, which is a single-ended planar TCDA with shorted dipole arms and 3:1 Bandwidth ratio. The present disclosure addresses this need by providing a differential (i.e., balanced) feed egg-crate TCDA with shorted dipole arms and an achievable 9:1 Bandwidth ratio. 
     The present disclosure also relates generally to the configuration and operation of an antenna feed for a TCDA. Typically, TCDAs have high potential and have a high bandwidth potential. However, to meet that potential, there needs to be a feed that is able to excite the antenna across its bandwidth and match impedance with low losses and high efficiency. During operation of a TCDA, each antenna element is a dipole. A dipole is inherently differential, which means it has a positive and a negative. 
     Operatively, TCDAs are wideband antennas that cover many frequencies. This is advantageous for many applications because they can perform more than one function at one time with a single aperture. Because of this wideband feature, there must be a feed that is efficient to provide the power to the TCDA. First, power must be injected into the antenna. The feed injects the power in an efficient and wideband manner. An exemplary inventive concept in accordance with the present disclosure is how the feed of the present disclosure injects the power in an efficient and wideband manner. 
     During conventional operation, the dipole in a TCDA must be balanced. Each dipole therefor has a positive node and a negative node. The positive node and the negative node are referenced to each other. The dipoles may be fed in a variety of different ways. For example, previous teachings of the Tightly Coupled Dipole Array with Integrated Balun (TCDA-IB) utilized a Marchand balun to feed it from the single-ended input to the dipole&#39;s differential. The reason for this configuration will allow improved beam steering. Particularly, this configuration eliminates E-plane scan resonance. The use of the Marchand balun mitigates the E-plane resonance. However, there are some operative drawbacks with using this type of configuration. Namely, the use of the Marchand balun changes the nature of the signal so that it does not have a positive and a negative. The use of a Marchand balun results in a positive and a ground. The downside of this configuration is that it has a reduced performance and does not maintain linearity over the bandwidth (i.e. it is non-symmetric). The use of one balun often requires that additional baluns be added to the configuration later. However, TCDAs typically want to maintain differential but this requires the antenna system to account for common mode resonance. Thus, since it is advantageous to keep the differential, the present disclosure presents an operative configuration of a TCDA that has a differential feed but reduces or eliminates common mode resonance that are E-plane resonances that need to be mitigated. The existence of common mode resonance reduces the scanning ability of the TCDA; thus, it is advantageous to reduce the common mode resonance so as to maintain the scanning capabilities of the TCDA. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the TCDA of the present disclosure takes advantage of a simple twin line configuration with a new feed configuration for the simple twin line. This allows the TCDA of the present disclosure to take advantages of the benefits of the differential of the twin lines without the problems that arise when using a balun. Since there is no balun in the TCDA of the present disclosure, it uses a differential or balanced feed to connect with the differential twin lines. 
     In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, one embodiment utilizes a short or conductive element that shorts the common mode resonance. Shorting the common mode resonance in an intentional manner removes instances of the common mode resonance. In a common mode, the phase of the input signals are facing the same direction. When the currents and phases are the same, it results in electromagnetic radiation. However, it is desirable to not have the feed become impeded by radiation in the feed. Thus, it is desirable to not have the feed line radiate and only transmit the power to the dipole elements. To achieve the shorting of the common mode resonance, a conductive element is connected with one of the dipole arms and connected to the outer conductor of the feed. This creates a loop that pushes the resonance out of the band of interest. 
     In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide an antenna unit cell, which is one of many similar unit cells that collectively define a TCDA, wherein the antenna unit cell comprises a differential feet input comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are adapted to receive a differential signal, wherein the positive terminal is adapted to receive the differential signal at a first phase and the negative terminal is adapted to receive a second portion of the differential signal at a second phase that is opposite the first phase; a first feed line having a first end and a second end; a second feed line having a first end and a second end, wherein the first feed line and the second feed line define a pair of differential feed lines; the first end of the first feed line in electrical communication with the positive terminal; the first end of the second feed line in electrical communication with the negative terminal; a first dipole arm; a second dipole arm; the second end of the first feed line in electrical communication with the first dipole arm; the second end of the second feed line in electrical communication with the second dipole arm; a common ground plane; and a common mode mitigation element having a first end and a second end, and the first end of the common mode mitigation element in electrical communication with the first dipole arm and the second end of the common mode mitigation element in electrical communication with the common ground plane, wherein the common mode mitigation element is adapted to short the signal from the first dipole arm to the common ground plane to mitigate common mode in the antenna unit cell. 
     This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide wherein the common mode mitigation element includes: a first conductive line defining the first end of the common mode mitigation element, wherein at least a portion of the first conductive line is disposed below the first dipole arm. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a second conductive line defining the second end of the common mode mitigation element that is disposed below the first dipole arm. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide wherein the first conductive line is in electrical communication with and physically oriented orthogonal to the second conductive line. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide wherein the first conductive line is in electrical communication with the second conductive line, and a first feed shield formed from conductive material that is in electrical communication with the common ground plane, wherein the second end of the common mode mitigation element is in electrical communication with the feed shield. 
     This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a substrate having a major outer first surface and a major outer second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the feed shield is coupled to the first surface. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide at least one shielding via formed from a conductive material that is in electrical communication with the feed shield and the at least one shielding via extends through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the second end of the common mode mitigation element is in electrical communication with the at least one shielding via. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a plurality of shielding vias formed from conductive material that is in electrical communication with the feed shield, wherein the at least one shielding via is one of the plurality of shielding vias, wherein the plurality of shield vias are linearly aligned in vertical orientation relative to the substrate. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a second feed shield formed from conductive material that is disposed on an opposite side of the substrate from the first feed shield, wherein second feed shield is in electrical communication with the ground plane and the plurality of shield vias are in electrical communication with the second feed shield. 
     This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a shielding pad formed from conductive material in electrical communication with the at least one shielding via. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide wherein the shielding pad surrounds a portion of the at least one shielding via. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide an inner edge of the shielding pad having a configuration that is complementary to an outer surface of the at least one shielding via, wherein the shielding pad circumscribes the at least one shielding via. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide wherein the shielding pad is disposed in the first surface of the substrate. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide wherein the shielding pad is in electrical communication with the first feed shield that is connected to the first surface of the substrate. This embodiment of the exemplary antenna unit cell, or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a first portion of the first feed shield; a second portion of the first feed shield; wherein the second portion of the first feed shield is orthogonal to the first portion of the first feed shield; wherein first portion of the first feed shield directly abuts the first surface of the substrate and the second portion of the first feed shield is adapted to directly abut a second substrate carrying a second common mode mitigation element in electrical communication with the common ground plane. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Sample embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in the following description, are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG.  1    is a top perspective view on an exemplary tightly coupled dipole array according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2 A  is an enlarged top perspective view of an antenna unit cell of the tightly coupled dipole array in the region labeled “SEE  FIG.  2 A ” in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  2 B  is a rear top perspective view of the antenna unit cell depicted in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  3    is an elevation view the antenna unit cell taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG.  2 A . 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged top perspective view of a second embodiment antenna unit cell of the tightly coupled dipole array. 
         FIG.  5    is an elevation view the second embodiment antenna unit cell taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  6    is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    depicts an egg crate tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) antenna generally at  10 . TCDA antenna  10  includes a plurality of antenna unit cells  12  arranged in an egg crate configuration. Each unit cell  12  comprises a vertically polarized antenna element  14  and a horizontally polarized antenna element  16 . Each antenna element  14 ,  16  may be largely fabricated as a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB of the vertically polarized element  14  is orthogonal to the horizontally polarized element  16 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B , the PCBs of each element  14 ,  16  intersect perpendicularly near their respective midlines to define a cross-shaped or X-shaped configuration of each respective unit cell  12 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  2 A ,  FIG.  2 B , and  FIG.  3   , the PCB of each respective element  14 ,  16  includes a plurality of conductors arranged in a configuration that enables and provides a balanced feed for each respective antenna element  14 ,  16  with integrated common mode rejection techniques that are adapted to extend the bandwidth of the aperture. The feeding structure of the conductors on each respective element  14 ,  16  is applied to phase-coincident dual-polarized (horizontal and vertical), offset dual-polarized apertures, or single-polarized apertures. The common mode rejection is accomplished through the use of a grounding or a shorting conductor as will be described in greater detail below, together with the balanced or differential feed lines. 
     Reference will be made to the printed circuit board and the conductors or conductive elements of each respective element. However, for brevity, the description herein is made with reference to the horizontally polarized element  16  depicted in the elevation view of  FIG.  3   ; however, it is to be understood that the vertically polarized antenna element  14  has the same configuration with its physical structure being oriented 90 degrees orthogonal to that of the horizontally polarized element  16 . The PCB of the antenna element includes a top end  18  and a bottom end  20  defining a vertical direction therebetween. The PCB of the polarized antenna element includes a first side  22  and a second side  24  defining a lateral direction therebetween. The edges of the first and second sides  22 ,  24  extend between the top  18  and the bottom  20 . The PCB of the polarized element includes a first major surface  26  and an opposite second major surface  28  defining a transverse direction therebetween. The thickness of the PCB of the polarized antenna element is established in a line in the transverse direction extending between the first major surface and the second major surface of the PCB of the polarized antenna element. As is understood, the PCM of the polarized antenna element may be composed of a plurality of layers that collectively define the overall thickness between the first major surface and the second major surface. 
       FIG.  3    depicts that each polarized antenna element  14 ,  16  includes a differential feed input  30 . The differential feed input  30  is located near the bottom  20  of the substrate of the PCB of each respective polarized antenna element. However, in other examples, different locations for the differential feed input  30  are entirely possible. Further, inasmuch as the feed input is a differential feed input, it is to be understood that the signals input into each of the terminals will be balanced but offset by a phase difference of about 180 degrees. The differential feed input  30  includes a positive terminal  30 A and a negative terminal  30 B. Each terminal  30 A,  30 B is adapted to receive the differential signal therethrough. More particularly, the positive terminal  30 A is configured to receive the differential signal at a first phase and the negative terminal  30 B is adapted to receive a second portion of the differential signal at a second phase that is different than the first phase. In one specific example, the second phase is 180 degrees different from the first phase. 
     The PCB of the polarized antenna element additionally includes a pair of twin transmission or feed lines  32 . The pair of twin transmission or feed lines  32  are balanced feed lines that receive the differential signal and are fabricated from a conductive material, such as copper, to transmit signals there along. The pair of twin feed lines  32  include a first feed line  32 A and a second feed line  32 B. The first feed line  32 A includes a first end  34 A and a second end  34 B. The second feed line  32 B includes a first end  36 A and a second end  36 B. The first end  34 A of the first feed line  32 A is in electrical communication with the positive terminal  30 A of the differential feed input  30 . The first end  36 A of the second feed line  32 B is in electrical communication with the negative terminal  30 B of the differential feed input  30 . The twin feed lines  32  are formed from conductive material. In one particular embodiment, the twin feed lines  32  are parallel relative to each other and offset equally in a mirrored manner from a vertical center line  38 . The respective first ends  34 A,  36 A of the first feed line  32 A and the second feed line  32 B may be disposed closely adjacent the bottom  20  of the PCB. However, it is entirely possible for the twin lines  32 A,  32 B to be oriented in a different configuration so long as the differential signal input into each of the respective twin feed lines  32  is balanced. For example, it is entirely possible for the inputs  30 A,  30 B to be respectively located on the first side  22  and second side  24  of the PCB. While  FIG.  3    depicts that the pair of twin feed lines  32  are linear and straight, extending in a vertical manner from their respective first ends to their respective second ends, other configurations of the twin feed lines  32  may take differing shapes such that the entire length of each respective twin line is not linear. 
     The polarized antenna element may further include a pair of dipoles  40  including a first dipole  40 A and a second dipole  40 B. Each of the dipoles, namely first dipole  40 A and second dipole  40 B, include an upper edge  42  and a lower edge  44 . Each dipole further includes an outer edge  46  and an inner edge  48 . The inner edge  48  is located closer to the vertical center line  38  than the outer edge  46 . In one particular embodiment, the outer edge  46  extends to and lies flush with the respective side edges of the PCB. With respect to the top and bottom edges  42 ,  44  of each respective dipole, the top edge  42  is located closer to the top  18  of the PCB than the lower edge  44 . The top edge  42  lies below the top  18  of the PCB; however, it is entirely possible for the dipole to be located at various lengths offset from the top  18  of the PCB. The first dipole  40 A and the second dipole  40 B are formed from conductive materials and include major surfaces that are generally coplanar with the first major surface  26  of the PCB. 
     The first dipole  40 A is in electrical communication with the first feed line  32 A and the second dipole  40 B is in electrical communication with the second feed line  32 B. 
     In one particular embodiment, the second end  34 B of the first feed line  32 A is in electrical communication with the first dipole  40 A adjacent the inner edge  48 . However, other physical constructions are entirely possible. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first feed line  32 A and the first dipole  40 A may be located on the same layer of the PCB; however, it is not required. For example, the first feed line  32 A and the first dipole  40 A may be located on different layers of the PCB forming the polarized antenna element and the second end  34 B of the first feed line  32 A, connected with the first dipole  40 A by way of a micro-via. Similarly, the second end  36 B of the second feed line  32 B is in electrical communication with the second dipole  40 B adjacent its inner edge  48 . This connection may be accomplished on one layer of the PCB or on different layers of the PCB by way of a micro-via as previously described with respect to the first dipole  40 A and the first feed line  32 A. 
     Near the outer edge  46  of each dipole, there may be a capacitance overlap element  50 , namely, a first capacitance overlap  50 A and a second capacitance overlap  50 B that cover the first dipole  40 A and the second dipole  40 B, respectively. The capacitance overlaps  50  assist in making the antenna a TCDA. 
     The TCDA includes a common ground plane that is electrically connected to each of the unit cells  12 . The ground plane  52  is an electrical ground that enables portion of the signal to be shorted thereto, as will be described in greater detail below. The common ground plane assists in eliminating common mode signals or common mode resonance in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
     A common mode mitigation element  54  is a conductive element or conductor that electrically couples the first dipole  40 A to the common ground plane  52 . The common mode mitigation element  54  is adapted to short the differential signal from the first dipole  40 A to the common ground plane  52  to mitigate common mode in the antenna unit cell  12 . In one example, the common mode mitigation element has a first end  56 A and a second end  56 B. The first end  56 A of the common mode mitigation element  54  is in electrical communication with the first dipole  40 A and the second end  56 A of the common mode mitigation element  54  is electrically coupled with the ground plane  52 . In one particular embodiment, the first end  56 A of the common mode mitigation element  54  is electrically coupled near the lower edge  44  of the first dipole  40 A. The common mode mitigation element  54  may be formed on the same layer as the first dipole  40 A on the PCB. In this example, the first end  56 A would be directly connected with the lower edge  44  of the first dipole  40 A. However, it is also possible for the common mode mitigation element  54  to be formed on a different layer of the PCB and in this instance, then the first end  56 A of the common mode mitigation element  54 A would be coupled with the first dipole arm  40 A by way of a micro-via  51 . When utilizing micro-via  51  to install element  54  on a different layer of the PCB, as shown in  FIG.  2 A ,  FIG.  2 B , and  FIG.  3   , the micro-via  51  may be connected with a widened portion  53  of the element  54  which is disposed in a similar footprint area, but different layer of the PCB, as the overlap  50 A. Regardless of which layer the common mode mitigation element  54  is formed on the PCB, the common mode mitigation element  54  is electrically connected with the first dipole  40 A. 
     In one example, the majority of the common mode mitigation element  54  may be formed as an L-shaped conductor on one layer of the PCB of the polarized antenna element. However, it is clearly understood that other shapes (such as S-shaped, C-shaped, or any other configuration) are entirely possible provided that the common mode mitigation element  54  electrically couples the first dipole  40 A to the common ground plane  52  in order to short the common mode resonance during operation of the TCDA  10 . This exemplary common mode mitigation element  54  may include a first leg  58  and a second leg  60 . The first leg  58  may define a first conductive line that defines the first end  56 A that is disposed below the first dipole  40 A. The second leg  60  may define a second conductive line defining the second end  56 B that is also disposed below the first dipole  40 A. Because this particular configuration is an L-shaped common mode mitigation element  54 , the second leg  56 B is physically oriented orthogonal to the first leg  58 . Stated otherwise, the first conductive line defined by the first leg  58  is in electrical communication with and physically oriented orthogonal to the second leg  60 , defining the second conductive line. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  2 A ,  FIG.  2 B , and  FIG.  3   , each unit cell  12  may include at least one feed shield  62 . The at least one feed shield  62  is configured to shield one of the twin feed lines  32 . In one specific example, when the unit cell  12  is formed from two orthogonally intersected PCBs, namely, the vertically polarized antenna element  14  and the horizontally polarized antenna element  16 , there may be four feed shields that shield the respective pair of twin lines  32  in each of the antenna elements. In this particular example, there may be a first feed shield  62 A, a second feed shield  62 B, a third feed shield  62 C, and a fourth feed shield  62 D. The four feed shields  62 A- 62 D are each located in a respective quadrant of space wherein each quadrant is defined and bound by the intersected PCBs of the polarized antenna elements  14 ,  16 . With this particular example, each of the feed shields  62 A- 62 D are defined and shaped in an angular orientation similar to that of a 90 degree bracket. The shape of each feed shield includes a first wall  64  intersected perpendicularly with a second wall  66 . The feed shield includes a lower edge  68  and an upper edge  70 . The first wall  64  of the feed shield  62 A is coupled with the first major surface  26  of antenna element  16  and the second wall  66  of the feed shield  62  is coupled with the second major surface of antenna element  14 . With respect to the second feed shield  62 B, the first wall of second feed shield  62 B is coupled with the first major surface  26  of antenna element  16  and the second wall of second feed shield  62 B is coupled with the first major surface of the antenna element  14 . With respect to the third feed shield  62 C, the first wall of the third feed shield  62 C is coupled with the second major surface  28  of antenna element  16  and the second wall of the third feed shield  62 C is coupled with the first major surface of antenna element  14 . With respect to the fourth feed shield  62 D, the first wall of fourth feed shield  62 D is coupled with the second major surface  28  of antenna element  14  and the second wall of fourth feed shield  62 D is coupled with the first major surface of antenna element  16 . 
     The lower end of the at least one feed shield  62  may be coupled with the ground plane  52 . The at least one feed shield  62  may be formed from a conductive material such that it is possible to use the feed shield to couple the common mode mitigation element to the common ground plane  52  by way of the at least one feed shield  62 . Particularly, the second end  56 B of the common mode mitigation element  54  may be directly or indirectly coupled to the at least one feed shield  62  in order to create an electrical connection from the common mode mitigation element  54  to the common ground plane  52 . In one particular embodiment, the second end  56 B of the common mode mitigation element may be directly connected with the at least one feed shield  62 . 
     In another particular embodiment, specifically as shown in  FIG.  3   , the second end  56 B of the common mode mitigation element  54  is indirectly coupled to the at least one feed shield  62  by way of one or more through-hole vias  72  that extend transversely through the PCB of the antenna element from the first major surface  26  to the second major surface  28 . In the shown embodiment, there may be a plurality of through-hole vias  72  that are arranged in a vertical configuration and linearly aligned from adjacent the bottom  20  of the PCB towards the first dipole  40 A. While the number of vias  72  may vary depending on application-specific needs, the shown embodiment depicts seven through-hole vias  72  extending transversely through the PCB on each side of the centerline (fourteen total) from the first major surface  26  to the second major surface  28 . The vias  72  are linearly aligned and positioned laterally outward from the vertical center line  38  from the first feed line  32 A. Stated otherwise, the vias  72  are located closer to the first side  22  of the PCB than the first feed line  32 A. Each of the vias may be surrounded by a conductive pad  74 . Each conductive pad  74  may be formed as a substantially annular member having an inner circular edge that is sized and shaped complementary to that of an outer surface of the through-hole via  72 . The conductive pad may further include an outer circumferential or circular edge having a larger radius than that of the inner edge. In one particular embodiment, the conductive pads are formed on the outermost layer of the PCB defining the antenna element. While the through-hole via  72  extends fully transversely through the PCB, the conductive pad  74  resides primarily on, in, or closely adjacent the outermost layer of the PCB defining the first major surface  26 . Additionally, another conductive pad may be formed opposite on the second major surface  28  at, in, or closely adjacent the outermost layer thereof. 
       FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5    depict another embodiment of an antenna unit cell  112  that may be used in TCDA. As depicted in  FIG.  2   , the PCBs of each element  114 ,  116  intersect perpendicularly near their respective midlines to define a cross-shaped or X-shaped configuration of each respective unit cell  112 . 
     As depicted in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , the PCB of each respective element  114 ,  116  includes a plurality of conductors arranged in a configuration that enables and provides a balanced feed for each respective antenna element  114 ,  116  with integrated common mode rejection techniques that are adapted to extend the bandwidth of the aperture. The feeding structure of the conductors on each respective element  114 ,  116  is applied to phase-coincident dual-polarized (horizontal and vertical), offset dual-polarized apertures, or single-polarized apertures. The common mode rejection is accomplished through the use of a grounding or a shorting conductor as will be described in greater detail below, together with the balanced or differential feed lines. 
     Reference will be made to the printed circuit board and the conductors or conductive elements of each respective element  114 ,  116 . However, for brevity, the description herein is made with reference to the horizontally polarized element  116  depicted in the elevation view of  FIG.  5   ; however, it is to be understood that the vertically polarized antenna element  114  has the same configuration with its physical structure being oriented 90 degrees orthogonal to that of the horizontally polarized element  116 . The PCB of the antenna element includes a top end  118  and a bottom end  120  defining a vertical direction therebetween. The PCB of the polarized antenna element includes a first side  122  and a second side  124  defining a lateral direction therebetween. The edges of the first and second sides  122 ,  124  extend between the top  118  and the bottom  120 . The PCB of the polarized element includes a first major surface  126  and an opposite second major surface  128  defining a transverse direction therebetween. The thickness of the PCB of the polarized antenna element is established in a line in the transverse direction extending between the first major surface  126  and the second major surface  128  of the PCB of the polarized antenna element. As is understood, the PCM of the polarized antenna element may be composed of a plurality of layers that collectively define the overall thickness between the first major surface and the second major surface. 
       FIG.  4    depicts that each polarized antenna element  114 ,  116  includes a differential feed input. The differential feed input is located near the bottom  120  of the substrate of the PCB of each respective polarized antenna element. However, in this example, the differential feed inputs for each polarized antenna element  114 ,  116  is a different height relative to the vertical direction the PCB of the antenna element. For example, the vertically polarized antenna element  114  may include a differential input  131  having a positive terminal  131 A and a negative terminal  131 B. The horizontally polarized antenna element  116  may include a differential input  133  having a positive terminal  133 A and a negative terminal  133 B. The differential input  131  is a different height than the differential input  133 . The different or offset heights of the differential inputs allows for active feed for both polarizations of the antenna elements  114 ,  116 . In one specific example, the differential input  131  is vertically above the differential input  133 . However, different heights or locations for the differential feed inputs  131 ,  133  are entirely possible. Each terminal  131 A,  131 B and  133 A,  133 B is adapted to receive the differential signal therethrough. More particularly, the positive terminals  131 A,  133 A are configured to receive the differential signal at a first phase and the negative terminals  131 B,  133 B are adapted to receive a second portion of the differential signal at a second phase that is different than the first phase. In one specific example, the second phase is 180 degrees different from the first phase. 
     The PCB of the polarized antenna element additionally includes a pair of twin feed lines  132 . The pair of twin feed lines  132  are balanced feed lines that receive the differential signal. The pair of twin feed lines  132  include a first feed line  132 A and a second feed line  132 B. The first feed line  132 A includes a first end  134 A and a second end  134 B. The second feed line  132 B includes a first end  136 A and a second end  136 B. 
     In this example, the first feed line  132 A is composed of linear segments that are coupled together to form a continuous conductor that collectively define a configuration that places the first end  134 A of the first feed line  132 A closer to the first side  122  of the PCB than the second end of the first feed line  132 A. Stated otherwise, the first feed line  132 A has a slight bend or turn along its length such that the first end  134 A of the first feed line  132 A is disposed farther away from the vertical centerline  138  of the PCB than the second end  134 B. Similarly, the second feed line  132 B is composed of linear segments that are coupled together to form a continuous conductor that collectively define a configuration that places the first end  136 A of the second feed line  132 B closer to the second side  124  of the PCB than the second end  136 B of the second feed line  132 B. Stated otherwise, the second feed line  132 B has a slight bend or turn along its length such that the first end  136 A of the second feed line  132 B is disposed farther away from the vertical centerline  138  of the PCB than the second end  136 B. 
     The first end  134 A of the first feed line  132 A is in electrical communication with the positive terminal  133 A of the differential feed input  133 . The first end  136 A of the second feed line  132 B is in electrical communication with the negative terminal  133 B of the differential feed input  133 . The twin feed lines  132  are formed from conductive material. In one particular embodiment, the twin feed lines  132  have upper segments that are parallel relative to each other and offset equally in a mirrored manner from the vertical center line  38 , and lower segments thereof that are angled laterally towards the sides of the PCB. The respective first ends  134 A,  136 A of the first feed line  132 A and the second feed line  132 B may be disposed vertically above the bottom  120  of the PCB and utilize other conductive lines to couple to the signal feeds to allow for the offset height of the feed to allow for active feeding in both polarizations. 
     Each polarized antenna element  114 ,  116  may further include a pair of dipoles  140  including a first dipole arm or first dipole  140 A and a second dipole arm or second dipole  140 B. Each of the dipoles, namely first dipole  140 A and second dipole  140 B, include an upper edge  142  and a lower edge  144 . Each dipole further includes an outer edge  146  and an inner edge  148 . The inner edge  148  is located closer to the vertical center line  138  than the outer edge  146 . In one particular embodiment, the outer edge  146  extends to and lies flush with the respective side edges of the PCB. With respect to the top and bottom edges  142 ,  144  of each respective dipole, the top edge  142  is located closer to the top  118  of the PCB than the lower edge  144 . The top edge  142  lies below the top  118  of the PCB; however, it is entirely possible for the dipole to be located at various lengths offset from the top  118  of the PCB. The first dipole  140 A and the second dipole  140 B are formed from conductive materials and include major surfaces that are generally coplanar with the first major surface  126  of the PCB. 
     The first dipole  140 A is in electrical communication with the first feed line  132 A and the second dipole  140 B is in electrical communication with the second feed line  132 B. 
     In one particular embodiment, the second end  134 B of the first feed line  132 A is in electrical communication with the first dipole  140 A adjacent the inner edge  148 . However, other physical constructions are entirely possible. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first feed line  132 A and the first dipole  140 A may be located on the same layer of the PCB; however, it is not required. For example, the first feed line  132 A and the first dipole  140 A may be located on different layers of the PCB forming the polarized antenna element and the second end  134 B of the first feed line  132 A, connected with the first dipole  140 A by way of a micro-via. Similarly, the second end  136 B of the second feed line  132 B is in electrical communication with the second dipole  140 B adjacent its inner edge  148 . This connection may be accomplished on one layer of the PCB or on different layers of the PCB by way of a micro-via as previously described with respect to the first dipole  140 A and the first feed line  132 A. 
     Near the outer edge  146  of each dipole, there may be a capacitance overlap element  150 , namely, a first capacitance overlap  150 A and a second capacitance overlap  50 B that cover the first dipole  140 A and the second dipole  140 B, respectively. The capacitance overlaps  150  assist in making the antenna a TCDA. 
     The TCDA formed from a plurality of unit cells  112 , only one of which is depicted in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , includes a common ground plane that is electrically connected to each of the unit cells  112 . The ground plane  152  is an electrical ground that enables portion of the signal to be shorted thereto, as will be described in greater detail below. The common ground plane  152  assists in eliminating common mode or common mode resonance in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. In this particular instance, the ground plane is positioned vertically above the differential feed inputs  131 ,  133 , however other locations are entirely possible, such as below the differential feed inputs  131 ,  133 . 
     A common mode mitigation element  154  is a conductive element or conductor that electrically couples the first dipole  140 A to the common ground plane  152 . The common mode mitigation element  154  is adapted to short the differential signal from the first dipole  140 A to the common ground plane  152  to mitigate common mode in the antenna unit cell  112 . In one example, the common mode mitigation element has a first end  156 A and a second end  156 B. The first end  156 A of the common mode mitigation element  154  is in electrical communication with the first dipole  140 A and the second end  156 A of the common mode mitigation element  154  is electrically coupled with the ground plane  152 . In one particular embodiment, the first end  156 A of the common mode mitigation element  154  is electrically coupled near the lower edge  144  of the first dipole  140 A. The common mode mitigation element  154  may be formed on the same layer as the first dipole  140 A on the PCB. When on the same layer of the PCB, the first end  156 A would be directly connected with the lower edge  144  of the first dipole  140 A. However, it is also possible for the common mode mitigation element  154  to be formed on a different layer of the PCB and in this instance, then the first end  156 A of the common mode mitigation element  154  would be coupled with the first dipole arm  140 A by way of a micro-via and could utilize an widened area. In the shown embodiment, the element  154  is connected to a first capacitance overlap  150 A, which is one of a pair of capacitance overlaps  150  including a second capacitance overlap  150 B. Regardless of which layer the common mode mitigation element  154  is formed on the PCB, the common mode mitigation element  154  is electrically connected with the first dipole  140 A. 
     In one example, the common mode mitigation element  154  may be formed as an L-shaped conductor on one layer of the PCB of the polarized antenna element. However, it is clearly understood that other shapes are entirely possible provided that the common mode mitigation element  154  electrically couples the first dipole  140 A to the common ground plane  152  in order to short the common mode resonance during operation of the TCDA. This exemplary common mode mitigation element  154  may include a first leg  158  and a second leg  160 . The first leg  158  may define a first conductive line that defines the first end  156 A that is disposed below the first dipole  140 A. The second leg  160  may define a second conductive line defining the second end  156 B that is also disposed below the first dipole  140 A. Because this particular configuration is an L-shaped common mode mitigation element  154 , the second leg  156 B is physically oriented orthogonal to the first leg  158 . Stated otherwise, the first conductive line defined by the first leg  158  is in electrical communication with and physically oriented orthogonal to the second leg  160 , defining the second conductive line. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , each unit cell  112  may include at least one feed shield  162 . The at least one feed shield  162  is configured to shield one of the twin feed lines  132 . In one specific example, when the unit cell  112  is formed from two orthogonally intersected PCBs, namely, the vertically polarized antenna element  114  and the horizontally polarized antenna element  116 , there may be four feed shields that shield the respective pair of twin lines  132  in each of the antenna elements. In this particular example, there may be a first feed shield  162 A, a second feed shield  162 B, a third feed shield (not shown as it is on the opposite side than what is viewable in  FIG.  4   ), and a fourth feed shield (not shown as it is on the opposite side than what is viewable in  FIG.  4   ). The four feed shields  162  are each located in a respective quadrant of space wherein each quadrant is defined and bound by the intersected PCBs of the polarized antenna elements  14 ,  16 . With this particular example, each of the feed shields  162  are defined and shaped in an angular orientation similar to that of a 90 degree bracket. 
     The shape of each feed shield  162  includes a first wall  164  intersected perpendicularly with a second wall  166 . The feed shield includes a lower edge  168  and an upper edge  170 . Each feed shield may defined an outer edge collectively defined by linear segments that are angled relative to each other such that the outer edge of the feed shield  162  angles outward and away from the center line  138 . In one specific example, the outer edge of first wall  164  on feed shield  162  may be defined by an upper vertical edge portion  163 , an angled edge portion  165 , a lateral edge portion  167 , and a lower vertical edge portion  169 . This configuration places the lower vertical edge portion  169  substantially coplanar with the first side  122  of the PCB and farther from the vertical center line  138  than the vertical upper portion  163 . 
     The first wall  164  of the feed shield  62 A is coupled with the first major surface  126  of antenna element  116  and the second wall  166  of the feed shield  62  is coupled with the second major surface of antenna element  114 . With respect to the second feed shield  162 B, the first wall of second feed shield  162 B is coupled with the first major surface  26  of antenna element  116  and the second wall of second feed shield  162 B is coupled with the first major surface of the antenna element  114 . With respect to the third feed shield, the first wall of the third feed shield is coupled with the second major surface  128  of antenna element  116  and the second wall of the third feed shield is coupled with the first major surface of antenna element  114 . With respect to the fourth feed shield, the first wall of fourth feed shield is coupled with the second major surface of antenna element  114  and the second wall of fourth feed shield is coupled with the first major surface of antenna element  116 . 
     The at least one feed shield  162  may be coupled with the ground plane  152 . The at least one feed shield  162  may be formed from a conductive material such that it is possible to use the feed shield to couple the common mode mitigation element  154  to the common ground plane  152  by way of the at least one feed shield  162 . Particularly, the second end  156 B of the common mode mitigation element  154  may be directly or indirectly coupled to the at least one feed shield  162  in order to create an electrical connection from the common mode mitigation element  154  to the common ground plane  152 . In one particular embodiment, the second end  156 B of the common mode mitigation element may be directly connected with the at least one feed shield  162 . 
     In another particular embodiment, specifically as shown in  FIG.  5   , the second end  156 B of the common mode mitigation element  154  is indirectly coupled to the at least one feed shield  162  by way of one or more through-hole vias  172  that extend transversely through the PCB of the antenna element from the first major surface  26  to the second major surface  28 . In the shown embodiment, there may be a plurality of through-hole vias  172  that are arranged in a vertical configuration and linearly aligned from adjacent the first end  134 A of the feed line  132 A towards the first dipole  140 A. While the number of vias  172  may vary depending on application-specific needs, the shown embodiment depicts fifteen through-hole vias  172  on each side of the center line  138  (thirty total) extending transversely through the PCB from the first major surface  26  to the second major surface  28 . Each of the vias may be surrounded by a conductive pad. Each conductive pad may be formed as a substantially annular member having an inner circular edge that is sized and shaped complementary to that of an outer surface of the through-hole via  172 . The conductive pad may further include an outer circumferential or circular edge having a larger radius than that of the inner edge. In one particular embodiment, the conductive pads are formed on the outermost layer of the PCB defining the antenna element. While the through-hole via  172  extends fully transversely through the PCB, the conductive pad resides primarily on, in, or closely adjacent the outermost layer of the PCB defining the first major surface  26 . Additionally, another conductive pad may be formed opposite on the second major surface  28  at, in, or closely adjacent the outermost layer thereof. 
     Further,  FIGS.  1 - 5    show one concept of this present disclosure in which the shown is feed ‘concentric’ where the vertical and horizontal PCBs or cards intersect at the feed center. However, the present disclosure is also applicable to feed ‘offset’ where the vertical and horizontal PCBs or cards intersect at the dipole edges. 
     Having thus described the structural configuration of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Reference will now be made to its advantages and operation to reduce common mode. 
     In operation, and as shown in  FIG.  3   , each unit cell  12  has orthogonally-aligned printed circuit boards. Namely, a horizontal polarized antenna element  16  and a vertically polarized antenna element  14 . The printed circuit boards each carry simple twin balanced feed lines  32  that are connected to dipoles  40  or a pair of arms (i.e., first dipole arm  40 A and second dipole arm  40 B). In one particular embodiment, each unit cell  12  is connected to a plurality of adjacent unit cells to define an egg crate pattern for the overall antenna array. 
     Each antenna element  14 ,  16  includes the antenna input. The antenna input  30  has a positive terminal  30 A and a negative terminal  30 B. The positive terminal  30 A and the negative terminal  30 B each receive signals from an input source that are 180 degrees in phase. Operatively, a signal travels up the first feed line  32 A and then travels down the second feed line  32 B. The signal input to the input terminals  30 A,  30 B is an analog signal. In one particular embodiment, the signal is an analog radio frequency (RF) signal. 
     The simple twin feed line is composed of the first feed line  32 A and the second feed line  32 B. The lower or first end  34 A of the first feed line  32 A is coupled with the positive input terminal  30 A and the lower end or first end  36 A of the second feed line  32 B is coupled with the negative input terminal  30 B. Each respective twin feed line is on the printed circuit board located between the feed shields  62 . The feed shields  62  are angled elements formed of two connected planar segments  64 ,  66  to define a 90 degree angle therebetween. The feed shield  62  is also a brace that couples or braces the vertically polarized antenna element  14  to the horizontally polarized antenna element  16 . The upper or second end  34 B of the first feed line  32 A is connected with the first dipole  40 A arm and the upper or second end  36 B of the second feed line  32 B is connected with the second dipole  40 B arm. On each dipole  40  is capacitance overlaps  50 . The capacitance overlaps enable the tightly coupled function of the TCDA  10 . 
     In operation and with continued reference to  FIG.  3   , there is a common mode mitigation element  54  that is configured to short part of the signal moving through the first dipole  40 A. The first end  56 A of the element  54  is connected to the first dipole  40 A and the second end  56 B is directly or indirectly coupled to the ground plane  52 . In one particular embodiment, the element  54  is generally L-shaped, having a long vertical first leg and a short horizontal second leg. However, any configuration that grounds the first dipole  40 A to the common ground plane  52  will suffice. In the specific example of  FIG.  3   , the second end of the element that is defined by the second short horizontal leg is connected to a conductive element extending through the printed circuit board. In this particular example, the conductive element is a conductive via  72  that is conductively connected with the ground plane  52  of the unit cell. More particularly, the conductive via  72  is conductively coupled with the feed shield which is directly connected with the ground plane of the unit cell. Thus, signal travels from the positive input terminal  30 A through the first feed line  32 A to the first dipole  40 A. The signal will then be shorted to ground  52  via the element  54  by traveling along the first vertical leg  56 A and then to the horizontal second leg  56 B into the conductive via  72  and then into the feed shield  62  which is connected to the ground plane  52 . By shorting the common mode from the dipole  40 A into the ground plane  52 , this is able to eliminate the common mode from the dipole  40 A by shorting the common mode into the ground plane  52 . This shorting of the common mode does not affect the signal because the signals are not affected by the shielding provided by the feed shield. Particularly, the feed shields effectuate the shielding of the signal from everything else. 
     Each through-hole via that is formed from a conductive material, such as copper, may have a pad that is formed on one of the layers of the printed circuit board. The pads may, but are not required, to extend entirely through the printed circuit boards like the through-hole vias that do extend from the first major surface to the second major surface of the printed circuit board. 
     By way of additional background, the difference between the PUMA array and the present disclosure include the egg-crate design of the present disclosure, as seen in  FIG.  1   . The egg crate design of the TCDA present disclosure provides significantly more air eroding. This allows the antenna of the present disclosure to have lower dielectrics. By including a significant amount of air in the antenna of the present disclosure, it allows greater bandwidth to be achieved. The PUMA does not include this feature. Contrary to this, the PUMA array is built like a multiple layer configuration with holes drilled therethrough. Because of its configuration, the PUMA array can only achieve a  3  to  1  ratio from frequency high to frequency low, whereas the configuration of the present disclosure is able to achieve a  9  to  1  ratio from frequency high to frequency low. Another distinction between the present disclosure and the PUMA array is that the present disclosure antenna uses differential feeds with one of the dipoles being shorted to the ground plane. This is in distinction to the PUMA array that uses a single input feed with a balun. 
       FIG.  6    depicts an exemplary method of the present disclosure generally at  600 . Method  600  includes generating a differential antenna signal, shown generally at  602 . Method  600  includes feeding the differential signal to a positive terminal on an antenna unit cell in a tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA), wherein the differential signal has a first phase, wherein the antenna unit does not include a balun, shown generally at  604 . Method  600  includes feeding the differential signal to a negative terminal on the antenna unit cell, wherein the differential signal at the negative terminal has a second phase that is opposite the first phase, shown generally at  606 , and in one particular example is 180° opposite. Method  600  includes transmitting the differential signal through a first feedline to a first dipole, show generally at  608 . Method  600  includes transmitting the differential signal through the first dipole and radiating some of the differential signal outwardly from the first dipole, generally at  610 . Method  600  includes shorting some of (i.e., a portion of) the differential signal from the first dipole to a ground plane to mitigate common mode in the antenna unit cell, wherein shorting some of the differential signal is accomplished by a common mode mitigation element in electrical communication with the first dipole and the ground plane, shown generally at  612 . 
     Method  600  may further include transmitting shorted portion of the differential signal through a first conductive line of the common mode mitigation element, wherein at least a portion of the first conductive line is disposed below the first dipole; and transmitting the shorted portion of the differential signal through a second conductive line of the common mode mitigation element that is disposed below the first dipole. Additionally, method  600  may include transmitting the shorted portion the differential signal from the common mode mitigation element to a first feed shield formed from conductive material that is in electrical communication with the common ground plane, wherein the feed shield is coupled to a major outer surface of a substrate of the antenna unit cell. Further, method  600  may include transmitting the shorted portion of the differential signal from the common mode mitigation element to at least one shielding via formed from a conductive material that is in electrical communication with the feed shield and the at least one shielding via extends transversely through the substrate, wherein the common mode mitigation element is in electrical communication with the at least one shielding via. Method  600  results in the TCDA being differential egg-crate TCDA and an at least 9:1 Bandwidth ratio. 
     As described herein, mitigating the common mode signal refers to reducing or eliminating common mode signals in the TCDA when no balun is present but differential signals are input into the TCDA. Mitigating the common mode signal from the differential input signals without the balun enables the TCDA to operate with reduced noise or essentially no noise and may ensure electromagnetic capability. This technique conforms with that which is know that Unless the intention is to transmit or receive radio signals, an electronic designer generally designs electronic circuits to minimise or eliminate common-mode effects and the TCDA and method thereof described herein is design to accomplish the same. 
     Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. 
     While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure. 
     The above-described embodiments can be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, embodiments of technology disclosed herein may be implemented in conjunction with hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in conjunction with software, the software code or instructions can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors to operate the TCDA, whether provided in a single computer or distributed among multiple computers. Furthermore, the instructions or software code can be stored in at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium. 
     Also, a computer or smartphone utilized to execute the software code or instructions via its processors for operating the TCDA may have one or more input and output devices. These devices can be used, among other things, to present a user interface. Examples of output devices that can be used to provide a user interface include printers or display screens for visual presentation of output and speakers or other sound generating devices for audible presentation of output. Examples of input devices that can be used for a user interface include keyboards, and pointing devices, such as mice, touch pads, and digitizing tablets. As another example, a computer may receive input information through speech recognition or in other audible format. 
     Such computers or smartphones may be interconnected by one or more networks in any suitable form, including a local area network or a wide area network, such as an enterprise network, and intelligent network (IN) or the Internet. Such networks may be based on any suitable technology and may operate according to any suitable protocol and may include wireless networks, wired networks or fiber optic networks. 
     The various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded as software/instructions that operate the TCDA that is executable on one or more processors that employ any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms. Additionally, such software may be written using any of a number of suitable programming languages and/or programming or scripting tools, and also may be compiled as executable machine language code or intermediate code that is executed on a framework or virtual machine. 
     In this respect, various inventive concepts for operating the TCDA may be embodied as a computer readable storage medium (or multiple computer readable storage media) (e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, flash memories, USB flash drives, SD cards, circuit configurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductor devices, or other non-transitory medium or tangible computer storage medium) encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other processors, perform methods that implement the various embodiments of the disclosure discussed above. The computer readable medium or media can be transportable, such that the program or programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more different computers or other processors to implement various aspects of the present disclosure as discussed above. 
     The terms “program” or “software” or “instructions” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code or set of computer-executable instructions that can be employed to program a computer or other processor to implement various aspects of embodiments as discussed above. Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to one aspect, one or more computer programs that when executed perform methods of the present disclosure need not reside on a single computer or processor, but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a number of different computers or processors to implement various aspects of the present disclosure. 
     Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. 
     Also, data structures may be stored in computer-readable media in any suitable form. For simplicity of illustration, data structures may be shown to have fields that are related through location in the data structure. Such relationships may likewise be achieved by assigning storage for the fields with locations in a computer-readable medium that convey relationship between the fields. However, any suitable mechanism may be used to establish a relationship between information in fields of a data structure, including through the use of pointers, tags or other mechanisms that establish relationship between data elements. 
     All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. 
     “Logic”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to hardware, firmware, software and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action from another logic, method, and/or system. For example, based on a desired application or needs, logic may include a software controlled microprocessor, discrete logic like a processor (e.g., microprocessor), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmed logic device, a memory device containing instructions, an electric device having a memory, or the like. Logic may include one or more gates, combinations of gates, or other circuit components. Logic may also be fully embodied as software. Where multiple logics are described, it may be possible to incorporate the multiple logics into one physical logic. Similarly, where a single logic is described, it may be possible to distribute that single logic between multiple physical logics. 
     Furthermore, the logic(s) presented herein for accomplishing various methods of this system may be directed towards improvements in existing computer-centric or internet-centric technology relating the TCDA operations that may not have previous analog versions. The logic(s) may provide specific functionality directly related to structure that addresses and resolves some problems identified herein. The logic(s) may also provide significantly more advantages to solve these problems by providing an exemplary inventive concept as specific logic structure and concordant functionality of the method and system. Furthermore, the logic(s) may also provide specific computer implemented rules that improve on existing technological processes. The logic(s) provided herein extends beyond merely gathering data, analyzing the information, and displaying the results. Further, portions or all of the present disclosure may rely on underlying equations that are derived from the specific arrangement of the equipment or components as recited herein. Thus, portions of the present disclosure as it relates to the specific arrangement of the components are not directed to abstract ideas. Furthermore, the present disclosure and the appended claims present teachings that involve more than performance of well-understood, routine, and conventional activities previously known to the industry. In some of the method or process of the present disclosure, which may incorporate some aspects of natural phenomenon, the process or method steps are additional features that are new and useful. 
     The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. 
     When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “above”, “behind”, “in front of”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “lateral”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise. 
     Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed herein could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention. 
     An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. 
     If this specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. 
     As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately” may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/−0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. 
     Additionally, the method of performing the present disclosure may occur in a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, no sequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitly stated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of the method in a different order could achieve a similar result. 
     In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.