Patent ID: 7170446

Claim:
A phased array antenna having a plurality of phase shifter devices for phase shifting and beam steering a radiated beam of the phased array antenna, the plurality of phase shifter devices interconnected with an interconnect structure comprising a plurality of linear array substrate slats, each linear array substrate slat comprising: a plurality of radiating elements provided using first and second metal layers of the substrate slat; a common RF feed conductor for the plurality of radiating elements, the common RF feed conductor provided on a third metal layer of the substrate slat, the third metal layer disposed between the first and second metal layers, the common RF feed conductor configured to include a single location for electrical connections to receive RF signals for the plurality of radiating elements; bias/control conductors for the plurality of phase shifter devices, the bias/control conductors applied to selected areas of the third metal layer and configured to include the single location for electrical connections to receive bias voltages and control signals; a fourth metal layer applied over the second metal layer, the fourth metal layer including circuit connections from the bias/control conductors to the plurality of phase shifter devices; and a shielding metal layer applied on the fourth metal layer; wherein each phase shifter device is attached to a radiating element via a mounting location on the shielding metal layer.