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A phased array antenna is provided 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 are interconnected with an interconnect structure comprising a plurality of linear array substrate s

A phased array antenna is provided 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 are interconnected with an interconnect structure comprising a plurality of linear array substrate slats. Each linear array substrate slat includes a plurality of radiating elements formed using first and second metal layers of the substrate slat, a plurality of phase shifter devices and a common RF feed conductor for the plurality of radiating elements. The common RF feed conductor is formed on a third metal layer of the substrate slat that is disposed between the first and second metal layers. The common RF feed conductor is configured to include a single location for electrical connections to receive RF signals for the plurality of radiating elements. The phased array antenna also includes bias/control conductors applied to selected areas of the third metal layer, a fourth metal layer applied over the second metal layer and a shielding metal layer applied on the fourth metal layer. The bias/control conductors are configured to include a single location for electrical connections to receive bias voltages and control signals. The fourth metal layer includes circuit connections from the bias/control circuitry to the plurality of phase shifter devices. Each phase shifter device is attached to a radiating element via a mounting location on the shielding metal layer. Accordingly, a phased array antenna interconnect structure is provided that reduces the number of electrical connections required to provide RF signals and bias/control signals to multiple radiating elements and phase shifters, respectively, of the phased array antenna and provides a cost effective phased array antenna architecture that has a single locus of electrical connection for RF and bias control signals embedded in a multi-layer linear array or slat substrate of the phased array antenna.

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What is claimed is: 1. 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 sub

What is claimed is: 1. 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. 2. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein each linear array substrate slat further includes a plurality of radiating element feeds applied to selected areas on the fourth metal layer, each radiating element feed coupling a radiating element to the common RF feed conductor. 3. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of linear array substrate slats includes column slats and row slats configured to provide a two-dimensional phased array. 4. A phased array antenna according to claim 3, wherein the column slats are active slats and the row slats are passive slats providing a single polarization two-dimensional array. 5. A phased array antenna according to claim 3, wherein the column slats are active slats and the row slats are active slats providing a dual polarization two dimensional array. 6. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plurality of phase shifter devices are attached to the plurality of linear array substrate slats by at least one solder connection to corresponding mounting locations. 7. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plurality of phase shifter devices are attached to the plurality of linear array substrate slat by wirebonding. 8. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of radiating elements are end-fire or dipole radiating elements. 9. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third metal layers of the corresponding substrate slat comprise a respective printed wiring board substrate. 10. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the bias voltages are received from a voltage source and the control signals are received from a beam steering computer coupled to the electrical connections of the corresponding bias/control conductors. 11. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, further including a perimeter constrained RF feed configured to provide the RF signals. 12. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, further including a constrained RF feed located behind and perpendicular to the plurality of linear array substrate slats and configured to provide the RF signals. 13. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, further including a space feed configured to provide the RF signals. 14. A method for 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, the method comprising: providing a plurality of radiating elements using first and second metal layers of the substrate slat; providing a common RF feed conductor for the plurality of radiating elements, the common RF feed conductor formed 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; providing bias/control conductors to selected areas of the third metal layer, the bias/control conductors configured to include the single location for electrical connections to receive bias voltages and control signals; providing a fourth metal layer over the second metal layer, the fourth metal layer including circuit connections from the bias/control circuitry to the plurality of phase shifter devices; providing a shielding metal layer on the fourth metal layer; and attaching the plurality of phase shifter devices, each phase shifter device attached to a radiating element via a mounting location on the shielding metal layer. 15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising applying a plurality of radiating element feeds to selected areas on the fourth metal layer. 16. A method according to claim 14 further comprising attaching each of the plurality of phase shifter devices to each of the linear array substrate slats by at least one solder connection to the mounting location. 17. A method according to claim 14, further comprising attaching the plurality of phase shifter devices to each of the linear array substrates by wirebonding. 18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the first, second and third metal layers of the corresponding substrate slat comprise a respective printed wiring board substrate. 19. A method according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of radiating elements are end-fire or dipole radiating elements. 20. A phased array antenna having a plurality of phase shifter means for phase shifting and beam steering a radiated beam of the phased array antenna, the plurality of phase shifter means interconnected with an interconnect structure comprising a plurality of linear array substrate slats, each linear array substrate slat comprising: a plurality of radiating elements comprised of first and second metal layers of the substrate slat; a common RF feed means for providing electrical connections for the plurality of radiating elements, the common RF feed means disposed 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 means configured to receive RF signals for the plurality of radiating elements include at a single location; bias/control-means for providing electrical connections for the plurality of phase shifter devices, the bias/control means disposed at least partially on the third metal layer and configured to receive bias voltages and control signals at the single location; a fourth metal layer applied over the second metal layer, the fourth metal layer including circuit connections from the bias/control means to the plurality of phase shifter means; 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.