WO2014142885A1

WO2014142885A1 - Wideband true time delay circuits for antenna architectures

Info

Publication number: WO2014142885A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/031392
Authority: WO
Inventors: David W. Corman; Donald E. Crockett
Original assignee: Viasat Inc
Current assignee: Viasat Inc
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-14

Abstract

An antenna can include a time-delayed circuit, where the time-delayed circuit comprises a first variable true time delay component configured to provide a gain neutral variable time delay between a first input and a first output, the first variable TTD component configured to generate a first gain neutral time-delayed signal, and a second variable TTD component configured to provide a gain neutral variable time delay between a second input and a second output, the second variable TTD component configured to generate a second gain neutral time-delayed signal. The second variable TTD component can be in parallel with the first variable TTD component. Further, each of the first variable TTD component and the second variable TTD component can comprise a control input configured to control the amount of variable time delay. The first variable TTD component and the second variable TTD component can be part of a monolithic component.

Description

WIDEBAND TRUE TIME DELAY CIRCUITS FOR ANTENNA ARCHITECTURES

BACKGROUND

Beam steering of signals allow energy impinging upon the phased array front non- boresight angles to be combined coherently, The beam steering is typically achieved through the use of either phase delay or time delay. Electronically steerabie phased array antennas typieaSiy utilize phase shifters to steer beams in a compact manner. For example, in a single beam receive application, the phase shifters delay the signal energy received at the near elements until the signal energy is received at the far elements. The effect is to make the signals at ail elements arrive at the coherent combiner at the same time.

However, the drawback of this approach is that the use of phase shifters only works perfectly at a single center frequency. Frequencies that can be above the center frequency cars be under-steered while frequencies that can be below the center frequency can be over- steered. This effect Is called beam squint and is present in phased arrays that employ phase shifters for wideband beam steering. Furthermore, factors such as high instantaneous bandwidth, large array size, and large beam steering angle can aggravate the beam squint effect.

Typical true time delay units can be comprised of traditional switched delay lines which increase in size as the delay time is Increased and thus can be very large at lower frequencies, The large switched delay lines do not fit within the lattice constraints of most phased array s. Additionally, if multiple beams are used various antenna architectures, then multiple true time delay units can be also used at each radiating element, thereby increasing the size of the typical architecture. SUMMARY

in various embodiments, an antenna can include a time-delayed circuit, where the time-delayed circuit comprises a first variable true time delay (TTD) component configured to provide a gain neutral variable time delay between a first input and a first output, the first variable TTD component configured to generate a first gain neutral time-delayed signal, and a second variable TTD component configured to provide a gain neutral variable time delay between a second input and a second output, the second variable TTD component configured to generate a second gain neutral time-delayed signal. The second variable TTD component can be in parallel with the first variable TTD component. Further, each of the first variable TTD component and the second variable TTD component can comprise a control, input configured to control the amount of variable time delay. The first variable TTD component and the second variable TTD component can be part of a monolithic component

In accordance with various embodiments of the antenna with the time-delayed circuit, a method of operation can comprise receiving, at a first variable TTD component, a first signal from a radiating element, receiving, at a second variable TTD component that is parallel to the first variable TTD component, a second signal from the radiating element, generating, by the first variable TTD component a first gain neutral time-delayed signal from the first signal based on a control input signal configured to control the amount of variable time delay, and generating, by the second variable TTD component, a second gain neutral time-delayed signal from the second signal based on the control input signal configured to control the amount of variable time delay.

DESCRIPTION OF DRA ING-S

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, and:

Fig, 1 is an example of a true time delay component in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig. 2 is another example of a true time delay element in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig. 3 is an exampie of a true time delay (TTD) circuit of an antenna receiver with linear polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig, 4 is an exampie of a TTD circuit of an antenna receiver with circular polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig, 5 is an example of a TTD circuit of an antenna configured to receive slant polarization in accordance with various embodiments:

Fig. 6 is an example of a TTD integrated circuit as a linear polarization 2~bearn, 4- radiating element receiver in accordance with various embodiments; Fig. 7 is an example of a TTD integrated circuit as a circular polarization 2-bearn, 4- radiating element receiver in accordance with various embodiments:

Fig. 8 is an example of a TTD integrated circuit as a slant polarizaiion l -beam, 4- radiating element receiver in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig, 9 is an example of a TTD integrated circuit as a linear polarization 4-beam, 4- radiating element receiver in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig. 10 is an example of a TTD integrated circuit as a circular polarization 4-beam, 4-radiating element receiver in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig. 1 1 is an example of a TTD integrated circuit as a slant polarization 2-beam, 4- radiatmg element receiver in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig, 12 is an example of a time-division duple time-delay circuit for linear polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig. 13 is an example of a time-division duplex time-delay circuit for linear polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Figs. 14A-14C can be examples of a TTD integrated circuit as a 4-radiating element transceiver for linear polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Figs. 15A-15C can be examples of a T TD integrated circuit as a dual receive beam, dual ti'ansmit beam, 4-radiating element transceiver for linear polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig. 16 is an example of a time-division duplex time-delay circuit for circular or slant polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Fig. 1 7 is an example of a time-division duplex time-delay circuit for circular or slant polarization in accordance with various embodiments;

Figs. 18A-18C can be examples of a TTD integrated circuit as a 4-radiating element transceiver for circular or slant polarization in accordance with various embodiments; and

Figs. 19A-19C can be examples of a TTD integrated circuit as a dual receive beam, dual transmit beam. 4-radiating element transceiver for circular or slant polarization in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the example embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless he understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, can be to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

n an antenna system, true time delay can provide equal time of arrival at a coherent beam former for signal energy from multiple elements. Advantageously, true time delay enables the antenna system to form beams over very wide bandwidths. True time delay enables the wide band operation because electromagnetic free space velocity of propagation is constant at ail frequencies, and substantially constant when propagating through the earth's atmosphere. As described herein, various antenna systems and methods can implement a true time delay component to utilize true time delay within different antenna configurations and across different polarizations,

in accordance with various embodiments, a variable true time delay (TTD) component can comprise a plurality of ^'[^"ID elements in series. Each of the plurality of TTD elements either injects a time delay in a time-delayed signal or passes through the time- delayed signal with minimal delay. For example and with reference to Figure 1 , a variable TTD component 100 can include a first TTD element 101 capable of injecting, in a first mode, a time delay into a signal or passing, in a second mode, the signal with a minimal delay. The mode of first TTD element 101 can be determined by a controller (not shown) that sets switch positions of first TTD element 101. in various embodiments, at least one controller can be in communication with one or more TTD components. The at least one controller can be configured to select a time delay of each of the one or more variable TTD components, in various embodiments, each variable TTD component can he controlled by a separate controller.

In various embodiments, each TTD element comprises two switches 1 10 that set the signal path of the TTD element, either time delay path or the bypass path, and the operation of the TTD element to the first mode or the second mode. Similarly, variable TTD component 100 can further include a second TTD element 102, a third TTD element 103, a fourth TTD element 104, and a fifth TTD element 105, The number of TTD elements within a variable TTD component can vary, and the injected time delay of a TTD element can be of different values. As used herein, a TTD component can be variable in the amount of time delay injected in a signal, In accordance with various embodiments, the controller can be any controller configured to provide control logic to the TTD component 100 and specifically to switches 1 10 of each TTD element. As an example, the controller can be an ASIC chip, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), latches, switch drivers, and the like. in the example illustrated by Figure I, first T TD 101 element is show having a 20 picosecond (ps) delay capability. Likewise, the TTD elements 102-105 can be shown having 40 ps, 80 ps, 1 0 ps, and 320 ps delay capabilities, respectively. Thus, in this example, the variable TTD component 100 can provide a selectable delay between 0 and 620 ps with resolution of 20 ps.

in response to communicating a signal through variable ^'ITD component 300, a passive signal energy loss can be compensated for by amplifying the signal. In various embodiments, each TTD element, for example TTD elements 101 -105, can comprise an element compensating amplifier 1 1 1 in the time delay path of the element. Element compensating amplifier 1 3 1 can be configured to compensate for passiv signal energy loss in the time-delayed signal to a gain neutral level. Alternatively, in various embodiments, variable TTF) component 100 can comprise a variable gain amplifier (VGA) 1 12 in series with TTD elements 101 -105. VGA 1 12 can be configured to compensate for passive signal energy loss in the time-delayed signal to a gain neutral level Moreover, in various embodiments, variable TTD component 100 can comprise a combination of VGA 1 12 in series with TTD elements 101-105 and element compensating amplifier 1 1 1 in the time delay path of each ITD element. Furtherfnore, in various embodiments, each ^'"ITD element, for example TTD elements 301-105, can comprise a passive attenuator in the bypass path configured to produce a signal with the same signal power whether the signal is transmitted through the time delay path or the bypass path.

In various embodiments and with reference to Figure 2, a filter network 200 can provide the delay capability of a TTD element. Filter network 200 has a first input node 201, a second input node 202, a first output node 203, and a second output node 204. in various embodiments, filter network 200 can comprise a resistor Rl connected between first input node 201 and second input node 202, and a resistor R2 connected between first output node 203 and second output node 204. Further, filter network 200 can comprise a capacitor C I connected between first input node 201 and first output node 2.03, and an inductor LI in parallel with capacitor CT and connected between first input node 201 and first output node 203. Similarly, filter network 200 can comprise a capacitor C2 connected between second input node 202 and second output node 204, and an inductor L2 in parallel with capacitor C2 and connected between second input node 202 and second output node 204. Additionally, filter network 200 can comprise a capacitor C3 connected between second input node 202 and first output node 203, and a capacitor C4 connected between first input node 201 and second output node 204. Filter network 200 can be a constant resistance network that provides a linear phase slope versus frequency. Since time delay is the first derivative of phase versus frequency, filter network 200 provides a fixed time delay.

Filter network 200 can use constant R networks to provide the desired time delays. Constant networks can be essentially lumped element filter structures where the time delay can be realized over very wide operational handwidths. Additionally, the topology- can be compact, moderate loss, and differential in nature, thereby able to be implemented on SiGe. Filter network 200 can be used in a TTD element, for example TTD element 101. The TTD element can be cascaded and bypassed or switched in order to generate a digitally controlled time delay network.

Wideband Architecture

A steerable time-delayed array antenna can be configured tor extremely wideband operation by adding digitally selectable time delay elements in communication with each radiating element, in various embodiments, time-delayed array antennas with a digitally controlled time delay network can be implemented monolithically in gallium arsenide (GaAs), silicon germanium (SiGe), gallium nitride (GaN), or other suitable semiconductor materials. Wideband operation can be defined as operational bandwidths exceeding 10: 1. Furthermore, wideband operation can be defined as any operating bandwidth that benefits from true time delay in comparison to phase steering due to beam squint occurring over the bandwidth when implementing phase shifters.

A steerable time-delayed array antenna can be of use for such antennas as military comm-on-tne-move (COTM), interactive SATCOM airborne terminals, SATCOM mobile communications, SATCOM earth terminals, radar antennas, and electronic warfare (EW) antennas. Time-delayed array antennas with a digitally controlled time delay network can be configured for various implementations, such as linear, circular, and slant polarization, in addition to having single or multiple beam architectures. Linear Polarization: in various embodiments and with reference to Figure 3, in a true time delay (TTD) circuit 300 of an antenna receiver, the TTD circuit 300 comprises a first variable TTD component 310 in communication with an antenna radiating element 301 and a second variable TTD component 31 1 in parallel with first variable TTD component 310 and also in communication with the antenna radiating element 301. In a linear polarization receive embodiment, first variable TTD component 310 can receive a first signal from radiating element 301 at a first input and communicate a first time-deiayed signal with horizontal polarization at a first output, and second variable TTD component 31 1 can receive a second signal from radiating element 301 at a second input and communicate a second time-delayed signal with vertical polarization at a second output. In various embodiments, beam steering can be done by the TTD components 310, 31 1 for TTD circuit 300. The variable time delay of TTD components 310, 1 1, and the resulting beam steering, can be selected by a controller (not shown) similar to the controller of variable TTD component 100, The controller can provide a control input signal that selects the desired time delay of each TTD component 310, 311 and the relative difference between the two time delays. In various embodiments, TTD circuit 300 can be a monolithic component, which can be made of GaAs, SiGe, GaN, or other suitable semiconductor material.

Additionally, in various embodiments, TTD circuit 300 can further comprise a first controllable phase shifter 302 comprising a first phase controller 320 and first variable TTD component 310 in series, and a second controllable phase shifter 303 comprising a second phase controller 321 and second variable TTD component 31 1 in series. The first phase control ler 320 can either precede or succeed the first variable TTD component 310. Likewise, the second phase controller 321 can either precede or succeed the second variable TTD component 3 1 1. in accordance with various embodiments, first controllable phase shifter 302 can be configured to receive the first signal and output a first error-corrected time-delayed signal. Likewise, second controllable phase shifter 303 can be configured to receive the second signal and output a second, error-corrected time-delayed signal.

First and second phase controllers 320, 321 can perform polarization tracking for the receive signals. In various embodiments, first and second phase controllers 320, 321 can be configured for error correction of time-delayed signals by correcting for polarization imperfections in the received signal In various embodiments, the controller can provide a control input signal to first and second phase controllers 320, 321 . The control input signal can select the desired phase shift of each phase controller, and thereby control the polarization tracking. In accordance with various embodiments, the level of desired error correction can be measured at the beam level based upon the receive signal strength as an indication of beam squint. The first phase controller 320 can be configured for error correction of the first time-delayed signal and second phase controller 321 can be configured for error correction of the second time-delayed signal. First and second phase controllers 320, 321 can either receive or provide error corrected signals to first and second variabl TTD components 310, 31 1 , respectively.

Adding phase control to TTD circuit 300, using first and second phase controllers 320, 321 , does not place a significant limit on the operating bandwidth when the operating frequency is known. First and second phase controllers 320, 321 can be for error correction of the signals, not overall beam steering, and therefore the effect on steering angle is low. in various embodiments first and second phas controllers 320, 321 can be active phase controllers or passive phase controllers.

Circular Polarization: n various embodiments and with reference to Figure 4, a TTD circuit 400 of an antenna receiver with circular polarization outputs comprises a first variable TTD component 410 in communication with an antenna radiating element 401 and a second variable TTD component 41 1 also in communication with the antenna radiating element 401. in a circular polarization receive embodiment, first variable TTD component 410 can receive a first signal from radiating element 401 at a first input and communicate a first time-delayed signal with horizontal polarization at a first output, and second variable TTD component 41 1 can receive a second signal from radiating element 401 at a second input and communicate a second time-delayed signal with vertical polarization at a second output. Additionally, TTD circuit 400 can comprise a 90° hybrid 0 configured to receive the first time-delayed signal from the first variable TTD component 410 and receive the second time-delayed signal from the second variable TTD component 411. The 90° hybrid 430 can be either an active hybrid or a passive hybrid. In various embodiments, the 90° hybrid 430 converts the signal energies received at antenna radiating element 401 to circular polarized signals. In various embodiments, the 90° hybrid 430 can generate at least one circular polarized signal, such as a right hand circular polarized (RHCP) output and/or a left hand circular polarized (LHCP) output. Moreover, in various embodiments, TTD circuit 400 can include a first phase controller 420 and a second phase controller 421. First phase controller 420 and second phase controller 421 can be configured for error correction of the signals for polarization tracking. First phase controller 420 can be in communication with first variable ITD component 410 and communicate a signal to the 90° hybrid 430, The first phase controller 420 can be configured to perform error correction on the first time delayed signal from first variable TTD component 410, Similarly, second phase controller 421 can be in communication with second variable TTD component 41 1 and communicate a signal to the 90° hybrid 430. The second phase controller 421 can be configured to perform error correction on the second time delayed signal from second variable ITD component 41 1 , A controller can provide a control input signal to TTD circuit 400, similar to the controller of TTD circuit 300.

Slant Polarization.; In accordance with various embodiments and with reference to Figure 5, a TTD circuit 500 of an antenna configured for receiving slant polarized signals comprises a first TTD component 10 in communication with an antenna radiating element 501 and a second TTD component 51 1 also in communication with the antenna radiating element 501. in a slant polarization receive embodiment first T TD component 510 can receive a first signal from, radiating element 501 a a first input and communicate a first time-delayed signal with +45° polarization at a first output, and second TTD component 51 1 can receive a second signal from radiating element 501 at a second input and communicate a second time-delayed signal with -45" polarization at a second output. Additionally, TTD circuit 500 comprises a combiner 530. In various embodiments, combiner 530 can be configured to receive two slant polarized input signals and produce a linear polarized output, which can be vertical or horizontal linear polarized, For example, combiner 530 can be configured to receive the first time-delayed signal from the first variable TTD component and receive the second time-delayed signal from the second variable TTD component. In various embodiments, combiner 530 can be either an active summer or a passive summer.

Moreover, in various embodiments, TTD circuit 500 can further comprise a first controllable phase shifter 502 comprising a first phase controller 520 and first TTD component 510 in series, and a second controllable phase shifter 503 comprising a second phase controller 521 and second TTD component 51 1 in series. In accordance with various embodiments, first controllable phase shifter 502 can be configured to receiv the first signal and output a first error-corrected time-delayed signal, Likewise, second controllable phase shifter 503 can be configured to receive the second signal and output a second error- corrected rime-delayed signal. Combiner 530 can be configured to receive the first and second error-corrected time-delayed signals and generate a linear polarized output signal. In accordance with various embodiments, first TTD component 510 facilitates tims deiay and first phase controller 520 can be configured to perform error correction on the first time- delayed signal. Similarly, second TTD component 51 1 facilitates lime delay and second phase controller 521 can be configured to perform error correction on ihe second time- delayed signal. A controller can provide a control input signal to TTD circuit 500. similar to the controller of TTD circuit 300.

Multi-Element Embodiments

In various embodiments and with reference to Figure 6, a TTD integrated circuit 600 can be configured as a linear polarization 2-beam, 4-radiating element receiver. The TIT⁾ integrated circuit 600 comprises a first subeircuit 610 in communication with a first radiating element 611, a second siibcircuit 620 in communication with a second radiating element 621 , a third subeircuit 630 in communication with a third radiating element 631. and a fourth subeircuit 640 in communication with a fourth radiating element 641. Each subeircuit 610, 620, 630, 640 receives a pair of spatially orthogonal radio frequency (R.F) signals from the respectively coupled radiating element 61 1 , 621, 631 , 641 and generates two output signals, one for each beam to be formed. In accordance with various embodiments, the two output signals of each subeircuit 10, 620, 630, 640 can be time delayed by a selected duration. The different, selected time delays of various TTD components of each subeircuit is indicated in Figure 6, and other figures in the application, as "Ta" for first subeircuit 610, "Tb" for second subeircuit 620, "To" for third subeircuit and "Td" for fourth subeircuit. The selected time delay of each subeircuit can be different in comparison to the time delays of the other subcircuits. For example, in order to compensate for spacing between the radiating elements and corresponding timing differences in the received signals, the selected time delay of "Ta" can be different than the selected time delay of "Tb", "Te", and/or "Td". In various embodiments, time delays values can be configured to facilitate beam steering in the antenna.

The structure and function of each subeircuit 610, 620, 630, 640 is substantially similar. Thus, only first subeircuit 610 wi ll be discussed in detail, in accordance with various embodiments, first subeircuit 610 comprises a first TTD component 614 in communication with radiating element 61 1 and a second TTD component 615 parallel with first ΤΤΌ component 614 and also in communication with the radiating element 61 1. in a linear polarization embodiment, first TTD component 614 may communicate a first time- delayed signal with horizontal polarization and second TTD component 615 may communicate a second time-delayed signal with vertical polarization. Additionally, in various embodiments, subclreuit 610 can further comprise a first controllable phase shifter 612 comprising a first phase controller 616 and first TTD component 614 in series, and a second controllable phase shifter 613 comprising a second phase controller 617 and second TTD component 61 in series. As with other similar embodiments described herein, first and second phase controllers 616, 617 are not essential elements and can be omitted. In various embodiments, first subcircuit 610 can operate similarly to TTD circuit 300. In an example embodiment, a digital control 601 communicates polarization and beam steering commands to subcircuits 610. 620, 630, 640. Digital control 601 can provide a control input signal to subcircuits 610, 620. 630, 640, similar to the controller of TTD circuit. 300. Furthermore, in various embodiments, there can be multiple digital controls. For example, subcircuits 610, 620, 630, 640 can each receive a control input signal from a different digital control.

In accordance with various embodiments, a combiner network can be configured to form a first receive beam output and a second receive beam output, The first receive beam output can be generated by combining one of the two output signals from each of four subcircuits 610, 620, 630, 640. The second receive beam output can be generated b combining the second of the two output signals from each of four subcircuits 610, 620, 630, 640, In an example embodiment, multiple combiners can be used to combine the subcircuit output signals into a first receive beam output and a second receive beam output.

In a more specific example embodiment, a combiner 651 can be configured to combine the first of the two outputs from first and second subcircuits 610, 620, Furthermore, a combiner 661 can be configured to combine the second of the two outputs from first and second subcircuits 610, 620. Also in the example embodiment, a combiner 652 can be configured to combine the first of the two outputs from third and fourth subcircuits 630, 640. A combiner 662 can be configured to combine the second of the two outputs from third and fourth subcircuits 630, 640.

At the next stage, a combiner 653 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 651, 652 to form the first receive beam output. Furthermore, a combiner 663 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 661 , 662 to term the second receive beam output, In various embodiments, combiners 651 , 652, 653, 661, 662, 663 can be either active combiners or passive combiners.

A multiple radiating element TTD circuit can also be designed for circular polarization embodiments, in accordance with various embodiments and with reference to Figure 7, a TTD integrated circuit 700 can be configured as a circular polarization 2 -beam, 4-radiatrag element receiver, The TTD integrated circuit 700 comprises a first subcircuit 710 In communication with a first radiating element 71 1, a second subcircuit 720 in communication with a second radiating element 721, a third subcircuit 730 in communication with a third radiating element 73 1, and a fourth subcircuit 740 In communication with a fourth radiating element 741 . Each subcircuit 730, 720, 730, 740 receives a pair of spatially orthogonal RF signals from the respectively coupled radiating element 71 1, 721, 731 , 741 and generates two output signals, one for each beam to be formed.

The structure and function of each subcircuit 710, 720, 730, 740 is substantially similar. Thus, only first subcircuit 710 will be discussed in detail. In accordance with various embodiments, first subcircuit 710 comprises a first variable TTD component 712 in communication with radiating element 711 and a second variable TTD component 713 also in communication with radiating element 71 1. Additionally, subcircuit 710 can comprise a 90° hybrid 714 configured to receive a first time-delayed signal from first variable TTD component 712 and receive a second time-delayed signal from second variable TTD component 713, The 90° hybrid 714 can be either an active hybrid or a passive hybrid. The 90° hybrid 734 converts the signal energies received at radiating element 711 to circular polarized signals. In various embodiments, the 90° hybrid 714 can generate at least one circular polarized signal, such as a RHCP output and/or a LHCP output. Moreover, in various embodiments, subcircuit 710 can include a first phase controller 715 and a second phase controller 716 for error correction. First phase controller 715 and second phase controller 716 can be configured for error correction of the signals for polarization tracking. First phase controller 715 can be in communication with first variable TTD component 712 and communicate a signal to the 90° hybrid 714. The first phase controller 71 5 can be configured to perform error correction on the first time delayed signal from first variable TTD component 712, Similarly, second phase control ler 716 can be in communication with second variable TTD component 713 and communicate a signal to the 90° hybrid 714. The second phase controller 715 can be configured to perform error correction on the second time delayed signal from second variable TTD component 713. in an example embodiment, a digital control 701 communicates polarization and beam steering commands to s bclrcuits 710, 720, 730, 740. Digital control 701 can operate similarly to digital control 601. In various embodiments, the combiner network illustrated in Figure 7 can operate similar to the combiner network illustrated in Figure 6.

At the next stage, a combiner 753 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 751, 752 to form, the first circular polarized receive beam output, Furthermore, a combiner 763 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 761 , 762 to form the second circular polarized receive beam output. Combiners 75 , 752, 753, 761, 762, 763 can be either active combiners or passive combiners.

A multiple radiating element TTD circuit can also be designed for slant polarization embodiments. In accordance with various embodiments and with reference to Figure 8, a TTD integrated circuit 800 can be configured as a slant polarization I-beam, 4-radiating element receiver, The TTD integrated circuit 800 comprises a first subcircuit 810 in communication with a first radiating element 81 1 , a second subcircuit 820 in communication with a second radiating element 821 , a third subcircuit 830 in communication with a third radiating element 831 , and a fourth subcircuit 840 in communication with a fourth radiating element 841 . Each subcircuit 810, 820, 830, 840 receives a pair of spatially orthogonal RF signals from the respectively coupied radiating element 81 1 , 821, 831, 8 1 and generates a single linear polarized output signal.

The structure and function of each subcircuit 810, 820, 830, 840 is substantially similar. Thus, onl first subcircuit 810 will be discussed in detail. In accordance with various embodiments, first subcircuit 810 comprises a first variable TTD component 814 in communication with radiating element 81 1 and a second variable TTD component 815 also in communication with radiating element 81 1. Moreover, in various embodiments, subcircuit 810 can further comprise a first controllable phase shifter 812 comprising a first phase controller 81 and first variable TTD component 814 in series, and a second controllable phase shifter 813 comprising a second phase controller 817 and second variable TTD component 81 5 in series. In various embodiments, first subcircuit 810 can operate similarly to TTD circuit 500, In an example embodiment, a digital control 801 communicates polarization and beam steering commands to subcircuits 810. 820, 830, 840. Digital control 801 can operate similarly to digital control 601 ,

Additionally, subcircuit 810 comprises a combiner 818, Combiner 8 ( 8 can be configured to receive two slant polarized input signals and produce a linear polarized output, which can be vertical or horizontal linear polarized, depending upon the relative phasing between phase controllers 816, 817. For example, combiner 818 can be configured to receive the first time-delayed signal from the first controllable phase shifter 812 and receive the second time-delayed signal from second controllable phase shifter 813, if first phase controller 816 and second phase controller 817 are in phase, then combiner 81 8 generates a horizontally polarized output. If first phase controller 816 and second phase controller 817 are 180° out of phase, then combiner 818 generates a vertically polarized output. In various embodiments, combiner 818 can be either an active combiner or a passive combiner.

In accordance with various embodiments, a receive beam output can be generated by combining the single output signal from each of four subcircuits 810, 820, 830, 840. In an example embodiment, a combiner 851 can be used to combine the single outputs from first and second subcircuits 810, 820, Also in the example embodiment, a combiner 852 can be configured to combine the single outputs from third and fourth subcircuits 830, 840. At the next stage, a combiner 853 can be configured to combine the outputs of combiners 851 , 852 to form a linear polarized receive beam output, in various embodiments, combiners 851, 852, 853 can be either active combiners or passive combiners.

In various embodiments and with reference to Figure 9, a TTD integrated circuit 900 can be configured as a linear polarization 4-beam, 4-radiating element receiver. The TTD integrated circuit 900 comprises a first subcircuit 910 in communication with a first radiating element 91 1 , a second subcircuit 920 in communication with a second radiating element 921, a third subcircuit 930 in communication with a third radiating element 931, and a fourth subcircuit 940 in communication with a fourth radiating element 941 . Each subcircuit 910, 920, 930, 940 receives a pair of spatially orthogonal F signals from the respectively coupled radiating element 91 1, 921 , 931, 941 and generates four output signals, one for each beam to be formed.

The structure and function of each subcircuit 910, 920, 930, 940 is substantially similar. Thus, only first subcircuit 910 will be discussed in detail. In accordance with various embodiments and with continued reference to Figure 9, first subcircuit 910, in communication with radiating element 91 , comprises a first splitter 912 and a second splitter 913, First splitter 912 receives a horizontal polarized signal from radiating element 91 1 and divides into a first intermediate horizontal polarized signal and a second intermediate horizontal polarized signal. Similarly, second splitter 933 receives a vertical polarized signal from radiating element 91 1 and divides into a first intermediate vertical polarized signal and a second intermediate vertical polarized signal. in various embodiments, first subcireust 910 further comprises a first variable TTD component 9 I SA, a second variable TTD component 918B, a third variable TTD component 918C, and a fourth variable TTD component 38D. First variable TTD component 91 8A receives the first intermediate horizontal polarized signal and can be configured to generate a time-delayed first intermediate horizontal polarized signal. Second variable TTD component 918B receives the second intermediate horizontal polarized signal and can be configured to generate a time-delayed second intermediate horizontal polarized signal. Third variable TTD component 918€ receives the first intermediate vertical polarized signal and can be configured to generate a time-delayed first intermediate vertical polarized signal. Fourth variable TTD component 918D receives the second intermediate vertical polarized signal and can be configured to generate a time-delayed second intermediate vertical polarized signal, in various embodiments, the time-delay injected by first variable TTD component I SA can be the same time-delay injected by third variable TTD component 18C, and the time-delay injected by second variable TTD component 918B can be the same time-delay injected by fourth variable TTD component 918D, Furthermore, the time-delay of the first and third variable TTD components I SA, 918C can be different than the time-delay of the second and fourth variable TTD components 918B, 918D. The different time-delays facilitate a single radiating element receiving multiple signals and separating the multiple signals into distinct beams.

Moreover, in various embodiments, first subcircuit 910 comprises a first controllable phase shifter 91 comprising a first phase controller 919A and first variable TTD component 91 8A in series, a second controllable phase shifter 915 comprising a second phase controller 919B and second variable TTD component 918B in series, a third controllable phase shifter 916 comprising a third phase controller 91 9C and third variable TTD component 918C in series, and a fourth controllable phase shifter 917 comprising a fourth phase controller 19D and fourth variable TTD component 918D in series, In accordance with various embodiments, first controllable phase shifter 914 can be configured to receive the first intermediate horizontal polarized signal and output a first error-corrected time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signal Likewise, - second controllable phase shifter 915 can be configured to receive the second intermediate horizontal polarized signal and output a second error-corrected time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signal. Third controllable phase shifter 916 can be configured to receive the first intermediate vertical polarized signal and output a first error-corrected time- delayed intermediate vertical polarized signal. Similarly, fourth controllable phase shifter 917 can be configured to receive the second intermediate vertical polarized signal and output a second error-corrected time-delayed intermediate vertical polarized signal.

In accordance with various embodiments, first phase controlier 919A can be configured to perform error correction on the first time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signal and second phase controller 919B can be configured to perform error correction on the second time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signal. Furthermore, third phase controller 919C can be configured to perform error correction on the first time-delayed intermediate vertical polarized signal and fourth phase controller 919D can be configured to perform error correction on the second time-delayed intermediate vertical polarized signal, in an example embodiment, a digital control 901 communicates polarization and beam steering commands to subcircuits 910, 920, 930, 940. Digital control 901 can operate similarly to digital control 601 ,

in accordance with various embodiments, a first receive beam output can be generated by combining one of the four output signals from each of four subcircuits 910, 920, 930, 940. Similarly, a second receive beam output can be generated by combining a second of the four output signals, a third receive beam output can be generated by combining a third of the four output signals, and a fourth receive beam output can be generated by combining a fourth of the four output signals from each of four subcircuits 910, 920, 930, 940. in an example embodiment, multiple combiners can be used to combine the subcircuii output signals into the four receive beam outputs.

In a more specific example embodiment, a combiner 951 can be configured to combine the first time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signals from first and second subcircuits 910, 920. Furthermore, a combiner 961 can be configured to combine the second time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signals from first and second subcireuits 910, 920. Likewise, a combiner 971 can be configured to combine the first time- delayed intermediate vertical polarized signals from first and second subcireuits 910, 920. A combiner 981 can be configured to combine the second time-delayed intermediate vertical polarized signals from first and second subcireuits 910, 920.

Also in the example embodiment, a combiner 952 can be configured to combine the first time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signals from third and fourth subcireuits 930, 940, A combiner 962 can be configured to combine the second time-delayed intermediate horizontal polarized signals from third and fourth subcireuits 930, 940, Furthermore, a combiner 972 can be configured to combine the first time-delayed intermediate vertical polarized signals from third and fourth subcireuits 930, 940. A combiner 982 can be configured to combine the second time-delayed intermediate vertical polarized signals from third and fourth subcireuits 930, 940.

At the next stage, a combiner 953 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 951 , 952 to form a first horizontal polarized receive beam output. A combiner 963 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 961, 962 to form a second horizontal polarized receive beam output. Furthermore, a combiner 973 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 971, 972 to form a first vertical polarized receive beam output. A combiner 983 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 981 , 982 to form a second vertical polarized receive beam output,

In various embodiments and with reference to Figure 10, a TTD integrated circuit 1000 can be configured as a circular polarization 4-beam, 4-radiating element receiver. The TTD integrated circuit 1000 comprises a first subcircuit 1010 in communication with a first radiating element 101 1 , a second subcircuit 1020 in communication with a second radiating element 1021 , a third subcircuit 1030 in communication with a third radiating element 103 i , and a fourth subcircuit 1040 in communication with a fourth radiating element 1041. Each subcircuit 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040 receives a pair of spatially orthogonal F signals from the respectively coupled radiating element 101 1 , 1021 , 1031, 1041 and generates four output signals, one for each beam to be formed.

The structure and function of each subcircuit 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040 is substantially similar. Thus, only first subcircuit 1010 will be discussed in detail. In accordance with various embodiments and with continued reference to Figure 10, first subcircuit 1010, in communication with radiating element 101 1, comprises a first splitter 1012 and a second splitter 1013. The splitters can be either active splitters or passive splitters. First splitter 1012 receives a horizontal polarized signal from radiating element 101 1 and divides into a first intermediate horizontal polarized signal and a second intermediate horizontal polarized signai. Similarly, second splitter 1013 receives a vertical polarized signai from radiating element 101 1 and divides into a first intermediate vertical polarized signal and a second intermediate vertical polarized signal, in various embodiments, first subcircuit 1010 further comprises a first variable TTD component 1014A, a second variable TTD component 1014B, a third variable TTD component 1014C, and a fourth variable TTD component 1014D, First variable TTD component 1014A receives the first intermediate horizontal polarized signal and can be configured to generate a time-delayed first intermediate horizontal polarized signal Second variable TTD component 101.4B receives the second intermediate horizontal polarized signal and can be configured to generate a time-delayed second intermediate horizontal polarized signal. Third variable TTD component 1014C receives the first intermediate vertical polarized signal and can be configured to generate a time-delayed first intermediate vertical polarized signal, Fourth variable TTD component 1014D receives the second intermediate vertical polarized signai and can be configured to generate a time-delayed second intermediate vertical polarized signai. In various embodiments, the time-delay injected by first variable TTD component 1014 A can be the same time-delay injected by third variable TTD component 1 014C, and the time-delay injected by second variable TTD component 1014B can be the same time-delay injected by fourth variable TTD component 1014D. Furthermore, the time-delay of the first and third variable TTD components 1014A, 3014C can be different than the time-delay of the second and fourth variable TTD components 1014B, 1014D. The different time-delays facilitate a single radiating element receiving multiple signals and separating the multiple signals into distinct beams.

Additionally, in various embodiments, first subcircuit 1010 can comprise a first 90° hybrid 1015 and a second 90° hybrid 1016, The first 90° hybrid 1018 can be configured to receive the time-delayed first intermediate horizontal polarized signal from first variable TTD component 1014A and receive the time-delayed first intermediate vertical polarized signal from third variable TTD component 1014C. The second 90° hybrid 1016 can be configured to receive the time-delayed second intermediate horizontal polarized signai from second variable TTD component 1014B and receive the time-delayed second intermediate vertical polarized signal from fourth variable TTD component 1014D, 3n various embodiments, the first and second 90° hybrids 1015, 1016 can be either active hybrids or passive hybrids. The first and second 90° hybrids 1015, 1016 convert the signal energies received at radiating element 101 1 to circular polarized signals. In various embodiments, the first 90° hybrid 1015 can generate a first time-delayed intermediate RHCP signal and a first time-delayed intermediate LHCP signal. Similarly, the second 90° hybrid 1016 can generate a second time-delayed intermediate RHCP signal and a second time-delayed intermediate LHCP signal.

Moreover, in various embodiments, first subcircu.it 1 01 0 can include a first phase controller I 017A, a second phase controller 1017B, a third phase controller 1017C, and a fourth phase controller 1017D for error correction of the time-delayed signals for polarization tracking. In various embodiments, the phase controllers can be either active phase controllers or passive phase controllers. First phase controller 1017A can be in communication with first variable TTD component 1014A and communicate a signal to first 90° hybrid 1015. The first phase controller 101 7 A can be configured to perform error correction on the time-delayed first intermediate horizontal polarized signal from first variable TTD component 1014A, thereby generating a first time-delayed error-corrected intermediate horizontal polarized signal. Furthermore, second phase controller 1017B can be in communication with first variable TTD component 1014B and communicate a signal to second 90° hybrid 1016. The second phase controller 10I7B can be configured perform error correction on the time-delayed second intermediate horizontal polarized signal, thereby generating a second time-delayed error-corrected intermediate horizontal polarized signal, Similarly, third phase controller 101 7C can be in communication with third variable TTD component 1014C and communicate a signal to the first 90° hybrid 1015. The third phase controller 1017C can be configured to perform error correction on the time-delayed first intermediate, vertical polarized signal, thereby generating a first time-delayed error-corrected intermediate vertical polarized signal. Furthermore, fourth phase controller 1017D can be in communication with fourth variable TTD component 1014D and communicate a signal to the second 90° hybrid 1 016. The fourth phase controller 1017D can be configured perform error correction on the time-delayed second intermediate vertical polarized signal, thereby generating a second time-delayed error-corrected intermediate vertical polarized signal. In an example embodiment, a digital control 1001 communicates polarization and beam steering commands to subcircuits 1010, 1020. 1030, 1040, Digital control 1001 can operate similarly to digital control 601.

In accordance with various embodiments, a first receive beam output can be generated by combining one of the four output signals from each of four subcircuits 1010, 1020, 1 030, 1040. Similarly, a second receive beam output can be generated by combining a second of the four output signals, a third receive beam output can be generated by combining a third of the four output signals and a fourth receive beam output can be generated by combining a fourth of the four output signals from each of four subcircuits 1010, 1020, 1030, 1040. In an example embodiment, multiple combiners can be used to combine the subcircuit output signals into the four receive beam outputs. The tour receive beam outputs can. be a first RHCP receive beam output, a second RHCP receive beam output, a first LHCP receive beam output, and a second LHCP receive beam output. In various embodiments, the combiner network of TTD integrated circuit 1000 as illustrated in Figure 10 can operate similarly to the combiner network of TTD integrated circuit 900 as illustrated in Figure 9.

In various embodiments and with reference to Figure I I, a TTD integrated circuit 1 100 can be configured as a slant polarization -beam . 4~radiat g element receiver. The TTD integrated circuit 1 100 comprises a first subcircuit 1 110 in communication with a first radiating element 1 1 1 1, a second subcircuit 1 120 in communication with a second radiating element 1 121 , a third subcircuit i 130 in communication with a third radiating element I 131, and a fourth subcircuit 1 140 in communication with a fourth radiating element 1 14 1 , Each subcircuit 1 1 10, 1 120, 1 130, 1 140 receives a pair of spatially orthogonal RF signals from the respectively coupled radiating element 1 1 1 1, 1 121, 1 131 , 1 141 and generates two output signals, one for each beam to be formed.

The structure and function of each subcircuit 1 i 10, 1 120, 1130, 1 140 is substantially similar. Thus, only first subcircuit 1 1 10 will be discussed in detail In accordance with various embodiments and with continued reference to Figure 1 1 , first subcircuit Π 10, in communication with radiating element 1 11 1, comprises a first splitter 1 1 12 and a second splitter 1 1 13. In various embodiments, the splitters can be either active splitters or passive splitters. First splitter 1 1 12 receives a +45° polarized signal from radiating element 1 i l l and divides into a first intermediate +45⁰ polarized signal and a second intermediate +45° polarized signal. Similarly, second splitter 1 1 13 receives a -45° polarized signal from radiating element 1 1 1 1 and divides into a first intermediate -45° polarized signal and a second intermediate -45° polarized signal, in various embodiments, first subcircuit 1 1 10 further comprises a first combiner 1 1 14, a second combiner I M S, a first variable TTD component 1 1 16, and a second variable TTD component 1 1 17. Moreover, in accordance with various embodiments, first subcircuit 1 1 10 can further comprise a first phase controller 1 1 18A, a second phase controller ί ί 18B, a third phase controller ! i i 8C, and a fourth phase controller 1118D for polarization tracking of the polarized signals. In various embodiments, the phase controllers can be either active phase controllers or passive phase controllers. For example, the phase controllers can be inverters.

First phase controller 1 1 18A can be in communication with first splitter 1 1 12 and first combiner 1 1 14, and configured to perform error correction on the first intermediate +45° polarized signal, thereby generating a first error-corrected intermediate ÷45° polarized signal tor providing to first combiner 1 1 14. Further, second phase controller 1 1 1 8B can be in communication with first splitter 1 1 12 and second combiner 1 1 15, and configured to perform error correction on the second intermediate +45° polarized signal, thereby generating a second error-corrected intermediate +45° polarized signal for providing to second combiner 1 1 15. Moreover, third phase controller 1 1 18C can be in communication with second splitter 1 113 and first combiner 1 1 14, and configured to perform error correction on the first intermediate -45° polarized signal, thereby generating a first error- corrected intermediate -45° polarized signal for providing to first combiner 1 1 14. In addition, fourth phase controller 1 USD can be in communication with second splitter 1 1 13 and second combiner 11 15, and configured to perform error correction on the second intermediate -45° polarized signal, thereby generating a second error-corrected intermediate -45° polarized signal for providing to second combiner 1 1 15. In an example embodiment, a digital control 1 101 communicates polarization and beam steering commands to sub-circuits 1 1 10, 1 120, 1 130, 1 140. Digital control 1 101 can operate similarly to digital control 601 . in accordance with various embodiments, first combiner 1 1 14 receives the first error-corrected intermediate +45° polarized signal and the first error-corrected intermediate - 45° polarized signal. Second combiner 1 3 15 receives the second error-corrected intermediate +45° polarized signal and the second error-corrected intermediate -45° polarized signal. In various embodiments, first combiner 1 .1 14 combines the first error- corrected intermediate +45° polarized signal and the first error-corrected intermediate -45° polarized signal into a first intermediate output beam. The first intermediate output beam can have horizontal or vertical polarization, depending upon the relative phasing between phase controllers 1 1 18A-D. For example, if first phase controller 1 1 18A and third phase controller 1 1 I SC are in phase, then the first intermediate output beam will be horizontally polarized. If first phase controllers 1 1 I SA and third phase controller 1 1 18C are 180° out of phase, then the first intermediate output beam will be vertically polarized, A similar relationship holds for the relative phasing between second phase controller 1 1 1 SB and fourth phase controller 1 1 1 8D. The first intermediate output beam can be communicated to first variable TTD component 1 1 16. First variable TTD component 1 1 16 can be configured to inject a time-delay into the beam and generate a first time-delayed intermediate output beam. Furthermore, in various embodiments, second combiner 1 1 15 combines the second intermediate +45° polarized signal and the second intermediate -45° polarized signal into a second intermediate output beam. The second intermediate output beam can have horizontal or vertical polarization, as described above with respect to first phase controller 1 1 18 A and third phase controller 1 1 18C. The second intermediate output beam can be communicated to second variable ^'"TTD component 1117. Second variable TTD component 1 1 17 can be configured to inject a time-delay into the beam and generate a second time-delayed intermediate output beam,

in accordance with various embodiments, a first receive beam output can be generated by combining one of the two output signals from each of four subcircuits 1 1 10, 1 120, ! 130, 1140. A second receive beam output can be generated by combining the second of the two output signals from each of four subcircuits 1 1 1 0, 1 120, 1 130, 1 140. In an example embodiment, multiple combiners can be used to combine the subcircnk output signals into a first receive beam output and a second receive beam output, in various embodiments, the combiner network of TTD integrated circuit 1 100 as illustrated in Figure 1 1 can operate similarly to the combiner network of TTD integrated circuit 600 as illustrated in Figure 6.

The first receive beam output can be either vertical linear polarized or horizontal linear polarized, depending on the parameters of the subcircuits. Furthermore, the second receive beam output can be either vertical linear polarized or horizontal linear polarized, depending on the parameters of the subcircuits. The true time delay receive architectures as disclosed with respect to Figures 3-1 1 can also be similarly configured at transmit architectures as would be understood by one skilled in the art.

D lexed Wideband Tree Time Oday Antenna

True time delay can also be advantageously implemented in time-division duplexed antenna embodiments. A time-division duplex time-delay circuit as illustrated in Figure 12 can operate similarly to the TTD circuit illustrated in Figure 3. In accordance with various embodiments and with reference to Figure 12, an antenna can include a time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1200 with linear polarization, the time-division duplex time-delay circuit comprising a first variable TTD component 1210, a second variable TTD component 121 1 in parallel with first variable TTD component 1210, and a switching device 1205, Switching device 1205 can be in communication with a radiating element 1201 and in communication with the first and second variable TTD components 1210, 121 i . n various embodiments, switching device can be a switch, a circulator, or a dipiexer. In various embodiments, the time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1200 can be configured for time- division half-duplex communications with the radiating element 1201. The switching device 1205 can be configured to control signal routing for a receive signal and a transmit signal. Moreover, the first and second variable TTD components 1210, 121 1 can be part of a monolithic component.

Additionally, in various embodiments and as similar to TTD circuit 300, time- division duplex time-delay circuit 1200 can further comprise a first controllable phase shifter 1202 comprising a first phase controller 1220 and first variable TTD component 1210 in series, and a second controllable phase shifter 1203 comprising a second phase controller 1221 and second variable TTD component 121 1 in series. As with other similar embodiments described herein, first and second phase controllers 1220, 1221 are not essential elements and can be omitted. Moreover, in various embodiments, the time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1200 can further comprise a first amplifier 1 230 in series with first controllable phase shifter 1202, and a second amplifier 1231 in series with second controllable phase shifter 1203 for amplifying the receive and transmit signals, respectively. Also similar to TTD circuit 300, the variable time delay of TTD components 1210, 121 1, and the resulting beam steering, can be selected by a controller (not shown) similar to the controller of variable TTD component 100. The controller can provide a control input signal that selects the desired time delay of each TTD component 1210, 121 1 and the relative difference between the two time delays, if any. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the controller can provide a control input signal to first and second phase controllers 1220, 1221. The control input signal can select the desired phase shift of each phase controller, and thereby control the polarization tracking.

in addition, a time-division duplex time-delay circuit as illustrated in Figure 13 can operate similarly to the TTD circuits illustrated in Figures 3 and 12. In accordance with various embodiments and with reference to Figure 13, a bidirectional antenna can include a time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1 300 with linear polarization. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1 300 can comprise a variable TTD component 1310, a first switching device 1305, a second switching device 1340, and a third switching device 1341. First, switching device 1305 can he in communication with a radiating element 1301 , whereas first and second switching devices 1340, 1341 can be transrntt-recetve switching devices in communication with the input and output of variable TTD component 1310, respectively, in various embodiments, the time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300 can be configured for time-division half-duplex communications with the radiating element 1301 . The switching devices 1305, 1340, 1341 can be configured to control signal routing for a receive signal and a transmit signal through variable TTD component 1310. For example, time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300 has a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The operating mode of time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300 can be controlled by switching devices 1305, 1340, 1341 forming a closed circuit path, thereby selecting between the receive signal path and the transmit signal path.

Additionally, in various embodiments and as similar to TTD circuit 300 and time- division duplex time-delay circuit 1200, time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300 can further comprise a controllable phase shifter 1 302 comprising a phase controller 1320 and variable TTD component 1310 in series. Moreover, in various embodiments, the time- division duplex time-delay circuit 1300 can further comprise a first amplifier 1330 in series with controllable phase shifter 1302 in the receive signal path, and a second amplifier 1331 in series with controllable phase shifter 1302 in the transmit signal path for amplifying the receive and transmit signals, respectively.

In various embodiments, time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300 can operate in different modes for transmitting and receiving signals. A first operating mode can be configured for transmitting a transmit input signal. The first operating mode can include first switching device 1340 connecting a transmit in line to variable TTD component 1310, and second switching device 1341 connecting variable TTD component 1310 to the transmit signal path associated with second amplifier 1331 . Furthermore, switching device 1305 can connect the transmit signal path to radiating element 1 301. Similarly, a second operating mode can be configured for receiving a receive output signal. The second operating mode can include switch device 1305 connecting radiating element 1301 to the receive signal path associated with first amplifier 1330. Furthermore, first switching device 1340 can connect the receive signal path to variable TTD component 1310. and second switching device 1341 can connect variable TTD component 13 10 to a receive out line. A controller can provide a control input signal to time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300, similar to the controller of time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1200,

The time-division duplex time-delay circuits as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 can be components of a TTD integrated circuit configured for transmitting and receive linear polarized signals using multiple radiating elements. n various embodiments and with reference to Figure 14A, a TTD integrated circuit 1400 can be configured as a 4-radiating element transceiver. The TTD integrated circuit 1400 can comprise a first subcircuit 141 in communication with a first radiating element 141 1 , a second subcircuit 1420 in communication with a second radiating element 1421 , a third subcircuit 1430 in communication with a third radiating element 1431. and a fourth subcircuit 1440 in communication with a fourth radiating element 1441 . Each subcircuit 1410, 1420, 1430. 1440 receives or transmits an RF signal, in accordance with various embodiments, subcircuits 1410, 1420, 1430, 1440 can individually comprise a time-division duplex time- delay circuit similar to time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1200 or time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300. as illustrated in Figures 14B and S 4C.

In accordance with various embodiments, a receive beam output can be generated by combining an output signal from each of four subcircuits 1410, 1420, 1430, 1440. In an example embodiment, multiple combiners can be used to combine the subcircuits' output signals into the receive beam output. Similarly, a transmit beam signal can be generated by dividing a transmit beam input to each of four subcircuits 1410, 1420, 1430, 1440. In an example embodiment, multiple splitters can be used to divide the transmit beam input into input signals for each of the subcircuits. In a more specific example embodiment, a combiner 145 ! can be configured to combine the receive signal outputs from first and second subcircuits 1410, 1420, Also in the example embodiment, a combiner 1 52 can be configured to combine receive signal outputs from third and fourth subcircuits 1430, 1440. At the next stage, a combiner 1453 can be configured to combine the combined outputs of combiners 1451 , 1452 to form a receive beam output. Combiners 1451 , 1452, 1453 can be either active combiners or passive combiners.

Furthermore, a splitter 1463 can be configured to divide a transmit beam input and communicate the divided input signals to splitters 1461 , 1462. The splitter 1461 can be configured to divide the input signal to first and second subcircuits 1410, 1420. The splitter 1462 can be configured to divide the input signal to third and fourth subcircuits 1430, 1440, Splitters 1461 , 1462, 1463 can be either active splitters or passive splitters.

in other various embodiments, the time-division duplex time-delay circuits as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 can be components of a TTD integrated circuit configured for transmitting and receiving linear polarized signals using multiple beams and multiple radiating elements. In various embodiments and with reference to Figure .15 A, a TTD integrated circuit 1500 can be configured as a dual receive beam, dual transmit beam, 4- radiating element transceiver. The TTD integrated circuit 1500 can comprise a first subcircuit 1510 in communication with a first radiating element 151 1 , a second subeircuit 1520 in communication with a second radiating element 1521, a third subcircuit 1530 in communication with a third radiating element 1531 , and a fourth subcircuit 1540 in communication with a fourth radiating element 1541 , Each subcircuit 15 10, 1520, 1530, 1540 can form two I I^" receive signals and/or generate two RF transmit signals, In accordance with various embodiments, subcircuits 1 510, 1520, 1 530, 1540 can individually comprise two time-division duplex time-delay circuits, each circuit can be similar to time- division duplex time-delay circuit 1200 or time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300, as illustrated in Figures 15B and 15C.

Furthermore, in accordance with various embodiments, the combiner and splitter network of TTD integrated circuit 1 500 operates similar to the combiner and splitter network of TTD integrated circuit 1400, with the addition that TTD integrated circuit 1500 has two receive beams and two transmit beams. As illustrated in Figure 1513, in various embodiments, first subcircuit 1510 can comprise a splitter 1 514 A configured to divide a receive signal from radiating element 151 1 into two divided receive signals. The two divided receive signals can be communicated to a first controllable phase shifter 1512 A and a second controilable phase shifter 1312B, respectively. First and second controllable phase shifters 1512 A, I512B can operate similar to controilable phase shifter 1202. Subcircuit 1510 can further comprise a combiner 1 14B configured to combine two intermediate transmit signals received from a third controllable phase shifter 1513 A and a fourth controilable phase shifter 1 513B, respectively, into transmit beam communicated to radiating element 151 1. Third and fourth controllable phase shifters 1 513A, 1513R can operate similar to controllable phase shifter 1203.

Moreover, in various embodiments and with reference to Figure I SC, first subcircuit 1510 can comprise a splitter 1514 A configured to divide a receive signal from radiating element 151 1 into two divided receive signals. The two divided receive signals can be communicated to a first controllable phase shifter 1 32A and a second controllable phase shifter 1512B, respectively. Subcircuit 1510 can further comprise a combiner 1514B configured to combine two intermediate transmit signals received from first controllable phase shifter 1512A and second controllable phase shifter 1512B, respectively, into a transmit beam communicated to radiating element 151 1. The half-duplex operation of first subcircuit 1530 and first and second controilable phase shifters 1512A. 1 Γ2Β can be facilitated by control of switching devices 1 1 A, J.515B, 1 515(1 1 1 D. First and second controilable phase shifters 1 512A, 1512B can operate similar to controilable phase shifter 1302.

Circular or slant polarization

in addition to the linear polarization embodiments described herein, a time delay antenna can also include a time-division duplex time-delay circuit with circular or slant polarization, in accordance with various embodiments and with reference to Figure 36, a time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1 600 with circular or slant polarization can comprise a first controllable phase shifter 1602A in parallel with a second controilable phase shifter 1602B configured for generating a receive beam output at a combiner 1604. in various embodiments, first controllable phase shifter 1 602A can be in. communication with a first switching device 1606A, which in turn can be in communication with a first slot of radiating element 1601. Likewise, second controllable phase shifter 3 02B can be in communication with a second switching device 1606B, which in turn can be in communication with a second siot of radiating element 1601. In various embodiments, switching devices 1606 A, 1606B can be switches, circulator, or diplexers,

Similarly, time-division duplex time-delay circuit 3600 can further comprise a third controliabie phase shifter 1603A in paraiiei with a fourth controllable phase shifter 1603B configured for forming a transmit beam from a transmit beam input communicated from a splitter 3605. in various embodiments, third controliabie phase shifter J 603A can be in communication with first switching device 1606A. which in turn can be in communication with the first siot of radiating element 1603. Likewise, fourth controllable phase shifter 1603B can be in communication with second switching device 1606B, which in turn can be in communication with the second slot of radiating element 1601.

Each of controliabie phase shifters 1602A, 1602B, 1 03 A, I603B comprise a variable TTD component 1612. Furthermore, in various embodiments, each of controllable phase shifters 1602A, 1602B, 1603A, 1603B can also comprise a phase controller 1613. In various embodiments, controllable phase shifters I602A, 3602B can operate similarly to controllable phase shifter 1202. Likewise controllable phase shifters 3603 A, 1603B can operate similarly to controllable phase shifter 1203.

in accordance with various embodiments and with reference to Figure 17, a time- division duplex time-delay circuit 1 700 with circular or slant polarization can comprise a first controliabie phase shifter 1702A in parallel with a second controllable phase shifter 3702B, First controllable phase shifter 1702A can be in communication with a first switching device 1707 A at a first end, and a second switching device 1707B at a second end. Similarly, second controllable phase shifter I 702B can be in communication with a third switching device 1707C at a first end, and a fourth switching device 1707D at a second end.

Furthermore, time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1700 can comprise a combiner

1704 and a splitter 1705. The splitter 1705 can be configured to receive a transmit beam input and communicate a divided transmit beam input to both the first and second controllable phase shifters 1702A, I 702B. Moreover, combiner 1704 can be configured to combine two intermediate receive signals from the first and second controllable phase shifters 1 702A, 3702B, respectively, and generate a receive beam output.

In various embodiments, first controliabie phase shifter 1702A can be in communication with a first switching device 3706A, which in turn can be in communication with a first slot of radiating element 1701 , Likewise, second controllable phase shifter 1702B can be in communication with a second switching device 1706B, which in turn can be in communication with a second slot of radiating element 1701. in various embodiments, switching devices 1706A, 1706B can be switches, circulator, or dipiexers. The operation of the first and second controllable phase shifters 1702A, 1702B can be similar to the operation of the time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1300.

The time-division duplex time-delay circuits as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 can be components of a TTD integrated circuit configured for transmitting and receiving circular or slant polarized signals using multiple radiating elements, in various embodiments and with reference to Figure I SA, a TTD integrated circuit 1800 can be configured as a 4- radiating element transceiver. The TTD integrated circuit 1800 can comprise a first subcircuit 1810 in communication with a first radiating element 1 81 1 , a second subcircuit 1820 in communication with a second radiating element 1 821. a third subcircuit 1830 in communication with a third radiating element 1831, and a fourth subcircuit 1840 in communication with a fourth radiating element 1 841 , Each subcircuit 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840 receives or transmits an RF signal, in accordance with various embodiments, subcircuits 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840 can individually comprise a time-division duplex time- delay circuit similar to time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1600 or time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1700, as is shown in Figures 18B and 18C.

In accordance with various embodiments, a receive beam output can be generated by combining an output signal from each of four subcircuits 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840. In an example embodiment, multiple combiners can be used to combine the subcircuits' output signals into the receive beam output. Similarly, a transmit beam signal can be generated by dividing a transmit beam input to each of four subcircuits 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840. In an example embodiment, multiple splitters can be used to divide the transmit beam input into input signals for each of the subcircuits. A combiner and splitter network can operate similar to the combiner and splitter network shown with respect to Figure 14.

In other various embodiments, the time-division duplex time-delay circuits as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 can be components of a TTD integrated circuit configured tor transmitting and receive circular or slant polarized signals using multiple beams and multiple radiating elements. In various embodiments and with reference to Figure 19A, a TTD integrated circuit 1900 can be configured as a dual receive beam, dual transmit bearn, 4-radiating element transceiver. The TTD integrated circuit 1900 can comprise a first subcircuit 1910 in communication with a first radiating element 191 1, a secorsd subcircuit 1920 in communication with a second radiating element 1921 , a third subcircuit 1930 in communication with a third radiating element 1931 , and a fourth subcircuit 1940 in communication with a fourth radiating element 1941. Each subcircuit 1910, 1920, 1930. 1940 can. form two RF receive signals and/or generate two RF transmit signals. In accordance with various embodiments, subeireuits 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 can individually comprise two time-division duplex time-delay circuits, each circuit can be similar to time- division duplex time-delay circuit 1600 or time-division duplex time-delay circuit 1700 as illustrated in Figures 19B and 19C,

Furthermore, in accordance with various embodiments, the combiner and splitter network of TTD integrated circuit 1900 operates similar to the combiner and splitter network of TTD integrated circuit 1 800, with the addition that TTD integrated circuit 1900 has two receive beams and two transmit beams.

The true time delay antenna architectures and networks as disclosed herein can be combined with traditional phased array building blocks such as active or passive combiners/splitters, active or passive 90° hybrids, active or passive phase shifters, and active or passive gain control elements, and realized in monolithic embodiments, Furthermore, a plurality of polarizations and beam steering can be provided by these architectures, in addition to the receive topology embodiments disclosed herein, one skilled in the art can appreciate how similar transmit topology embodiments can be designed.

In describing the present disclosure, the following terminology is used: The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to an item includes reference to one or more items, The term "ones" refers to one, two, or more, and generally applies to the selection of some or all of a quantity. The term "plurality" refers to two or more of an item. The term "about" means quantities, dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other characteristics need not he exact, but may be approximated and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting acceptable tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like and other factors known to those of skill in the art. The term "substantially" means that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill In the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide. Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus shouid be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also interpreted to include all of the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of "about 1 to 5" should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range can be individual values such as 2, 3 and 4 and sub-ranges such as 1 - 3, 2-4 and 3-5, etc. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value (e.g., "greater than about 3 ") and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described, A plurality of items may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member, Thus, no individual member of such List should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. Furthermore, where the terms '^'and" and "or" can be used in conjunction with a list of items, they can be to be interpreted broadly, in that any one or more of the listed items may be used alone or in combination with other listed items. The term "alternatively" refers to selection of one of two or more alternatives, and is not intended to limit the selection to only those listed alternatives or to only one of the listed alternatives at a time, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise,

In general, the disclosure is provided by way of example and is not a limitation. The specific ranges and numbers disclosed in the papers can be for illustration only, and do not limit the disclosure to those specific examples, ranges, or frequency bands, Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced can be not to be construed as critical required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. As used herein, ihe terms "includes," "including." "comprises," ^'"comprising," or any other variation thereof, can be intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus, Further, no element described herein is required for the practice of the disclosure unless expressly described as "essential" or "critical ."

Claims

1 . A time-delayed circuit of an antenna, the time-delayed circuit comprising:

a first variable true time deiay (TTD) component configured to provide a gain neutral variable time deiay between a first input and a first output, the first variable TTD component configured to generate a first gain neutrai time-delayed signal;

a second variable TTD component configured to provide a gain neutrai variable time delay between a second input and a second output, the second variable TTD component configured to generate a second gain neutral time-delayed signal, the second variable TTD component in parallel with the first variable TTD component;

wherein each of the first variable TTD component and the second variable TTD component comprise a control input configured to control the amount of variable time delay; and

wherein the first variable TTD component and the second variable TTD component are part of a monolithic component,

2. The time-delayed circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a first controllable phase shifter comprising the first variable TTD component and a first phase controller in series, wherein the first controllable phase shifter is configured to receive a first signal from a radiating element and output a first error-corrected time-delayed signal; and

a second controllable phase shifter comprising the second variable TTD component and a second phase controller in series, wherein the second controllable phase shifter is configured to receive a second signal from the radiating element and output a second error- corrected time-delayed signal;

wherein the first controllable phase shifter is in parallel with the second controllable phase shifter.

3. The time-delayed circuit of claim 2, wherein the first phase controller is configured for error correction of the first time-delayed signal and the second phase controller is configured for error correction of the second time-delayed signal

4. The time-delayed circuit of claims 3 -3, wherein the first and second variable TTD components individually comprise a plurality of TTD elements in series, wherein each of the plurality of TTD elements either injects a time delay in a time-delayed signal or passes through the time-delayed signal with minimal delay.

5. The time-delayed circuit of claim 4, wherein each TTD element of the plurality of TTD elements comprises an element compensating amplifier configured to compensate the time-delayed signal to a gain neutral level

6. The time-delayed circuit of claim 4, wherein the first and second variable TTD components individually comprise a variable gain amplifier (VGA) configured to compensate the time-delayed signal to a gain neutral level,

7. The time-deiayed circuit of claims 1 -6, further comprising at least one controller in communication with the first and second variable TTD components to provide the control input.

8. The time-delayed circuit of claims 1 -7, further comprising a 90° hybrid configured to receive the first time-delayed signal from the first variable TTD component and receive the second time-delayed signal from the second variable TTD component, wherein the 90° hybrid is configured to generate at least one circular polarized signal,

9. The time-delayed circuit of claims 1-7, further comprising a combiner configured to receive the first time-delayed signal from the first variable TTD component and receive the second time-delayed signal from the second variable TTD component, wherein the combiner is configured to combine the first and second time-delayed signals and generate a linear polarized signal.

10. A multiple radiating element receiver circuit comprising:

at least two subcircuiis individually comprising a time-delay circuit of claim 1 , wherein the at least two subcircuiis are individually in communication with at least two radiating elements; and

a network of combiners configured to receive intermediate signals from the at least two subcircuiis and combine the intermediate signals into at least one output beam.

1 1. The multiple radiating element receiver circuit of claim 10. wherein each of the at least two subcircuits is configured to perform polarization tracking and beam steering on a signal received from the respective at least two radiating elements.

12, The multiple radiating element receiver circuit of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two subcircuits further comprise: a first controllable phase shifter comprising the first variable TTD component and a first phase controller in series, wherein the first controllable phase shifter is configured to receive a first signal from the one of the respective at least two radiating elements and output a first error-corrected time-delayed signal; and

wherein the first controllable phase shifter is in parallel with the second controllable phase shi ter.

13. The multiple radiating element receiver circuit of claim 10, further comprising a 90° hybrid configured to receive the first time-delayed signal from the first TTD component and receive the second time-delayed signal from the second TTD component, wherein the 90° hybrid is configured to generate at least one circular polarized signal.

14. The multiple radiating element receiver circuit of claim 10, further comprising a combiner configured to receive the first time-delayed signal from the first TTD component and receive the second time-delayed signal from the second TTD component, wherein the combiner is configured to combine the first and second time-delayed signals and generate a linear polarized signal,

15. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first variable true time delay (TTD) component, a first signal from a radiating element:

receiving, at a second variable TTD component that is parallel to the first variable TTD component, a second signal from the radiating element;

generating, by the first variable TTD component, a first gain neutral time-delayed signal from the first signal based on a control input signal configured to control the amount of variable time delay; and

generating, by the second variable TTD component, a second gain neutral time- delayed signal from the second signal based on the control input signal configured to control the amount of variable time delay

wherein the first variable TTD component and the second variable TTD component are part of a monolithic component.

16, The method of claim 15, further comprising;

receiving, at a first controllable phase shifter comprising the first variable TTD component and a first phase controller in series, a first signal from the radiating element and outp tting a first error-corrected time-deiayed signal; and

receiving, at a second controllable phase shifter comprising the second variable TTD component and a second phase controller in series, a second signal from the radiating element and outputting a second error-corrected time-delayed signal;

wherein the first phase controller performs error correction of the first time-deiayed signal and the second phase controller performs error correction of the second time-deiayed signal.

17. The method of claims 15-16, wherein the first and second variable T D components individually comprise a plurality of TTD elements in series with each other, wherein each of the plurality of TTD elements either injects a time delay in a time-delayed signal or passes through the time-delayed signal with minimal delay.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each TTD element of the plurality of TTD elements comprises an element compensating amplifier configured to compensate the time- delayed signal to a gain neutral level.

19, The method of claims 15-17, wherein the first and second variable TTD components individually comprise a variable gain amplifier (VGA) configured to compensate the time-delayed signal to a gain neutral level,

20. The time-delayed circuit of claim 1 . wherein the time-delayed circuit is a time- division duplex time-delay circuit of an antenna, further comprising:

a switching device in communication with a radiating element and in communication with the first and second variable TTD components, wherein the switching device is configured to control signal routing for a receive output signal and a transmit input signal; wherein the first variable TTD component provides the gain neutral variable time delay for the receive output signal, and wherein the first gain neutral time-delayed signal is a gain neutral time-delayed receive output signal;

wherein the second variable TTD component provides the gain neutral variable time delay for the transmit input signal, and wherein the second gain neutral time-delayed signal is a gain neutral time-deiayed transmit input signal; and wherein the time-division duplex time-delay circuit is configured for lime-division half-duplex communications with the radiating element,

21. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 20, further comprising: a first controllable phase shifter comprising the first variable TTD component and a first phase controller in series, wherein the first controllable phase shifter configured to receive a receive output signal and output an error-corrected time-delayed receive output signal;

a second controllable phase shifter comprising the second variable TTD component and a second phase controller in series, wherein the second controllable phase shifter is configured to receive a transmit input signal and output an error-corrected time-delayed transmit input signal;

22. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 21, wherein the first phase controller is configured for error correction of the time-delayed receive output signal and the second phase controller is configured for error correction of the time-delayed transmit input signal

23. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claims 20-22, wherein the first and second variable TTD components individually comprise a plurality of TTD elements in series, wherein each of the plurality of TTD elements either injects a time delay in a time- delayed signal or passes through the time-delayed signal with minimal delay.

24. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 23, wherein each TIL⁾ element of the plurality of TTD elements comprises an element compensating amplifier configured to compensate the time-delayed signal to a gain neutral level.

25. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 23, wherein the first and second variable TTD components individually comprise a variable gain amplifier (VGA) configured to compensate the time-delayed signal to a gain neutral level

26. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claims 20-25, further comprising at least one controller in communication with the first and second variable TTD components, wherein the at least, one controller is configured to provide a control input signal to the control input in order to seiect a time delay of each of the first and second variable ITD components.

27. A multiple radiating element half-duplex circuit comprising:

at least two subcircuits individually comprising a time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 20, wherein the at least two subcircuits are mdividualiy in communication with at least two radiating elements;

a network of combiners configured to receive intermediate receive signals from the at least two subcircuits and combine the intermediate receive signals into at least one receive output beam; and

a network of splitters configured to receive at least one transmit input beam and divide the at least one transmit input beam into intermediate transmit signals for communicating to the at least two subcircuits.

28. The multiple radiating element half-duplex circuit of claim 27, wherein each of the at least two subcircuits is configured to perform polarization tracking and beam steering on signals communicated with the respective at least two radiating elements.

29. The multiple radiating element half-duplex circuit of claims 27-28, wherein each of the at least two subcircuits further comprise:

a first phase controller, in communication with the first TTD component, configured to adjust the phase of the time-delayed receive output signal and facilitate generation of an error-corrected time-delayed receive output signal; and

a second phase controller, in communication with die second TTD component, configured to adjust the phase of the time-delayed transmit input signal and facilitate generation of an error-corrected time-delayed transmit input signal.

30. A time-division duplex time-delay circuit of a bidirectional antenna, the time- division duplex time-delay circuit comprising:

multiple transmit-receive switching devices in communication with a radiating element, wherein the multiple transmit-receive switching devices is configured to control signal routing based on an operating mode of the bidirectional antenna; and

a true time delay (TTD) component configured to generate a gain neutral time- delayed signal having a variable time delay, wherein the time-delayed signal is either a time- delayed receive output signal or a time-delayed transmit input signal based on the operating mode: wherein the TTD component is configured to inject a time-delay into the time- delayed signal based on a control input configured to control the amount of variable time delay;

wherein the bidirectional antenna is configured for time-division half-duplex communications with the radiating element, and wherein the TTD component is part of a m oiio 1 ithic com ponen t .

31. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 30, wherein the operating mode is either a transmit mode or a receive mode.

32. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claims 30-31 , further comprising a phase controller, in communication with the TTD component, configured to adjust the phase of the time-delayed signal and facilitate generation of an error-corrected time-delayed signal, wherein the error-corrected time-delayed signal is either an error-corrected time- delayed receive output signal or an error-corrected time-delayed transmit input signal based on the operating mode.

33, The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 32, wherein the phase controller is configured for error correction of either the time-delayed receive output signal or the time-delayed transmit input signal based on the operating mode.

34. The time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claims 30-33, wherein the TTD component comprises a plurality of TTD elements in series, wherein each of the plurality of TTD elements either injects a time delay in the time-delayed signal or passes through the time-delayed signal with minimal delay.

35, A multiple radiating element half-duplex, circuit comprising:

at least two subcircults individually comprising a time-division duplex time-delay circuit of claim 30, wherein the at least two subcircuits are individually in communication with at least two radiating elements; and

a network of combiners configured to receive intermediate receive signals from the at least two subcircuits and combine the intermediate receive signals into at least one receive output beam;

36. The multiple radiating element half-duplex circuit of claim 35, wherein the operating mode is either a transmit mode or a receive mode.

37. The multiple radiating element half-duplex circuit of claims 35-36, further comprising a phase controller, in communication with the TTD component, configured to adjust the phase of the time-delayed signal and facilitate generation of an error-corrected time-delayed signal, wherein the error-corrected time-delayed signal is either an error- corrected time-delayed receive output signal or an error-corrected time-delayed transmit input signal based on the operating mode.

38. The multiple radiating element half-duplex circuit of claim 37, wherein the phase controller is configured for error correction of either the time-delayed receive output signal or the time-delayed transmit input signal based on the operating mode.

39. The multiple radiating element half-duplex circuit of claims 35-38, wherein the TTD component comprises a plurality of TTD elements in series, wherein each of the plurality of TTD elements either injects a time delay in the time-delayed signal or passes through the time-delayed signal with minimal delay.

40. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first true time delay (TTD) component, a transmit input signal;

time delaying, by the first TTD component, the transmit input signal to generate a time-delayed transmit signal;

communicating, by the first TTD component, the time-delayed transmit signal to a radiating element for transmission: and

receiving, at a second TTD component, a receive signal from the radiating element; time-delaying, by the second TTD component, the receive signal to generate a time- delayed receive output signal;

wherein the first and second TTD components is part of a monolithic component.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising;

adjusting, by a first phase controller, the phase of the time-delayed transmit signal and facilitating generation of an error-corrected time-delayed transmit signal for communicating to the radiating element; and

adjusting, by a second phase controller, the phase of the time-delayed receive output signal and facilitating generation of an error-corrected time-delayed receive output signal.

42. The method of claims 40-41, wherein the firsi and second TTD components individually comprise a plurality of TTD elements in series, wherein each of the plurality of TTD elements either Injects a time delay in a time-delayed signal or passes through the time- delayed signal with minimal delay.