Phased array control circuit

A beam forming integrated circuit for use in a phased array system, the beam forming integrated circuit comprising:

• at least one beam forming channel, each beam forming channel including beam forming circuitry configured to process signals for a discrete beam forming element;
• and
• for each beam forming channel, a corresponding register bank comprising a plurality of individually addressable and programmable register sets and fast beam switching circuitry that receives fast beam switching control signals from a fast beam switching control interface, each register set configured to store operating parameters for the beam forming channel, the fast beam switching circuitry configured to provide operating parameters from a selected one of the register sets to the beam forming channel based on the fast beam switching signals from the fast beam switching control interface.

A phased array system comprising:

• a plurality of beam forming elements;
• and
• a plurality of beam forming channels, each beam forming channel including beam forming circuitry configured to process signals for a discrete beam forming element, wherein at least one beam forming channel further includes active power control circuitry configured to selectively control DC power consumption of the beam forming channel based on programmable operating parameters for the beam forming channel including a power control parameter for the beam forming channel for at least one of (1) reducing DC power consumption of the phased array system or (2) selectively changing the effective directivity of the phased array system.

A beam forming integrated circuit for use in a phased array system, the beam forming integrated circuit comprising:

• at least one beam forming channel, each beam forming channel including beam forming circuitry configured to process signals for a discrete beam forming element, wherein at least one beam forming channel further includes active power control circuitry configured to selectively control DC power consumption of the beam forming channel based on programmable operating parameters for the beam forming channel including a power control parameter for the beam forming channel for at least one of (1) reducing DC power consumption of the phased array system or (2) selectively changing the effective directivity of the phased array system.