Phased array antenna system

A phased array antenna system, comprising:

• a plurality of antenna elements;
• a reference signal source configured to generate a reference signal;
• a frequency divider configured to divide the reference signal to produce a frequency-divided reference signal;
• a power splitter configured to create, from the frequency-divided reference signal, a counterclockwise divided reference signal and a clockwise divided reference signal;
• at least one ring tap;
• a distribution ring configured to provide the counterclockwise divided reference signal to the ring tap, and to provide the clockwise divided reference signal to the ring tap, wherein the ring tap is configured to produce a phase synchronization signal based the counterclockwise divided reference signal and the clockwise divided reference signal;
• and
• an analog regenerative frequency divider configured to receive the phase synchronization signal and the reference signal and produce a common phase reference signal.

A method for generating a common phase reference signal, the method comprising:

• generating a reference signal;
• dividing the reference signal to produce a frequency divided reference signal;
• creating, from the frequency-divided reference signal, a counterclockwise divided reference signal and a clockwise divided reference signal;
• producing a phase synchronization signal based the counterclockwise divided reference signal and the clockwise divided reference signal;
• and
• generating the common phase reference signal based in part on the reference signal and the phase synchronization signal.