Beamformer lattice for phased array antennas

An apparatus comprising:

• a beamformer including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;
• a plurality of input vias, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs electrically couples to a respective input via of the plurality of input vias;
• and
• a plurality of output vias, wherein each output of the plurality of outputs electrically couples to a respective output via of the plurality of output vias;
• and
• a plurality of radio frequency (RF) filters included in a first layer, wherein each RF filter of the plurality of RF filters is disposed between and electrically couples to a respective output of the plurality of outputs and a respective output via of the plurality of output vias;
• wherein the beamformer is included in the first layer, wherein the plurality of input vias are configured to electrically couple to termination trace ends of a plurality of hierarchical networks provided on at least second and third layers, and wherein the plurality of hierarchical networks comprises at least three hierarchical networks.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of beamformer cells arranged in a particular arrangement in a first layer, wherein each beamformer cell of the plurality of beamformer cells comprises:
• a beamformer including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs,
• a plurality of input vias having first and second ends, wherein each first end of an input via of the plurality of input vias electrically couples to a respective input of the plurality of inputs and each second end of the input via of the plurality of input vias electrically couples to a terminating trace segment of a multiplex feed network located in a second layer, and
• a plurality of output vias having third and fourth ends, wherein each third end of an output via of the plurality of output vias electrically couples to a respective output of the plurality of outputs and each fourth end of the output via of the plurality of output vias electrically couples to an antenna element of a plurality of antenna elements located in a third layer,
• wherein each beamformer cell of the plurality of beamformer cells is positioned in the first layer to minimize routing distance to associated antenna elements.

An apparatus comprising:

• a beamformer including a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and the beamformer included in a first printed circuit board (PCB) layer;
• a plurality of input vias, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs electrically couples to a respective input via of the plurality of input vias;
• a first electrically conductive trace segment extending from a first last stage node of a first hierarchical network, wherein the first electrically conductive trace segment includes a first termination end at an end opposite the first last stage node, wherein the first termination end electrically couples to a first input via of the plurality of input vias;
• and
• a second electrically conductive trace segment extending from a second last stage node of a second hierarchical network, wherein the second electrically conductive trace segment includes a second termination end at an end opposite the second last stage node, wherein the second termination end electrically couples to a second input via of the plurality of input vias,
• wherein the first hierarchical network is disposed above and aligned with the second hierarchical network, wherein the first and second electrically conductive trace segments are differently shaped from each other.