Circuit architecture for distributed multiplexed control and element signals for phased array antenna

A method of operating a phased array antenna system, comprising:

• communicating a beam signal and a control signal in a composite multiplexed signal, the control signal associated with a first control circuit of a plurality of control circuits, wherein the beam signal and the control signal occupy non-overlapping frequency bands;
• converting the composite multiplexed signal using a beam forming network between the composite multiplexed signal and a plurality of individual signals at each of a plurality of element signal ports;
• communicating the plurality of individual signals via the plurality of element signal ports to corresponding control circuits of the plurality of control circuits coupled to the beam forming network, wherein each individual signal of the plurality of individual signals comprises a respective element beam signal of a plurality of element beam signals and a respective element control signal of a plurality of element control signals;
• obtaining, at the first control circuit, the respective element control signal from a first individual signal of the plurality of individual signals;
• adjusting, at the first control circuit, a first element beam signal to obtain a first adjusted element beam signal based at least in part on the respective element control signal;
• communicating, at the first control circuit, the first adjusted element beam signal;
• and
• synchronizing each of the plurality of control circuits using respective element control signals, wherein the synchronizing comprises:
• generating a clock signal at the first control circuit based at least in part on a carrier frequency of the control signal.