Cross-polarized time division duplexed antenna

A beam forming integrated circuit for use in a phased array antenna system having a first sub-array and a second sub-array that are switched between an array receive mode in which the first sub-array receives signals with a first polarity and the second sub-array receives signals with a second polarity different than the first polarity and an array transmit mode in which the first sub-array transmits signals with the second polarity and the second sub-array transmits signals with the first polarity, the beam forming integrated circuit comprising:

• receive circuitry configurable to process receive signals with the first polarity when configured for use in the first sub array and with the second polarity when configured for use in the second sub-array;
• transmit circuitry configurable to generate transmit signals with the second polarity when configured for use in the first sub array and with the first polarity when configured for use in the second sub-array;
• at least one transmit interface in communication with the transmit circuitry, each transmit interface configured to couple to a corresponding dual-polarity element;
• at least one receive interface in communication with the receive circuitry, each receive interface configured to couple to a corresponding dual-polarity element;
• and
• a controller configured to control operating modes of the beam forming integrated circuit, wherein the operating modes include:
• a receive operating mode corresponding to the array receive mode in which the receive circuitry is switched on and the transmit circuitry is switched off such that the phased array antenna system using the beam forming integrated circuit is configured to receive signals in both the first polarity and the second polarity;
• and
• a transmit operating mode corresponding to the array transmit mode in which the receive circuitry is switched off and the transmit circuitry is switched on such that the phased array antenna system using the beam forming integrated circuit is configured to transmit signals in both the first polarity and the second polarity.