Method and apparatus for terminating a time division duplex phased array antenna

A phased array antenna comprising:

• an antenna having a first polarization and a second polarization;
• a beamforming integrated circuit, comprising:
• a plurality of switchable transceivers, wherein each of the switchable transceivers comprises:
• a switchable transmit circuit operatively connectable to the first polarization of the antenna, wherein the switchable transmit circuit comprises:
• a transmit path configured to be selectively enabled;
• and
• a switchable transmit impedance matching network operatively connected to the transmit path;
• and
• a switchable receive circuit operatively connectable to the second polarization of the antenna, wherein the switchable receive circuit comprises:
• a receive path configured to be selectively enabled;
• and
• a switchable receive impedance matching network operatively connected to the receive path,
• wherein the switchable transceiver is switchable between a transmit state and a receive state,
• wherein in the transmit state, the transmit path is enabled, the receive path is disabled, the switchable transmit impedance matching network is disabled, and the switchable receive impedance matching network is enabled, and
• wherein in the receive state, the transmit path is disabled, the receive path is enabled, the switchable transmit impedance matching network is enabled, and the switchable receive impedance matching network is disabled.

A method, comprising:

• providing a beamforming integrated circuit, comprising:
• a plurality of switchable transceivers, wherein each of the switchable transceivers comprises:
• a switchable transmit circuit operatively connectable to a first polarization of an antenna, wherein the switchable transmit circuit comprises:
• a transmit path configured to be selectively enabled;
• and
• a switchable transmit impedance matching network operatively connected to the transmit path;
• and
• a switchable receive circuit operatively connectable to a second polarization of the antenna, wherein the switchable receive circuit comprises:
• a receive path configured to be selectively enabled;
• and
• a switchable receive impedance matching network operatively connected to the receive path,
• switching the switchable transceiver between a transmit state and a receive state,
• in the transmit state:
• enabling the transmit path;
• disabling the receive path;
• disabling the switchable transmit impedance matching network;
• and
• connecting the switchable receive impedance matching to ground, and
• in the receive state:
• disabling the transmit path;
• enabling the receive path;
• connecting the switchable transmit impedance matching network to ground;
• and
• disabling the switchable receive impedance matching network.