Suppression of mutual coupling in an array of planar antenna elements

A phased antenna array having reduced coupling among a plurality of antenna elements, comprising:

• a plurality of planar antenna elements adjacent to one another in an array configuration;
• a circumferential conductor exclusively around each individual one of said elements in a plane common to each said element and spaced from said elements at an outer perimeter thereof, said circumferential conductor connected to a ground potential and wherein at least a portion of said circumferential conductor for each said element is common to a circumferential conductor of an adjacent one of said elements.

An antenna element for providing reduced coupling to a plurality of adjacent antenna elements in a phased array, comprising:

• a dielectric layer;
• a radiating element formed on said dielectric layer;
• a circumferential conductor exclusively around each individual one of said radiating elements in a plane common to each said radiating element and spaced from said radiating element to form an outer perimeter thereof, said circumferential conductor connected to a ground potential and wherein at least a portion of said circumferential conductor for said element is common to a circumferential conductor of an adjacent one of said radiating elements.