Fluidic self-assembly of active antenna

A circuit for coupling to an antenna, comprising:

• a substrate comprising at least one recessed region;
• a shaped block disposed in the at least one recessed region, the shaped block comprising an active circuit input for coupling to a signal source and for receiving signals from the signal source, the active circuit for amplifying the signals;
• and
• a variable waveguide structure for phase-shifting amplified signals generated by the active circuit.

A circuit for coupling to an antenna, comprising:

• a non-semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of recessed regions;
• a variable waveguide structure coupled to receive signals from a signal source, the variable waveguide structure for phase-shifting the signals;
• a first shaped block disposed in a first one of the recessed regions, the first shaped block comprising a control circuit coupled to the variable waveguide structure and for adjusting a time delay of the variable waveguide structure;
• a second shaped block disposed in a second one of the recessed regions, the second shaped block comprising an active circuit coupled to the variable waveguide structure for receiving phase-shifted signals and for providing amplified phase-shifted signals to the antenna.

A circuit for coupling to an antenna, comprising:

• a non-semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of recessed regions;
• a first shaped block disposed in a first one of the recessed regions, the first shaped block comprising an active circuit coupled to receive signals from the antenna and to generate amplified signals;
• a variable waveguide structure coupled to receive the amplified signals from the active circuit, the variable waveguide structure for generating phased-shifted signals from the amplified signals;
• a second shaped block disposed in a second one of the recessed regions, the second shaped block comprising a control circuit coupled to the variable waveguide structure and for adjusting a time delay of the variable waveguide structure.

An active antenna, comprising:

• a substrate comprising at least one recessed region;
• an antenna element coupled to the substrate;
• a tapered block disposed in the at least one recessed region, the tapered block comprising a device coupled to the antenna element;
• wherein a substrate and the tapered block form a substantially planar surface;
• and
• a waveguide structure having metalized lines disposed on the substantially planar surface.

An active antenna, comprising:

• a substrate comprising at least one recessed region with at least one beveled edge;
• an antenna element coupled to the substrate;
• a shaped block disposed in the at least one recessed region, the shaped block comprising a device coupled to the antenna element, wherein the substrate and the shaped block form a substantially planar surface;
• and
• a waveguide structure having metalized lines disposed on the substantially planar surface.

A phased-array antenna, comprising:

• a substrate comprising a plurality of recessed regions;
• a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the substrate;
• a plurality of variable time delay circuits coupled to the antenna elements and coupled to a signal bus, the variable time delay circuits operable for receiving signals from the signal bus and generating phase-shifted signals therefrom;
• a plurality of first shaped blocks disposed in first respective ones of the plurality of recessed regions, the first shaped blocks comprising first electronic circuits coupled to the variable time delay circuits for receiving the phase-shifted signals, and for modifying the phase-shifted signals to be provided to the antenna elements.