Three dimensional packaging architecture for phased array antenna elements

An electronically steerable phased array antenna module having a conformable circuit element. The conformable circuit element forms a packaging architecture which includes a flexible substrate on which the control electronics of the antenna can be mounted directly or electrically coupled to the flexible substrate. The radiating elements are integrally formed on the substrate together with monolithic transmission lines which couple the radiating elements to the integrated circuits forming the control electronics. In one preferred embodiment, integrated power combiner/splitters may be integrally formed on the conformable circuit element and integrated transmission feed lines are formed on the circuit element coupling the power combiner/splitter circuits to the control electronics. The conformable circuit element provides a packaging architecture which enables a large plurality of antenna radiating elements and associated interconnecting transmission and feed to be packaged in a cost efficient and compact manner, and which can be easily adapted for a variety of different forms of phased array antennas.