Switched Beam Antenna Architecture

An antenna element is described which has at least one radiator layer disposed over a feed circuit layer. The radiator has a first ground plane disposed thereon and the feed circuit layer has a second ground plane disposed thereon. A conductive path couples the first and second ground plane layers to provide a cavity in the radiator and feed circuit layers. The cavity may be formed by embedded vias which provide a continuous conductive path between the first and second ground plane layers. A cover layer disposed over the radiator layer may function to tune the antenna element. The radiator layers may be provided from a low temperature co-fired ceramic substrate. Apertures in the radiator layers may be used to match an impedance of the antenna element to a predetermined impedance.