An apparatus includes a signal splitter configured to receive an input signal for transmission and to split the input signal to form two or more sub-signals. The apparatus further includes a first amplifier configured to generate a first amplified sub-signal, a second amplifier configured to generate a second amplified sub-signal, a first launcher coupled to the first amplifier and to a waveguide, and a second launcher coupled to the second amplifier and to the waveguide. The first and second launchers are coupled to the waveguide such that a first radiative signal generated by the first launcher responsive to the first amplified sub-signal and a second radiative signal generated by the second launcher responsive to the second amplified sub-signal are combined in the waveguide to form a transmission signal corresponding to the input signal.

Various aspects directed towards an integrated transverse electromagnetic (TEM) transmission line structure for probe calibration are disclosed. In one example, the integrated TEM transmission line structure includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and an air-dielectric coplanar waveguide (CPW). For this example, the air-dielectric CPW includes an air trace in a cutout slot of the PCB. In another example, a method is disclosed, which includes forming an air-dielectric CPW on a PCB in which the air-dielectric CPW includes an air trace in a cutout slot of the PCB. In a further example, an integrated TEM transmission line structure includes an air-dielectric CPW with an air trace. For this example, a first connector is electrically coupled to a first end of the air-dielectric CPW, and a second connector is electrically coupled to a second end of the air-dielectric CPW.

Signal conductor patterns (21, 31) are respectively formed on a first main surface (101) and a second main surface (102) of an insulating substrate (100). Ground conductor patterns (222, 322) are formed on the first main surface (101) and the second main surface (102). A first conductive member (41) is formed in the insulating substrate (100) and electrically connects the signal conductor patterns (21, 31) in the thickness direction. A second conductive member (42) is formed in the insulating substrate (100) and connected to the ground conductor patterns (222, 322). A dielectric member (43) is disposed between the first conductive member (41) and the second conductive member (42), is in contact with the first conductive member (41) and the second conductive member (42), and has a dielectric constant different from the dielectric constant of the insulating substrate (100).

A communication apparatus includes a signal line that connects an antenna and a wireless communication module to each other, the signal line having a portion where the signal line is divided in part into sections, with an adjacent portion adjacent to the divided portion of the signal line being greater in line width than a main body portion of the signal line; a first ground pattern disposed to face the main body portion; and a second ground pattern disposed to face the adjacent portion. The distance from the adjacent portion to the second ground pattern is longer than the distance from the main body portion to the first ground pattern. The antenna and the wireless communication module are connected to each other through the signal line and a solder adhered to the adjacent portion.

Circuits and methods include transmission lines formed from a conductive cladding on a substrate surface. The transmission line includes additional reference conductors positioned co-planar on the surface, including a gap between the transmission line and each of the reference conductors. The transmission line and the reference conductors are at least partially encapsulated (e.g., sandwiched) between two substrates. Isolation boundaries may be included as ground planes, e.g., above and below the transmission line, on opposing surfaces of the substrates, and Faraday walls, e.g., vertically, through the substrates. Current densities generated by various electromagnetic signals are distributed among the transmission line and the reference conductors (as a tri-conductor arrangement), and may be partially further distributed to the isolation (ground) boundaries.

An electronic device includes first printed circuit board (PCB) structure including first layer including first conductive strip, second conductive strip electrically separated from first conductive strip and extending at least partially in parallel with first conductive strip, and third conductive strip electrically separated from first conductive strip and extending at least partially in parallel with first conductive strip, such that first conductive strip is between second conductive strip and third conductive strip, and second layer including first conductive layer, first insulating layer interposed between and in contact with first region of first layer and first region of second layer facing first region of first layer, second insulating layer interposed between second region of first layer abutting first region of first layer and second region of second layer abutting first region of second layer while contacting first layer, and third insulating layer interposed between second insulating layer and second region of second layer, while contacting second layer, and being separated from second insulating layer by air gap, and a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to first conductive strip and configured to transmit and/or receive radio frequency (RF) signal.

A grounding structure of the high-frequency circuit board includes a dielectric substrate, a back surface ground electrode, an upper ground electrode, and a microstripline upper electrode. The dielectric substrate has a first surface and a second surface, and is provided with a first through-hole. A first opening of the first through-hole at the first surface is smaller than a second opening of the first through-hole at the second surface. A first grounding conductor layer is provided in the first through-hole. The back surface ground electrode is provided at the second surface and is connected with the first grounding conductor layer. The upper ground electrode is provided at the first surface and is connected with the first ground conductor layer. The microstripline upper electrode is provided at the first surface.

We disclose an electrically controllable RF-circuit element that includes an electrochromic material. In an example embodiment, the electrically controllable RF-circuit element is configured to operate as a phase shifter whose phase-shifting characteristics can be changed using a dc-bias voltage applied to a multilayered structure containing a layer of the electrochromic material.

A carrier layout comprising a substrate comprising a ground plane layer and a coplanar waveguide interconnect disposed onto the substrate. The coplanar waveguide interconnect comprises a pair of coplanar conductors and a central conductor disposed between the pair of coplanar conductors. The coplanar conductors of the pair are electrically connected to each other by at least one conducting island that is isolated from the ground plane layer. The present invention also provides an interconnect structure for coupling an electronic unit to an optical device disposed on a substrate having a ground plane layer, the interconnect structure comprising a pair of coplanar conductors and a central conductor disposed between the pair of coplanar conductors. The conductors of the pair are electrically connected by at least one conducting island that is isolated from the ground plane layer.

An electronic device may include a millimeter wave transceiver, a first antenna having a first resonating element at a first side of a substrate, and a second antenna having a second resonating element at a second side of the substrate. A first coplanar waveguide may convey millimeter wave signals between the transceiver and the first resonating element and a second coplanar waveguide may convey millimeter wave signals between the transceiver and the second resonating element. The first coplanar waveguide may be coupled to the first resonating element through the second coplanar waveguide. The second coplanar waveguide may be coupled to the second resonating element through the first coplanar waveguide. Ground conductors in the coplanar waveguides may form antenna ground planes for the first and second antennas while serving to maximize electromagnetic decoupling between the coplanar waveguides and thus isolation between the ports of the transceiver.