Microwave compression interconnect using dielectric filled three-wire line with compressible conductors

Claim 2

A three-wire microwave transmission line, comprising: a dielectric element having formed therein first, second and third openings extending from a first end of said dielectric element to a second end of said dielectric element; and first, second and third conductors disposed respectively within said first, second and third openings, said conductors including respectively first, second and third compressible conductor members, said compressible conductor members formed of thin metal wire densely packed within said respective openings, said compressible conductor members each including a first end protruding from said respective openings to form a first set of compressible contacts at said first end of said dielectric element.

Claim 3

The transmission line of claim 1 wherein said each of said first, second and third conductors is defined by said respective compressible member, and said compressible members extends through said respective first, second and third opening from said first end of said dielectric element to said second end of said dielectric element, each of said compressible members protruding from said second end of said dielectric element to define a second set of compressible contacts at said second end of said dielectric element.

Claim 4

The transmission line of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third conductors respectively further include first, second and third rigid conductor members disposed within said respective first, second and third openings, said rigid conductor members each having a first end in a compression fit with a first end of a corresponding compressible element.

Claim 5

The transmission line of claim 3 wherein said rigid conductor members are each a solid metal wire conductor.

Claim 6

The transmission line of claim 4 wherein said respective first, second and third conductors further includes respectively fourth, fifth and sixth compressible conductor members each formed of thin metal wire densely packed within a corresponding one of said openings, said fourth, fifth and sixth compressible conductor members each including a first end protruding from a corresponding one of the openings at said second end of said dielectric element by a contact dimension to form a second set of compressible contacts, and a second end of each of said fourth, fifth and sixth compressible members is in a compression fit against a second end of said corresponding solid metal wire conductor in electrical contact therewith.

Claim 7

The transmission line of claim 3 wherein each of said rigid conductor members is a hollow tube having a center tube opening and conductive surfaces.

Claim 8

The transmission line of claim 6 wherein each of said tubes extends through a corresponding one of said openings from said first end of said dielectric element to said second end of said dielectric element, a second end of said corresponding fourth, fifth or sixth compressible member inserted within a first end of said tube.

Claim 9

The transmission line of claim 1 further comprising an electrically conductive shield surrounding a periphery of said dielectric element.

Claim 10

A stacked assembly of microwave circuits formed on substrates, comprising: a first microwave circuit comprising a first substrate having defined on a first substrate surface a first grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) transmission line; a second microwave circuit comprising a second substrate having defined on a second substrate surface a second GCPW transmission line; and an interconnection circuit for providing an orthogonal microwave transition between said first and second GCPW transmission lines, said interconnection circuit comprising: a dielectric element having formed therein first, second and third openings extending from a first end of said dielectric element to a second end of said dielectric element; and first, second and third conductors disposed respectively within said first, second and third openings, said conductors including respectively first, second and third compressible conductor portions, each including a first end protruding from said respective openings to form a first set of compressible contacts at said first end of said dielectric element, said conductors further including respective fourth, fifth and sixth compressible conductor portions each including a first end protruding from said respective openings to form a second set of compressible contacts at said second end of said dielectric element, said first and second substrates sandwiching said interconnection circuit so that said first set of compressible contacts of said three-wire transmission line is in compressive electrical contact with corresponding ground plane surfaces and a center conductor comprising said first GCPW line, said second set of compressible contacts of said three-wire transmission line is in compressive electrical contact with corresponding ground plane surfaces and a center conductor comprising said second GCPW line.

Claim 11

A stacked assembly of microwave circuits formed on substrates, comprising: a first microwave circuit comprising a first substrate having defined on a first substrate surface a first grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) transmission line; a second microwave circuit comprising a second substrate having defined on a second substrate surface a second GCPW transmission line; and an interconnection circuit for providing an orthogonal microwave transition between said first and second GCPW transmission lines, said interconnection circuit comprising: a dielectric element having formed therein first, second and third openings extending from a first end of said dielectric element to a second end of said dielectric element; and first, second and third conductors disposed respectively within said first, second and third openings, said conductors including respectively first, second and third compressible conductor portions, each including a first end protruding from said respective openings to form a first set of compressible contacts at said first end of said dielectric element, said conductors further including respective fourth, fifth and sixth compressible conductor portions each including a first end protruding from said respective openings to form a second set of compressible contacts at said second end of said dielectric element, said first and second substrates sandwiching said interconnection circuit so that said first set of compressible contacts of said three-wire transmission line is in compressive electrical contact with corresponding ground plane surfaces and a center conductor comprising said first GCPW line, said second set of compressible contacts of said three-wire transmission line is in compressive electrical contact with corresponding ground plane surfaces and a center conductor comprising said second GCPW line.

Claim 12

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said compressible conductor portions are formed of thin metal wire densely packed within said respective openings.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said first conductor is defined by said first and fourth compressible conductor portions, said second conductor is defined by said second and fifth compressible conductor portions, and said third conductor is defined by said third and sixth compressible conductor portions.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said first conductor further includes a first rigid conductor member disposed within said first opening, said rigid conductor member having a first end in a compression fit with said first end of said first compressible element and a second end in contact with said first end of said second compressible element.

Claim 15

The assembly of claim 12 wherein said rigid conductor member is a solid metal wire conductor.

Claim 16

The assembly of claim 12 wherein said rigid conductor member is a hollow tube having a center tube opening and conductive surfaces.

Claim 17

The assembly of claim 14 wherein said tube extends through said opening from said first end of said dielectric element to said second end of said dielectric element, and wherein said second end of said first compressible member is inserted within a first end of said tube and said second end of said second compressible member is inserted within a second end of said tube.

Claim 18

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said first and said second substrate surfaces are planar surfaces.

Claim 19

The assembly of claim 9 wherein said interconnection circuit further comprises an electrically conductive shield surrounding at least a portion of a periphery of said dielectric element, said shield contacting said ground plane surfaces of said first and second GCPW lines.

Claim 20

The assembly of claim 17 wherein said shield fully surrounds said periphery, with a first relieved area therein formed adjacent said first end of said dielectric element and a second relieved area formed adjacent said second end of said dielectric element, said first relieved area preventing said center conductor of said first GCPW line from shorting to said corresponding ground plane surfaces of said first GCPW line, said second relieved area preventing said center conductor of said second GCPW line from shorting to said corresponding ground plane surfaces of said second GCPW line.