Microwave device and method for making same

Claim 2

A microwave device, comprising: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface; at least one circuit component mounted directly on the first surface of the substrate; a first interconnect trace connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit component and a first of the plurality of vias; a second interconnect trace connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to a second of the plurality of vias; a microwave circuit chip having an upper active surface and lower ground surface, wherein the upper active surface faces the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the first and second conductive vias; and an electrical conductor directly connected to the second surface of the substrate and defining a recess in which the microwave circuit chip is disposed, wherein the first and second interconnect traces, the substrate and the electrical conductor form a microstrip transmission medium having the same transmission field orientation as that of the microwave circuit chip.

Claim 3

The microwave device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductor includes a ground plate having a recessed portion defining a recess, and wherein the microwave circuit chip is disposed in the recess.

Claim 4

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one circuit component is surface mounted to the first surface of the substrate.

Claim 5

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one circuit component includes a discrete circuit component selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, and an integrated circuit.

Claim 6

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one circuit component includes a thick film circuit element.

Claim 7

The microwave device of claim 5 , wherein the thick film circuit element is selected from the group consisting of a resistor and a capacitor.

Claim 8

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one circuit component includes a thin film circuit element.

Claim 9

The microwave device of claim 7 , wherein the thin film circuit element is selected from the group consisting of a resistor and a capacitor.

Claim 10

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein the microwave circuit chip includes a transistor.

Claim 11

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein the microwave circuit chip includes a MMIC.

Claim 12

The microwave device of claim 10 , wherein the microwave circuit chip includes a microstrip-based MMIC.

Claim 13

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein the microwave circuit chip is electrically connected to the first and second vias by a plurality of electrically conductive bumps.

Claim 14

The microwave device of claim 12 , wherein the microwave circuit chip includes a plurality of bonding pads on the active surface of the microwave circuit chip, wherein the bonding pads are electrically connected to the bumps.

Claim 15

The microwave device of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the second surface of the substrate is coated with an electrically conductive material.

Claim 16

The microwave device of claim 2 , further comprising an electrically conductive shim interposed between the second surface of the substrate and the ground plate.

Claim 17

A microwave device, comprising: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface; at least one circuit component mounted directly on the first surface of the substrate; a first interconnect trace connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit component and a first of the plurality of vias; a second interconnect trace connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to a second of the plurality of vias; a microwave circuit chip having an upper active surface and lower ground surface, wherein the upper active surface faces the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the first and second conductive vias; a ground plate directly connected to the second surface of the substrate and defining a recess in which the microwave circuit chip is disposed, wherein the first and second interconnect traces, the substrate and the ground plate form a microstrip transmission medium having a transmission field orientation as that of the microwave circuit chip; and an isolation device connected to the substrate and adjacent the first microwave circuit chip.

Claim 18

A microwave device, comprising: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface; at least one circuit component mounted directly on the first surface of the substrate; a first interconnect trace connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit component and a first of the plurality of vias; a second interconnect trace connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to a second of the plurality of vias; a microwave circuit chip having an upper active surface and lower ground surface, wherein the upper active surface faces the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to the first and second conductive vias; a ground plate directly connected to the second surface of the substrate and defining a recess in which the microwave circuit chip is disposed, wherein the first and second interconnect traces, the substrate and the ground plate form a microstrip transmission medium having a transmission field orientation as that of the microwave circuit chip; and an isolation device connected to the substrate and adjacent the first microwave circuit chip.

Claim 19

The microwave device of claim 16 , wherein the isolation device includes a microwave frequency absorbing material.

Claim 20

The microwave device of claim 17 , wherein the isolation device extends from the first surface of the substrate to the second surface of the substrate.

Claim 21

The microwave device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one circuit component is surface mounted to the first surface of the substrate and includes a discrete circuit component selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, and an integrated circuit.

Claim 22

The microwave device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one circuit component includes a thick film circuit element.

Claim 23

The microwave device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one circuit component includes a thin film circuit element.

Claim 24

A microwave device, comprising: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface; at least one circuit component mounted directly on the first surface of the substrate; a plurality of interconnect traces connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of vias, wherein at least one interconnect trace is also electrically connected to the circuit component; a ground plate directly connected to the second surface of the substrate, the ground plate defining first and second recesses; a first microwave circuit chip, having an upper active surface and lower ground surface, disposed in the first recess defined by the ground plate such that the upper active surface of the first microwave circuit chip faces the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to a first set of the electrically conductive vias; and a second microwave circuit chip, having an upper active surface and lower ground surface, disposed in the second recess defined by the ground plate such that the upper active surface of the second microwave circuit chip faces the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to a second set of the electrically conductive vias, wherein the interconnect traces, the substrate and the ground plate form a microstrip transmission medium having the same transmission field orientation as that of the first and second microwave circuit chips.

Claim 25

A microwave device, comprising: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface; at least one circuit component mounted directly on the first surface of the substrate; a plurality of interconnect traces connected to the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of vias, wherein at least one interconnect trace is also electrically connected to the circuit component; a ground plate directly connected to the second surface of the substrate, the ground plate defining first and second recesses; a first microwave circuit chip, having an upper active surface and lower ground surface, disposed in the first recess defined by the ground plate such that the upper active surface of the first microwave circuit chip faces the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to a first set of the electrically conductive vias; and a second microwave circuit chip, having an upper active surface and lower ground surface, disposed in the second recess defined by the ground plate such that the upper active surface of the second microwave circuit chip faces the second surface of the substrate and is electrically connected to a second set of the electrically conductive vias, wherein the interconnect traces, the substrate and the ground plate form a microstrip transmission medium having the same transmission field orientation as that of the first and second microwave circuit chips.

Claim 26

The microwave device of claim 22 , further comprising: a first isolation device connected to the substrate and adjacent the first microwave circuit chip; and a second isolation device connected to the substrate and adjacent the second microwave circuit chip.

Claim 27

The microwave device of claim 23 , wherein each of the first and second isolation devices include a microwave frequency absorbing material.