Patent ID: 8324979

Claim:
A coupled microstrip line structure comprising: a first ground plane having a plurality of first ground strip shields separated by a dielectric material, each of the first ground strip shields having a first width as measured in a first direction; a first dielectric layer over the first ground plane; a first signal line over the first dielectric layer, wherein the first signal line is directly above the plurality of first ground strip shields, and wherein the first signal line and the plurality of first ground strip shields are non-parallel; a second signal line over the first dielectric layer, wherein the second signal line is directly above the plurality of first ground strip shields, and wherein the second signal line and the plurality of first ground strip shields are non-parallel, and wherein the second signal line is substantially parallel to the first signal line; a second ground plane having a plurality of second ground strip shields, the second ground plane interposed between the first ground plane and the first and second signal lines; wherein the first ground plane further comprises first ground conductors extending substantially in the first direction and parallel to the first signal line and the second signal line, wherein the first ground conductors electrically couple the plurality of first ground strip shields; and first ground conductor extensions electrically coupled to and continuously contacting respective top surfaces of the first ground conductors along the first direction, the first ground conductor extensions having a second width at least as wide as the first width as measured in the first direction.