Patent ID: 7448909

Claim:
A circuit board for use in differential signal applications, the circuit board having a pair of plated vias that are used to convey differential signals through said circuit board, comprising: a ground plane layer, the ground plane layer having an opening formed therein that encompasses both of the differential signal vias, and which further abuts another pair of vias; an exit structure that defines a conductive path from said pair of differential signal vias to two corresponding circuit trace transmission line portions disposed on a layer of the circuit board that is different than said ground plane layer, the exit structure including, two enlarged flag portions extending out from said vias toward an intervening first axis, two angled portions that interconnect said flag portions to said circuit traces, and transmission line portions one of the circuit trace transmission line portions extending along an edge of the ground plane opening and the other of said circuit trace transmission line portions extending along the one circuit trace, but outside of said ground plane opening.