Patent ID: 7388451

Claim:
An interconnect structure for establishing connections with monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), comprising: a substrate having a continuous surface except for at least one gap; at least one MMIC disposed in the gap in the substrate, wherein the MMIC has a thickness much less than that of the substrate; at least one microwave transmission line disposed over the substrate and extending up to the gap; and at least one interconnect ribbon that is approximately 3 mil (75 μm) in length extending from the MMIC to the microwave transmission line; wherein the substrate includes at least one transition region in which the substrate is gradually tapered in thickness from a maximum substrate thickness of approximately 10-25 mil (250-625 μm) to a reduced thickness of approximately 2-4 mil (50-100 μm) that is approximately the same as the thickness of the MMIC; and wherein that portion of the at least one microwave transmission line that is disposed on the at least one transition region of the substrate is gradually tapered in width as the at least one transition region is tapered in thickness, thereby providing a microwave transmission line transition of substantially uniform characteristic impedance.