Patent ID: 7154356

Claim:
A multilayer printed circuit board for use in a radio frequency communication system, said multilayer printed circuit board comprising: at least two conductive layers, each conductive layer having a conductive trace formed thereon which terminates at a via pad; an interconnection structure comprising: a center signal conductor via connected at each end to a via pad on one of said at least two conductive layers, wherein said signal conductor via is for propagating electrical signals between conductive traces on different conductive layers of said printed circuit board; a plurality of ground vias surrounding said signal conductor via, said plurality of ground vias having a position relative to said signal conductor via based upon-a desired overall impedance of said interconnection structure; at least one inner ground metal layer, each inner ground metal layer corresponding to one of said conducting layers, each inner ground metal layer having a ground pullback section cut away in a region surrounding said signal conductor via, each inner ground metal layer providing a ground return path for said corresponding conductive layer, each inner ground metal layer further comprising a ground extension section corresponding to a section of said conductive trace on said corresponding conductive layer, said ground extension section protruding into said ground pullback section and being unconnected to said signal conductor via, each inner ground metal layer being immediately adjacent said corresponding conductive layer, said section of said conductive trace being isolated from a ground plane of said conductive layer.