Apparatuses and methods for coupling a waveguide structure to an integrated circuit package

A radar system comprising:

• an integrated circuit (IC) including
• an IC package,
• lead frame, and
• circuitry to communicate signals for radar communications;
• a waveguide structure coupled to the IC package and including
• conductive walls characterizing one or more apertures through which electro-magnetic signals are transmitted,
• a plurality of pillars located in the IC package to provide a mm wave signal path and having respective first end portions to connect to the IC package and second end portions to connect to a waveguide antenna,
• a plurality of waveguide shields to provide electro-magnetic isolation for the plurality of pillars, and
• micro-strip connector to provide connection between the second end portions and to the waveguide antenna;
• and
• a plurality of bond wires to connect the IC package and the lead frame and to carry the signals from the circuitry of the IC to the board on which the IC package is mounted for transmission via the waveguide antenna.

A method for use in a waveguide structure being coupled to an integrated circuit (IC) package, the method comprising:

• communicating, by transmitting and/or receiving signals, from circuitry in the IC package for radar communication;
• using a plurality of pillars in an aperture of the waveguide structure to provide a mm wave signal path from and respective first end portions of the plurality of pillars, along the plurality of pillars and to second end portions of the plurality of pillars to connect to a waveguide antenna, wherein the plurality of waveguide shields includes multiple sets of pillars, each set surrounded by an axial-metal shield to provide impedance control of a transmission line for the propagation of the millimeter-wave signals;
• using waveguide shields to provide electro-magnetic isolation for the plurality of pillars;
• and
• via a micro-strip connector to provide connection between the second end portions and the waveguide antenna, launching the millimeter-wave signals.

An apparatus comprising:

• a waveguide structure to couple an integrated circuit (IC) package and including a plurality of pillars to provide a path for carrying millimeter-wave signals, each of the plurality of pillars having a first end portion to connect to the IC package and a second end portion to pass waveguided energy to a waveguide antenna;
• and
• a micro-strip connector to provide connection between the second end portions and to the waveguide antenna;
• wherein the IC package includes an interface surface at which a micro-strip line is to connect to the waveguide structure, and the waveguide structure defines a slot through which non-galvanic proximity coupling is provided with the micro-strip line at the interface surface of the IC package, the slot being defined to minimize energy losses during mm-Wave energy transfer.