Printed circuit board having integral waveguide

A printed circuit board including a polymer-filled waveguide comprising:

• a polymeric substrate,
• a metallic layer on the polymeric substrate, the metallic layer having a first strip and a second strip equidistantly spaced apart from the first strip;
• a polymeric layer overlying the metallic layer, the polymeric layer having a first channel exposing the first strip, a second channel exposing the second strip, and a land between the first channel and the second channel;
• and
• a metallic plate comprising a trace affixed to the land and parallel to the metallic layer, a first elongated metallized via extending through the first channel in contact with the first strip, and a second elongated metallized via extending through the second channel in contact with the second strip;
• the metallic layer and the metallic plate cooperating to form the polymer-filled waveguide.

A printed circuit board including a polymer-filled waveguide comprising:

• a polymeric substrate,
• a metallic layer on the polymeric substrate, the metallic layer having a first strip and a second strip generally equidistantly spaced apart from the first strip;
• a polymeric layer overlying the metallic layer, the polymeric layer having a first channel exposing the first strip, a second channel exposing the second strip, and a land between the first channel and the second channel;
• a metallic plate comprising a trace affixed to the land and parallel to the metallic layer, a first elongated metallized via extending through the first channel in contact with the first strip, and a second elongated metallized via extending through the second channel in contact with the second strip;
• the metallic layer and the metallic plate cooperating to form a polymer-filled waveguide, said waveguide having an end, and
• a horn antenna connected to the end of the waveguide for propagating electromagnetic energy to and from the waveguide.