High frequency, high bandwidth, low loss microstrip to waveguide transition

A microwave integrated circuit assembly comprising:

• a thermally conductive substrate having a first surface adapted to support one or more heat generating components and having a side with a shape which forms an array of antenna elements;
• a plurality of heat generating components disposed on the first surface of said thermally conductive substrate;
• and
• one or more electrically conductive connections between respective ones of said array of antenna elements and said plurality of heat generating components, wherein said array of antenna elements includes at least one element that is at least partially separated from a main portion of the thermally conductive substrate by a gap and the one or more electrically conductive connections includes at least one transmission line section that spans said gap.

A method of guiding radio frequency (RF) energy comprising:

• coupling RF energy to an input of an RF device disposed on a first surface of a heat spreader;
• coupling RF energy from an output of the RF device to an antenna element formed from a portion of the heat spreader, wherein said antenna element is at least partially separated from a main portion of the heat spreader by a gap and coupling RF energy from the output of the RF device to the antenna element includes directing the RF energy through a conductive connection spanning said gap;
• and
• emitting RF energy from the antenna element formed from a portion of the heat spreader.

A method of manufacturing an RF system, comprising:

• providing a heat spreader having a first portion and a second portion;
• forming an antenna from said first portion of said heat spreader, wherein said second portion of said heat spreader is spaced apart by a gap from part of the first portion of said heat spreader which forms said antenna element;
• mounting a component on said second portion of said heat spreader;
• connecting said component with one or more conductive connections disposed across the gap;
• and
• fixedly positioning a waveguide over said antenna, wherein said one or more conductive connections, said gap, and said antenna are configured to radiate energy into an open end of said waveguide.