Broadband microstrip to dielectric image line transitions

Novel broadband microstrip to dielectric image line (DIL) transitions have been developed. A conducting strip is flared linearly from the microstrip l ine to the DIL. The DIL and microstrip substrate are on the same side of th eir common ground plane. Theoretical Simulation results, obtained by using the finite-difference time-domain method, agree well with experimental resu lts, The transitions should have applications in the integration of the die lectric image line with microwave integrated circuits (MICs) and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs).