US Patent 10938082 Aperture-coupled microstrip-to-waveguide transitions

An aperture coupled microstrip-to-waveguide transition (“ACMWT”) is disclosed that includes a plurality of dielectric layers forming a dielectric structure and an inner conductor formed within the dielectric structure. The plurality of dielectric layers includes a top dielectric layer that has a top surface. The (“ACMWT”) further includes a patch antenna element (“PAE”) formed on the top surface, a bottom conductor, an antenna slot within the PAE, a coupling element (“CE”) formed above the inner conductor and below the PAE, and a waveguide. The waveguide includes at least one waveguide wall and a waveguide backend, where the waveguide backend has a waveguide backend surface that's a portion of the top surface of the top dielectric layer and where the waveguide backend surface and the at least one waveguide wall form a waveguide cavity within the waveguide. The PAE is a conductor located within the waveguide cavity at the waveguide backend surface.