Analysis of microstrip structures on and near dielectric ridges using an integral equation-mode matching technique

A full-wave technique which uniquely synthesizes well-known integral-equation and mode-matching methods is shown to be applicable to the study of propagation in microstrip structures which are on or near dielectric ridges. Coupled microstrips on dielectric ridges and a microstrip near a chip edge are examined to demonstrate the accuracy and utility of this method. Compared to the method of lines and the full-wave mode matching analyses, the integral-equation-mode-match technique is more complex than the former and similar in complexity to the latter when shielded two-dimensional structures are considered; however, three-dimensional structures may be much more easily characterized by the integral-equation-mode-matching technique.<>