A printed circuit architecture includes a relatively thick, stiffening base
of thermally and electrically conductive material, and a laminate of
conductive layers including a printed circuit structure, interleaved with
dielectric layers, disposed atop the base. The patterned conductive layers
contain an integrated circuit structure that is configured to provide RF
signaling, microstrip shielding, and digital and analog control signal
leads, and DC power. Low inductance electrical connectivity among the
conductive layers and also between conductive layers and the base is
provided by a plurality of conductive bores. Selected bores are
counter-drilled at the RF signaling layer and filled with insulating
plugs, which prevent shorting of the RF signal trace layer to ground,
during solder reflow connection of leads of circuit components to the RF
signaling layer.