Apparatus with 3D inductors
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first three dimensional (3D) inductor having a first conductive path shaped as a first two dimensional (2D) lobe laid over a first 3D volume, wherein;
the first 3D inductor comprises a first elongated via column that forms part of the first conductive path;
the first elongated via column is elongated along a first plane to define a first column surface that faces toward an interior of the first 3D inductor; and
the first 2D lobe is open so as to define a first gap; and
a second 3D inductor having a second conductive path shaped as a second 2D lobe laid over a second 3D volume, wherein;
the second 3D inductor is inserted into the first 3D inductor so that the second 3D volume at least partially overlaps the first 3D volume;
the second 3D inductor comprises a second elongated via column that forms part of the second conductive path;
the second elongated via column extends through the first 3D volume;
the second elongated via column is elongated along a second plane to define a second column surface that faces toward an exterior of the second 3D inductor and towards the first column surface of the first elongated via column;
the second 2D lobe is open so as to define a second gap; and
the first gap does not coincide with the second gap.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of an apparatus are disclosed that includes a first three dimensional (3D) inductor and a second 3D inductor. The first three dimensional (3D) inductor has a first conductive path shaped as a first two dimensional (2D) lobe laid over a first 3D volume. In addition, the second 3D inductor has a second conductive path, wherein the second 3D inductor is inserted into the first 3D inductor so that the second conductive path at least partially extends through the first 3D volume. Since second 3D inductor is inserted into the first 3D inductor, the 3D inductors may be coupled to one another. Depending on orientation and distances of structures provided by the 3D inductors, the 3D inductors may be weakly or moderately coupled.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first three dimensional (3D) inductor having a first conductive path shaped as a first two dimensional (2D) lobe laid over a first 3D volume, wherein; the first 3D inductor comprises a first elongated via column that forms part of the first conductive path; the first elongated via column is elongated along a first plane to define a first column surface that faces toward an interior of the first 3D inductor; and the first 2D lobe is open so as to define a first gap; and a second 3D inductor having a second conductive path shaped as a second 2D lobe laid over a second 3D volume, wherein; the second 3D inductor is inserted into the first 3D inductor so that the second 3D volume at least partially overlaps the first 3D volume; the second 3D inductor comprises a second elongated via column that forms part of the second conductive path; the second elongated via column extends through the first 3D volume; the second elongated via column is elongated along a second plane to define a second column surface that faces toward an exterior of the second 3D inductor and towards the first column surface of the first elongated via column; the second 2D lobe is open so as to define a second gap; and the first gap does not coincide with the second gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a first three dimensional (3D) inductor having a first conductive path shaped as a first two dimensional (2D) lobe laid over a first 3D volume, wherein; the first 3D inductor comprises a first elongated via column, a second elongated via column, a third elongated via column, a fourth elongated via column, a first connector plate, a second connector plate, and a third connector plate to form the first conductive path; the first connector plate connects the first elongated via column and the second elongated via column; the second connector plate connects the third elongated via column and the fourth elongated via column; the third connector plate connects the second elongated via column to the third elongated via column; and the first 2D lobe is open so as to define a first gap; and a second 3D inductor having a second conductive path shaped as a second 2D lobe laid over a second 3D volume, wherein; the second 3D inductor comprises a fifth elongated via column, a sixth elongated via column, a seventh elongated via column, an eighth elongated via column, a fourth connector plate, a fifth connector plate, and a sixth connector plate to form the second conductive path; the fourth connector plate connects the fifth elongated via column and the sixth elongated via column; the fifth connector plate connects the seventh elongated via column and the eighth elongated via column; the sixth connector plate connects the sixth elongated via column to the seventh elongated via column; the second 3D inductor is inserted into the first 3D inductor so that the second 3D volume at least partially overlaps the first 3D volume; the second 2D lobe is open so as to define a second gap; and the first gap does not coincide with the second gap. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification