Variable capacitance element, packaged circuit, resonant circuit, communication apparatus, communication system, wireless charging system, power supply apparatus, and electronic apparatus

• US 10,199,173 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dexerials Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dexerials Corporation
• Inventors: Kanno, Masayoshi, Saito, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Inge, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/419,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20150243442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 7/00 Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by non-mechanical means; Processes of their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 7/06 having a dielectric selected for the variation of its permittivity with applied voltage, i.e. ferroelectric capacitors electrets H01G7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage

Abstract

The present provides a variable capacitance element enabling a further reduction in capacitance variation among variable capacitance elements, and provides a packaged circuit including the variable capacitance element. A variable capacitance element is configured to include an element body unit, a compensation unit, a first external terminal for signals, a second external terminal for signals, external terminals for control, and external terminals for capacitance compensation. The compensation unit has second variable-capacitance capacitor units C9 to C 11, each including a second dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material, and is connected to the element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to a control voltage signal.

Claims

1. A variable capacitance element comprising:

an element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a control voltage signal applied from outside;

a compensation unit which includes a plurality of second variable capacitor units including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the element body unit or the compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

an external terminal for control which is connected to the element body unit and configured to receive an input of the control voltage signal; and

an external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the compensation unit, wherein;

the element body unit and the compensation unit are serially connected,

the second external terminal for signals is connected to the compensation unit,

said second variable capacitor units being connected in parallel,

one end of each of the second variable capacitor units is connected to the element body unit,

another end of one of the second variable capacitor units is connected to the second external terminal for signals, and

the external terminal for capacitance compensation is provided to another end of each of the remaining second variable capacitor units, and said other end of each of said remaining second variable capacitor units is connected to a corresponding one of the external terminals for capacitance compensation.

2. A variable capacitance element comprising:

an element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a control voltage signal applied from outside;

a compensation unit which includes a plurality of second variable capacitor units including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the element body unit or the compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

an external terminal for control which is connected to the element body unit and configured to receive an input of the control voltage signal; and

an external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the compensation unit, wherein;

the element body unit and the compensation unit are serially connected,

the second external terminal for signals is connected to the compensation unit,

said second variable capacitor units being serially connected,

one end of a series circuit comprising the plurality of the second variable capacitor units is connected to the element body unit,

another end of the series circuit is connected to the second external terminal for signals, and

the external terminal for capacitance compensation is provided to each of connection points between the second variable capacitor units adjacent to each other, and each of the connection points is connected to a corresponding one of the external terminals for capacitance compensation.

3. A variable capacitance element comprising:

an element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a control voltage signal applied from outside;

a compensation unit which includes a plurality of second variable capacitor units including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the element body unit or the compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

an external terminal for control which is connected to the element body unit and configured to receive an input of the control voltage signal; and

an external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the compensation unit, wherein;

the element body unit and the compensation unit are connected in parallel,

the second external terminal for signals is connected to the element body unit, and

one end of the compensation unit is connected to the first external terminal for signals, and another end of the compensation unit is connected to the external terminal for capacitance compensation.

4. The variable capacitance element according to 3, wherein

said second variable capacitor units being serially connected, and

one end of a series circuit comprising the plurality of the second variable capacitor units is connected to the first external terminal for signals, and another end of the series circuit is connected to the external terminal for capacitance compensation.

5. A wireless charging system, comprising:

a power feeding apparatus including a power feeding antenna unit,

wherein the power feeding antenna unit includes a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant coil connected to the first resonant capacitor, and

wherein the first resonant capacitor includes a first variable capacitance element, the first variable capacitance element including;

a first element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a first control voltage signal applied from outside;

a first compensation unit which includes a second variable capacitor unit including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the first element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the first control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit or the first compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a first external terminal for control which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of the first control voltage signal; and

a first external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the first compensation unit; and

a power receiving apparatus including a power receiving antenna unit,

wherein the power receiving antenna unit includes a second resonant capacitor and a second resonant coil connected to the second resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with the power feeding antenna unit, and

wherein the second resonant capacitor includes a second variable capacitance element, the second variable capacitance element including;

a second element body unit which includes a third variable capacitor unit including a third dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a second control voltage signal applied from outside;

a second compensation unit which includes a fourth variable capacitor unit including a fourth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the second element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the second control voltage signal;

a third external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a fourth external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit or the second compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for control is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of the second control voltage signal; and

a second external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the second compensation unit.

6. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a power feeding apparatus unit including a power feeding antenna unit,

wherein the power feeding antenna unit includes a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant coil connected to the first resonant capacitor, and

wherein the first resonant capacitor includes a first variable capacitance element, the first variable capacitance element including;

a first element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a first control voltage signal applied from outside;

a first compensation unit which includes a second variable capacitor unit including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the first element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the first control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit, and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit or the first compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a first external terminal for control which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of the first control voltage signal; and

a first external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the first compensation unit; and

a power receiving apparatus unit including a power receiving antenna unit,

wherein the power receiving antenna unit includes a second resonant capacitor and a second resonant coil connected to the second resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with the power feeding antenna unit, and

wherein the second resonant capacitor includes a second variable capacitance element, the second variable capacitance element including;

a second element body unit which includes a third variable capacitor unit including a third dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a second control voltage signal applied from outside;

a second compensation unit which includes a fourth variable capacitor unit including a fourth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the second element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the second control voltage signal;

a third external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a fourth external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit or the second compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for control which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of the second control voltage signal; and

a second external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the second compensation unit.

7. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a communication apparatus unit including a receiving antenna unit,

wherein the receiving antenna unit includes a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant coil connected to the first resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with outside, and

wherein the first resonant capacitor includes a first variable capacitance element, the first variable capacitance element including;

a first element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a first control voltage signal applied from outside;

a first compensation unit which includes a second variable capacitor unit including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the first element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the first control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit or the first compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a first external terminal for control which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of the first control voltage signal; and

a first external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the first compensation unit;

a power feeding apparatus unit including a power feeding antenna unit,

wherein the power feeding antenna unit includes a second resonant capacitor and a second resonant coil connected to the second resonant capacitor, and

wherein the second resonant capacitor includes a second variable capacitance element, the second variable capacitance element including;

a second element body unit which includes a third variable capacitor unit including a third dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a second control voltage signal applied from outside;

a second compensation unit which includes a fourth variable capacitor unit including a fourth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the second element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the second control voltage signal;

a third external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a fourth external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit or the second compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for control which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of the second control voltage signal; and

a second external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the second compensation unit; and

a power receiving apparatus unit including a power receiving antenna unit, wherein the power receiving antenna unit includes a third resonant capacitor and a third resonant coil connected to the third resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with the power feeding antenna unit, and

wherein the third resonant capacitor includes a third variable capacitance element, the third variable capacitance element including;

a third element body unit which includes a fifth variable capacitor unit including a fifth dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a third control voltage signal applied from outside;

a third compensation unit which includes a sixth variable capacitor unit including a sixth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the third element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the third control voltage signal;

a fifth external terminal for signals which is connected to the third element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a sixth external terminal for signals which is connected to the third element body unit or the third compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a third external terminal for control which is connected to the third element body unit and configured to receive an input of the third control voltage signal; and

a third external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the third compensation unit.

8. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a communication apparatus unit including a receiving antenna unit,

wherein the receiving antenna unit includes a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant coil connected to the first resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with outside, and

wherein the first resonant capacitor includes a first variable capacitance element, the first variable capacitance element including;

a first element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a first control voltage signal applied from outside;

a first compensation unit which includes a second variable capacitor unit including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the first element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the first control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit or the first compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a first external terminal for control which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of the first control voltage signal; and

a first external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the first compensation unit; and

a power supply apparatus unit including a power supply unit, a rectifier circuit unit, and a variable impedance unit,

wherein the rectifier circuit unit is configured to convert AC power supplied from the power supply unit into DC power,

wherein the variable impedance unit includes a second variable capacitance element and is provided between the power supply unit and the rectifier circuit unit, and wherein the second variable capacitance element includes;

a second element body unit which includes a third variable capacitor unit including a third dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a second control voltage signal applied from outside;

a second compensation unit which includes a fourth variable capacitor unit including a fourth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the second element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the second control voltage signal;

a third external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a fourth external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit or the second compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for control which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of the second control voltage signal; and

a second external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the second compensation unit.

9. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a power feeding apparatus unit including a power feeding antenna unit,

wherein the power feeding antenna unit includes a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant coil connected to the first resonant capacitor, and

wherein the first resonant capacitor includes a first variable capacitance element, the first variable capacitance element including;

a first element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a first control voltage signal applied from outside;

a first compensation unit which includes a second variable capacitor unit including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the first element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the first control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit or the first compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a first external terminal for control which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of the first control voltage signal; and

a first external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the first compensation unit;

a power receiving apparatus unit including a power receiving antenna unit, wherein the power receiving antenna unit includes a second resonant capacitor and a second resonant coil connected to the second resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with the power feeding antenna unit, and

wherein the second resonant capacitor includes a second variable capacitance element, the second variable capacitance element including;

a second element body unit which includes a third variable capacitor unit including a third dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a second control voltage signal applied from outside;

a second compensation unit which includes a fourth variable capacitor unit including a fourth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the second element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the second control voltage signal;

a third external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a fourth external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit or the second compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for control which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of the second control voltage signal; and

a second external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the second compensation unit; and

a power supply apparatus unit including a power supply unit, a rectifier circuit unit, and a variable impedance unit,

wherein the rectifier circuit unit is configured to convert AC power supplied from the power supply unit into DC power,

wherein the variable impedance unit includes a third variable capacitance element and is provided between the power supply unit and the rectifier circuit unit, and wherein the third variable capacitance element includes;

a third element body unit which includes a fifth variable capacitor unit including a fifth dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a third control voltage signal applied from outside;

a third compensation unit which includes a sixth variable capacitor unit including a sixth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the third element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the third control voltage signal;

a fifth external terminal for signals which is connected to the third element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a sixth external terminal for signals which is connected to the third element body unit or the third compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a third external terminal for control which is connected to the third element body unit and configured to receive an input of the third control voltage signal; and

a third external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the third compensation unit.

10. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a communication apparatus unit including a receiving antenna unit,

wherein the receiving antenna unit includes a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant coil connected to the first resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with outside, and

wherein the first resonant capacitor includes a first variable capacitance element, the first variable capacitance element including;

a first element body unit which includes a first variable capacitor unit including a first dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a first control voltage signal applied from outside;

a first compensation unit which includes a second variable capacitor unit including a second dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the first element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the first control voltage signal;

a first external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for signals which is connected to the first element body unit or the first compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a first external terminal for control which is connected to the first element body unit and configured to receive an input of the first control voltage signal; and

a first external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the first compensation unit;

a power feeding apparatus unit including a power feeding antenna unit, wherein the power feeding antenna unit includes a second resonant capacitor and a second resonant coil connected to the second resonant capacitor, and

wherein the second resonant capacitor includes a second variable capacitance element, the second variable capacitance element including;

a second element body unit which includes a third variable capacitor unit including a third dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a second control voltage signal applied from outside;

a second compensation unit which includes a fourth variable capacitor unit including a fourth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the second element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the second control voltage signal;

a third external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a fourth external terminal for signals which is connected to the second element body unit or the second compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a second external terminal for control which is connected to the second element body unit and configured to receive an input of the second control voltage signal; and

a second external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the second compensation unit;

a power receiving apparatus unit including a power receiving antenna unit, wherein the power receiving antenna unit includes a third resonant capacitor and a third resonant coil connected to the third resonant capacitor, and is configured to perform non-contact communication with the power feeding antenna unit, and

wherein the third resonant capacitor includes a third variable capacitance element, the third variable capacitance element including;

a third element body unit which includes a fifth variable capacitor unit including a fifth dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a third control voltage signal applied from outside;

a third compensation unit which includes a sixth variable capacitor unit including a sixth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the third element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the third control voltage signal;

a fifth external terminal for signals which is connected to the third element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a sixth external terminal for signals which is connected to the third element body unit or the third compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a third external terminal for control which is connected to the third element body unit and configured to receive an input of the third control voltage signal; and

a third external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the third compensation unit; and

a power supply apparatus unit including a power supply unit, a rectifier circuit unit, and a variable impedance unit,

wherein the rectifier circuit unit is configured to convert AC power supplied from the power supply unit into DC power,

wherein the variable impedance unit includes a fourth variable capacitance element and is provided between the power supply unit and the rectifier circuit unit, and wherein the fourth variable capacitance element includes;

a fourth element body unit which includes a seventh variable capacitor unit including a seventh dielectric layer formed of a ferroelectric material and has a capacitance varying according to a fourth control voltage signal applied from outside;

a fourth compensation unit which includes an eighth variable capacitor unit including an eighth dielectric layer formed of the ferroelectric material, is connected to the fourth element body unit, and has a capacitance varying according to the fourth control voltage signal;

a seventh external terminal for signals which is connected to the fourth element body unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

an eighth external terminal for signals which is connected to the fourth element body unit or the fourth compensation unit and configured to receive an input of an AC signal;

a fourth external terminal for control which is connected to the fourth element body unit and configured to receive an input of the fourth control voltage signal; and

a fourth external terminal for capacitance compensation which is connected to the fourth compensation unit.