Chip-scale coils and isolators based thereon
First Claim
1. A signal isolator comprising:
- a first substrate;
a first transformer formed on the first substrate;
an input circuit operatively connected to drive the transformer in response to a received input signal;
an output circuit operatively connected to generate an output signal responsive to a signal from the transformer; and
wherein at least one of the input circuit and the output circuit is not formed on the first substrate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Coil structures and isolators using them. A coil(s) is (are) used as a magnetic field-generating element(s) paired with another coil(s) or other magnetic field-receiving element(s). The coil(s) is(are) formed in or on a substrate which does not include some or all of the driver (i.e., input) or receiver (i.e., output) circuits. The coil(s) and magnetic field-receiving element(s) thus can be manufactured separately from the driver and/or receiver circuitry, using different processes, instead of subjecting the chip areas containing both input and output circuits to post processing to form the coil(s). Isolators can be assembled using such coils with a resultant lower cost. Isolators also can be assembled using transformers made from such coils wherein the transformers can be driven on either of their windings in order to provide bi-directional isolation with a single transformer.
167 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A signal isolator comprising:
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a first substrate;
a first transformer formed on the first substrate;
an input circuit operatively connected to drive the transformer in response to a received input signal;
an output circuit operatively connected to generate an output signal responsive to a signal from the transformer; and
wherein at least one of the input circuit and the output circuit is not formed on the first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A multi-channel isolator in which two or more channels are provided for communicating in opposing directions, comprising:
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a first semiconductor substrate containing input circuitry for channels of first directionality and output circuitry for channels of second, opposing directionality;
a second semiconductor substrate containing output circuitry for channels of first directionality and input circuitry for channels of second directionality; and
a third substrate containing one or more transformers each with first windings in or on the third substrate and with second windings disposed above the first windings and with interconnections from the first substrate circuitry to the first windings and from the second substrate circuitry to the second windings.
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16. A signal isolator comprising:
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a first substrate;
a coil formed in or on the first substrate for use in generating a magnetic field;
a magnetic field-receiving element formed under or over the coil and spaced therefrom by an insulator;
an input circuit operatively connected to drive the coil in response to a received input signal;
an output circuit operatively connected to generate an output signal responsive to a signal from the field-receiving element; and
wherein neither the input circuit nor the output circuit is formed on the first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of providing signal isolation comprising:
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providing a first substrate;
forming a first transformer on the first substrate;
operatively connecting to a first winding of the transformer an input circuit to drive the transformer in response to a received input signal; and
operatively connecting an output circuit to a second winding of the transformer to generate an output signal responsive to a signal from the transformer;
without forming at least one of the input circuit and the output circuit on the first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for forming a multi-channel isolator in which two or more channels are provided for communicating in opposing directions, comprising:
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forming on a first semiconductor substrate input circuitry for channels of first directionality and output circuitry for channels of second, opposing directionality;
forming on a second semiconductor substrate output circuitry for channels of first directionality and input circuitry for channels of second directionality;
forming on a third substrate one or more transformers each with a first winding in or on the third substrate and with a second winding disposed above said transformer'"'"'s first winding; and
interconnecting the first substrate circuitry to the first windings and the second substrate circuitry to the second windings.
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33. A method for forming a signal isolator comprising:
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providing a first substrate;
forming a coil in or on the first substrate for use in generating a magnetic field;
forming a magnetic field-receiving element under or over the coil and spaced therefrom by an insulator;
operatively connecting an input circuit to drive the coil in response-to a received input signal; and
operatively connecting an output circuit to generate an output signal responsive to a signal from the field-receiving element;
wherein neither the input circuit nor the output circuit is formed on the first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A signal isolator comprising:
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a first substrate;
a single transformer formed on the first substrate;
an input circuit operatively connected to drive the transformer in response to a received input signal;
an output circuit operatively connected to generate an output signal responsive to a signal from the transformer; and
wherein at least one of the input circuit and the output circuit is not formed on the first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification