Inductance enhancement by magnetic material introduction

• US 20080084311A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Salzman, James Fred
• Application Number:
  US11/544,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20080084311A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/0006 Printed inductances printed coils for dynamo-electric machines H02K3/26; printed circuits H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2017/0066 with a magnetic layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/40 Structural association with built-in electric component, e.g. fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0373 containing additives, e.g. fillers H05K1/036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/086 for inductive purposes, e.g. printed inductor with ferrite core

Abstract

In a described implementation of inductance enhancement by magnetic material introduction, a substrate that supports an inductive element has magnetic material introduced thereto.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

an inductive element supported by the substrate, the inductive element having an inductance that is inherent; and

magnetic material introduced to the substrate;

wherein the magnetic material is sufficiently proximate to the inductive element so as to increase the inductance.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate, the inductive element, and the magnetic material comprise at least part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the inductive element comprises a reception antenna for the RFID tag, the reception antenna capable of coupling electromagnetic (EM) wave energy to the RFID tag.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the substrate, the inductive element, and the magnetic material comprise at least part of a printed circuit board (PCB).

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the apparatus comprises an electronic device that includes the PCB.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the inductive element comprises one or more inductor components that are built using at least one metallization layer of the PCB.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the magnetic material increases an inductance value per unit of area of the one or more inductor components.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the substrate comprises fiberglass and epoxy;

and wherein the magnetic material is mixed with the fiberglass and the epoxy.

9. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

a reception antenna;

a capacitor coupled to the reception antenna; and

magnetic material;

wherein the reception antenna is capable of coupling electromagnetic (EM) wave energy to the capacitor.

10. The RFID tag as recited in claim 9, wherein the magnetic material increases the EM wave energy coupling capability of the reception antenna.

11. The RFID tag as recited in claim 9, wherein the magnetic material comprises ferrite.

12. The RFID tag as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a rectifier;

wherein the capacitor is coupled to the reception antenna via the rectifier.

13. The RFID tag as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter coupled to the processor; and

a transmission antenna coupled to the transmitter;

wherein the processor is powered by the capacitor; and

wherein the processor is capable of communicating with an external entity using the reception antenna, the transmitter, and the transmission antenna.

14. The RFID tag as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a substrate;

wherein the reception antenna is snaked on the substrate, the capacitor is disposed on the substrate, and the magnetic material is introduced to the substrate.

15. The RFID tag as recited in claim 14, wherein the substrate comprises at least one of plastic, paper, cloth, cardboard, or wood.

16. A method comprising:

producing an insulating material substrate;

introducing a magnetic material to the insulating material substrate; and

creating an inductive element that is proximate to the magnetic material and that is supported by the insulating material substrate.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the creating comprises snaking an inductive receiving antenna for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the creating comprises building an inductor component using a metallization layer of a printed circuit board (PCB).

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the introducing comprises applying the magnetic material to a surface of the insulating material substrate.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the introducing comprises combining the magnetic material with the insulating material substrate.