Generating Variable Inductances by Altering the Physical Characteristics of Inductors Connected in Parallel
First Claim
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1. A method of varying a self-inductance of inductors coupled in parallel by altering an area encompassed by each of the inductors that form the inductors coupled in parallel, comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of inductors on a substrate;
assigning a first inductor of the plurality of inductors to have a reference self-inductance;
connecting at least one additional inductor from the remaining plurality of inductors in parallel to the first inductor;
thereby,forming the inductors coupled in parallel;
determining that the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel is less than the reference self-inductance; and
,altering the area encompassed by each of the inductors coupled in parallel causing the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel to vary;
thereby,varying the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel by altering the area encompassed by each of the inductors that form the inductors coupled in parallel.
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Abstract
CMOS LC tank circuits and flux linkage between inductors can be used to distribute and propagate clock signals over the surface of a VLSI chip or μprocessor. The tank circuit offers an adiabatic behavior that recycles the energy between the reactive elements and minimizes losses in a conventional sense. The LC tank circuit contains a plurality of inductors coupled together in parallel. The area encompassed within each of these inductors can be altered causing the inductors coupled in parallel to have a variable self-inductance.
43 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of varying a self-inductance of inductors coupled in parallel by altering an area encompassed by each of the inductors that form the inductors coupled in parallel, comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of inductors on a substrate; assigning a first inductor of the plurality of inductors to have a reference self-inductance; connecting at least one additional inductor from the remaining plurality of inductors in parallel to the first inductor;
thereby,forming the inductors coupled in parallel; determining that the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel is less than the reference self-inductance; and
,altering the area encompassed by each of the inductors coupled in parallel causing the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel to vary;
thereby,varying the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel by altering the area encompassed by each of the inductors that form the inductors coupled in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of planar inductors formed on a substrate; a first inductor of the plurality of planar inductors has a reference self-inductance; a first encompassed area of the first inductor which is defined as a reference area; at least one of the remaining plurality of planar inductors is coupled in parallel to the first inductor forming inductors coupled in parallel; a self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel; a total encompassed area formed by summing the encompassed area of each of the inductors in the inductors coupled in parallel; the total encompassed area is equal to or greater than the reference area; and
,the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel is less than the reference self-inductance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of increasing a self-inductance of inductors coupled in parallel, comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of inductors on a substrate; assigning a first inductor of the plurality of inductors to have a reference self-inductance; coupling at least one of the remaining inductors of the plurality of inductors in parallel to the first inductor to form inductors coupled in parallel where the inductors coupled in parallel has a self-inductance that is less than the reference self-inductance; and
,increasing the area encompassed of the inductors coupled in parallel to increase the self-inductance of the inductors coupled in parallel with respect to the reference self-inductance;
thereby,increasing the self-inductance of inductors coupled in parallel.
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31. A method of increasing an encompassed area of a parallel-connected inductor network, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of inductors on a substrate; assigning a first inductor of the plurality of inductors to have a reference self-inductance; setting the encompassed area of the first inductor as a reference area; connecting at least one of the plurality of inductors in parallel to the first inductor forming the parallel-connected inductor network; increasing the area encompassed by the parallel-connected inductor network until a self-inductance of the parallel-connected inductor network equals the reference self-inductance;
thereby,increasing the encompassed area of the parallel-connected inductor network.
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32. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of inductors on a substrate; a first inductor of the plurality of inductors to have a reference self-inductance; an encompassed area of the first inductor is set as a reference area; and
;at least one of the remaining plurality of inductors are coupled in parallel to the first inductor;
wherein,the encompassed area of the parallel-connected inductors is increased causing an increase in the self-inductance of the parallel-connected inductors.
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Specification