Integrated or printed margarita shaped inductor

• US 20100245011A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki-Research Committee E.L.K.E.
• Original Assignee: Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki-Research Committee E.L.K.E.
• Inventors: Bontzios, Giorgos, Chatzopoulos, Alkiviades
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 336/200
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/0013 with stacked layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2017/0073 with a special conductive pattern, e.g. flat spiral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

An integrated printed inductor has a set of open petal loops, connected together in series. For a given inductance value higher quality factor and higher frequency value result using an equal chip surface area. With the same fabrication cost and equal occupied area, higher quality factor values at higher frequency can be achieved. The innovative shape is such that secondary mutual coupling effects occur and contribute to increases of overall inductance values. Small current loops arranged as petals corresponding to inductance value LO are connected in series for the inductance value to add up to a higher value. The loops are connected along a circular path to minimize the total chip area occupied. A secondary loop in the center of the inductor results in a stronger magnetic flux and a higher inductance value, due to both self inductance of the secondary loop and mutual inductance of it with the petals.

Claims

1. An inductor, in particular of the integrated or printed type, comprising a plurality of open loops with a predetermined shape connected in series along a virtual path around a virtual geometrical centre, each loop having two ends with their respective open side located between both said ends, thereby facing said fictive centre, wherein said open loops are mutually connected at their said ends belonging two adjacent loops, thereby facing said centre, wherein each said loop is mutually rotated over an angle respective the adjacent loop around geometrical centre.

2. An integrated or printed inductor, in particular according to claim 1, wherein it has a margarita shape inductor comprising:

open loops, a set of petals, wherein the petals are connected in series along a virtual path to form the inductor turns and each petal is turned to an angle to each preceding petal and the open part of the petals faces the centre of the inductor.

3. The inductor according to claim 2, wherein the number of petals is equal or greater than two, in particular equal or smaller than 4, more particularly wherein all said loops have a virtually identical shape.

4. The inductor according to claim 2, wherein in said margarita like shape, said open loops delimitate the margarita petals'"'"' perimeter, in particular composed of at least three parts, a peripheral one extending outwardly and two adjacent parts extending radially therefrom to said virtual centre.

5. The inductor according to claim 2, wherein each said open loop has a substantially curved like shape pointing at said virtual centre, in particular with an elongated profile, at least slightly, wherein said junction portions have an inwardly curved profile facing said centre.

6. The inductor according to claim 5, wherein each curve is replaced by a combination of straight line segments in a way to approximate the curve, in particular wherein maximum angles are used and the smallest number of straight line segments.

7. The inductor according to claim 2, wherein the shape of the petal is composed by two substantially equal line segments, the rays, forming an acute angle and a circular segment connecting two opposite ends of theirs.

8. The inductor according to claim 2, wherein each said open loop has a substantially trapezoidal like shape pointing at said virtual centre, in particular with an elongated profile, at least slightly, wherein said junction portions have inwardly curved profile facing said centre.

9. The inductor according to claim 2, whereby it has a generally symmetrical overall shape with respect to said centre and/or in that said loops are arranged substantially in a plane.

10. The inductor according to claim 2, wherein it comprises more than one layer in simple designing, wherein the petals of each layer are connected in series and layers are connected each other using vias, in particular wherein the number of turns and petals of each layer need to be equal.

11. The inductor according to claim 2, comprises more than one layer in alternative designing, in particular wherein one petal of any layer is connected to any other petal of a different layer.

12. The inductor according to claim 2, whereby it further comprises conventional inductors connected together in series, in parallel or in combination thereof.

13. The inductor according to claim 2, wherein it is connected as a transformer.

14. Method of manufacturing an inductor according to claim 2, wherein the shaped inductor is fabricated in any typical process following the rules of each process.

15. Method of manufacturing an inductor according to claim 2, in particular according to claim 14, wherein shaped inductor is fabricated to any metal layer and any type of metal offered by the process.

16. Use of the inductor as defined in claim 2, wherein said inductor is incorporated in a complete circuit such as an LNA or a GPS receiver or a transceiver.

17. Use of the inductor as defined in claim 10, wherein said inductor is incorporated in a complete circuit such as an LNA or a GPS receiver or a transceiver.

18. Use of the inductor as defined in claim 13, wherein said inductor is incorporated in a complete circuit such as an LNA or a GPS receiver or a transceiver.