Electronic component and signal transmission method using the electronic component

• US 20110260808A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Uchida, Shinichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/139
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/20 Two-port phase shifters providing an adjustable phase shift
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/04 Control of transmission; Equalising

Abstract

Multiple transmission inductors are formed over a substrate. A signal input channel is coupled to the multiple transmission inductors and a same transmission signal is inputted to the multiple transmission inductors. A phase difference control section is provided in the signal input channel and controls a phase difference of the signal between the transmission inductors by a unit smaller than 180°.

Claims

1. An electronic component comprising:

a plurality of transmission inductors formed over a substrate and arranged in such a way that their centers are deviated from each other when viewed in a plan view;

a signal input channel for inputting a transmission signal to each of the transmission inductors; and

a phase difference control section provided in the signal input channel and for controlling a phase difference of the transmission signal between the transmission inductors smaller than 180°

.

2. The electronic component according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one wiring layer formed over the substrate,

wherein the transmission inductors are formed over the same wiring layer.

3. The electronic component according to claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of wiring layers formed over the substrate,

wherein the transmission inductors are formed over any of the wiring layers, and

wherein at least one of the transmission inductors is formed in one of the wiring layers different from one of the wiring layers in which the other transmission inductor is formed.

4. The electronic component according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission signal generation part which generates the transmission signal.

5. The electronic component according to claim 1, comprising:

an input terminal to which the transmission signal is inputted.

6. The electronic component according to claim 1, comprising:

a reception inductor arranged at a position opposite to the transmission inductors; and

a signal detection part which detects strength of an induced current produced in the reception inductor, the signal detection part being coupled to the reception inductor,

wherein the phase difference control section controls the phase difference on the basis of the strength detected by the signal detection part.

7. The electronic component according to claim 6,

wherein the phase difference control section controls the phase difference to make the strength detected by the signal detection part maximum.

8. The electronic component according to claim 6,

wherein the transmission inductors overlap the reception inductor at least partially when viewed in a plan view.

9. A signal transmission method comprising:

inputting a transmission signal to each of a plurality of transmission inductors, which are arranged in such a way that their centers are deviated from each other when viewed in a plan view and which are opposed to a reception inductor, and controlling a phase difference of the transmission signal between the transmission inductors smaller than 180°

.