Variable inductance element using an inductor conductor

• US 5,629,553 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Niigata Seimitsu Co., Ltd. (Tetsuo Funai)
• Original Assignee: Susumu Okamura, Takeshi Ikeda
• Inventors: Okamura, Susumu, Okamoto, Akira, Ikeda, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MINH LOAN
• Application Number:
  US08/338,847
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 257/531, 257/532, 257/379, 333/185, 333/245, 333/262
• US Class Current: 257/531
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/0006 Printed inductances printed coils for dynamo-electric machines H02K3/26; printed circuits H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2017/0086 on semiconductor substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2021/125 Printed variable inductor with taps, e.g. for VCO
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 21/12 discontinuously variable, e.g. tapped
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0617 comprising components of the field-effect type H01L27/0251 takes precedence

Abstract

A variable inductance element comprising an inductor conductor 10 having a predetermined shape formed on an insulation layer 40 on the surface of a semiconductor substrate 42, switches 16 and 24 for shorting portions of the inductor conductor 10, and input/output terminals 12 and 14 provided at the respective ends of the inductor conductor 10. When switches 16 and/or 24 is in the on state, the function as an inductor having a smaller inductance than the overall inductor conductor 10 is obtained. The inductance of this variable inductance element can be changed by external control, while manufacturing is easy and formation in a unitized manner with an integrated circuit or other semiconductor device is enabled.

Claims

1. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined shape,

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, and

a separate switch than the at least one switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state.

2. A variable inductance element according to claim 1 wherein:

said inductor conductor has a spiral shape.

3. A variable inductance element according to claim 2 further comprising:

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch a length of said at least one inductor conductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals.

4. A variable inductance element according to claim 2 wherein said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate.

5. A variable inductance element according to claim 4 wherein said at least one switch comprises a field effect transistor having two diffusion regions respectively functioning as a source and a drain formed in portions of said semiconductor substrate and respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

6. A variable inductance element according to claim 5 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

7. A variable inductance element according to claim 5 further comprising:

an insulation film formed on the surface of said semiconductor substrate after forming said at least one switch and said at least one inductor conductor,

perforations formed by removing portions of the insulation film by one of etching and laser light emission, and

terminals formed by closing the perforations with solder to the extent of protruding slightly from the surface.

8. A variable inductance element according to claim 1 wherein:

said inductor conductor has a meander shape.

9. A variable inductance element according to claim 8 further comprising:

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch a length of said at least one inductor conductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals.

10. A variable inductance element according to claim 8 wherein

said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate.

11. A variable inductance element according to claim 10 wherein said at least one switch comprises a field effect transistor having two diffusion regions respectively functioning as a source and a drain formed in portions of said semiconductor substrate and respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

12. A variable inductance element according to claim 11 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

13. A variable inductance element according to claim 11 further comprising:

an insulation film formed on the surface of said semiconductor substrate after forming said at least one switch and said at least one inductor conductor,

perforations formed by removing portions of the insulation film by one of etching and laser light emission, and

terminals formed by closing the perforations with solder to the extent of protruding slightly from the surface.

14. A variable inductance element according to claim 1 further comprising:

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch a length of said at least one inductor conductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals.

15. A variable inductance element according to claim 14 wherein said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate.

16. A variable inductance element according to claim 15 wherein said at least one switch comprises a field effect transistor having two diffusion regions respectively functioning as a source and a drain formed in portions of said semiconductor substrate and respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

17. A variable inductance element according to claim 16 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

18. A variable inductance element according to claim 1 wherein said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate.

19. A variable inductance element according to claim 18 wherein said at least one switch comprises a field effect transistor having two diffusion regions respectively functioning as a source and a drain formed in portions of said semiconductor substrate and respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

20. A variable inductance element according to claim 19 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

21. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined shape, and

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch being formed on a semiconductor substrate, wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

22. A variable inductance element according to claim 21 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

23. A variable inductance element according to claim 21 further comprising:

an insulation film formed on the surface of said semiconductor substrate after forming said at least one switch and said at least one inductor conductor,

perforations formed by removing portions of the insulation film by one of etching and laser light emission, and

terminals formed by closing the perforations with solder to the extent of protruding slightly from the surface.

24. A variable inductance element according to claim 21 wherein said inductor conductor has a spiral shape.

25. A variable inductance element according to claim 24 further comprising:

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch, a length of said at least one inductor conductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals.

26. A variable inductance element according to claim 21 wherein said inductor conductor has a meander shape.

27. A variable inductance element according to claim 26 further comprising:

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch, a length of said at least one inductor conductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals.

28. A variable inductance element according to claim 21 further comprising:

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch a length of said at least one inductor conductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals.

29. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined spiral shape, and

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state, wherein said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

30. A variable inductance element according to claim 29 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

31. A variable inductance element according to claim 29 further comprising:

an insulation film formed on the surface of said semiconductor substrate after forming said at least one switch and said at least one inductor conductor,

perforations formed by removing portions of the insulation film by one of etching and laser light emission, and

terminals formed by closing the perforations with solder to the extent of protruding slightly from the surface.

32. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined meander shape, and

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state, wherein said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

33. A variable inductance element according to claim 32 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

34. A variable inductance element according to claim 32 further comprising:

an insulation film formed on the surface of said semiconductor substrate after forming said at least one switch and said at least one inductor conductor,

perforations formed by removing portions of the insulation film by one of etching and laser light emission, and

terminals formed by closing the perforations with solder to the extent of protruding slightly from the surface.

35. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined shape,

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state wherein said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate, and

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch a length of said at least one inductor inductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

36. A variable inductance element according to claim 35 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

37. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined shape, and

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state, wherein said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

38. A variable inductance element according to claim 37 wherein channels and said two diffusion regions of said at least one switch are extended in length along said at least one inductor conductor.

39. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a spiral shape, and

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state, said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

40. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a meander shape, and

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state, said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

41. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined shape;

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state, said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate; and

two input/output terminals provided at respective ends of said at least one inductor conductor, wherein by operation of said switch a length of said at least one inductor conductor between said two input/output terminals is changed to vary the inductance between said two input/output terminals,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.

42. A variable inductance element comprising:

at least one inductor conductor having a predetermined shape, and

at least one switch functioning to separate and connect portions of said at least one inductor conductor, said at least one inductor conductor used one of independently and in combination with other inductor conductors, wherein said at least one switch includes a switch for cutting off an unnecessary closed loop produced by said at least one inductor conductor according to a switch operating state, said at least one inductor conductor and said at least one switch are formed on a semiconductor substrate,

wherein said at least one switch comprises a transmission gate having an n channel transistor and a p channel transistor connected in parallel,

said n channel and p channel transistors are formed as portions of said semiconductor substrate, and

two diffusion regions functioning as a source and a drain of each of said n channel and p channel transistors are respectively connected to different portions of said at least one inductor conductor.