Method for realizing magnetic circuits in an integrated circuit
First Claim
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1. An integrated circuit comprising:
- a substrate;
one or more semiconductor components on said substrate;
a first electrically conductive layer on said substrate;
a first insulating layer on said first electrically conductive layer;
a layer of magnetic material on said first insulating layer and defining a closed-loop magnetic component positioned laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components;
a second insulating layer on said closed-loop magnetic component;
a second electrically conductive layer on said second insulating layer; and
a first plurality of vertical electrical conductors connecting portions of said first and said second electrically conductive layers to define a first three-dimensional helical conductive structure surrounding at least a portion of said closed loop magnetic component laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components;
at least one of said first and second electrically conductive layers also connecting the one or more semiconductor components.
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Abstract
Inductive structures make highly efficient use of the magnetic flux generd, and are consistent with integrated circuit manufacturing techniques. The structures include electrically conductive layers and interconnecting conductor filled vias to define a helical winding surrounding a closed magnetic core. The magnetic core may also be formed by semiconductor manufacturing techinuqes. A method of making the structures on a semiconductor substrate concurrently with the formation of the integrated circuit itself is also disclosed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a substrate; one or more semiconductor components on said substrate; a first electrically conductive layer on said substrate; a first insulating layer on said first electrically conductive layer; a layer of magnetic material on said first insulating layer and defining a closed-loop magnetic component positioned laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components; a second insulating layer on said closed-loop magnetic component; a second electrically conductive layer on said second insulating layer; and a first plurality of vertical electrical conductors connecting portions of said first and said second electrically conductive layers to define a first three-dimensional helical conductive structure surrounding at least a portion of said closed loop magnetic component laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components; at least one of said first and second electrically conductive layers also connecting the one or more semiconductor components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a substrate; one or more semiconductor components on said substrate; a first electrically conductive layer on said substrate; a first insulating layer on said first electrically conductive layer; a layer of magnetic material on said first insulating layer and defining a closed-loop magnetic component positioned laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components; a second insulating layer on said closed-loop magnetic component; a second electrically conductive layer on said second insulating layer; a first plurality of vertical electrical conductors connecting portions of said first and said second electrically conductive layers to define a first three-dimensional helical conductive structure surrounding a portion of said closed-loop magnetic component laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components; and a second plurality of vertical conductors connecting portions of said first and second electrically conductive layers to define a second three-dimensional helical conductive structure surrounding a portion of said closed-loop magnetic component so that said first and second helical conductive structures define a transformer in cooperation with said closed-loop magnetic component laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components; at least one of said first and second electrically conductive layers also connecting the one or more semiconductor components. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a substrate; one or more semiconductor components on said substrate; a first electrically conductive layer on said substrate being a lowermost electrically conductive layer; a first insulating layer on said first electrically conductive layer; a second electrically conductive layer on said first insulating layer being an uppermost electrically conductive layer; at least one other electrically conductive layer; a first plurality of vertical electrical conductors connecting portions of said first and said second electrically conductive layers to define a first three-dimensional helical conductive structure defining an inductor positioned laterally adjacent said one or more semiconductor components; and at least one of said first and second electrically conductive layers also connecting the one or more semiconductor components.
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14. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a substrate; one or more semiconductor components on said substrate; a first electrically conductive layer on said substrate; a first insulating layer on said first electrically conductive layer; a layer of magnetic material on said first insulating layer and defining a first magnetic component; a second insulating layer on said magnetic component; a second electrically conductive layer on said second insulating layer; a first plurality of vertical electrical conductors connecting portions of said first and said second electrically conductive layers to define a first helical structure surrounding at least a portion of said first magnetic component; and at least one other electrically conductive layer; at least one of said first and second electrically conductive layers also connecting the one or more semiconductor components, said first electrically conductive layer being a lowermost electrically conductive layer and said second electrically conductive layer being an uppermost electrically conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification