Integrated circuit inductors
First Claim
1. An inductor comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate;
a conductive path through the semiconductor substrate and operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the semiconductor substrate.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an inductor comprising a plurality of interconnected conductive segments interwoven with a substrate. The inductance of the inductor is increased through the use of coatings and films of ferromagnetic materials such as magnetic metals, alloys, and oxides. The inductor is compatible with integrated circuit manufacturing techniques and eliminates the need in many systems and circuits for large off chip inductors. A sense and measurement coil, which is fabricated on the same substrate as the inductor, provides the capability to measure the magnetic field or flux produced by the inductor. This on chip measurement capability supplies information that permits circuit engineers to design and fabricate on chip inductors to very tight tolerances.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An inductor comprising:
-
a semiconductor substrate;
a conductive path through the semiconductor substrate and operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the semiconductor substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
a test coil embedded in the substrate for measuring the reinforcing magnetic flux.
-
-
4. The inductor of claim 3, wherein the test coil is fabricated from gold.
-
5. The inductor of claim 4, wherein the test coil is initially fabricated as part of the conductive path and then decoupled from the conductive path.
-
6. An inductor comprising:
-
a semiconductor substrate;
a conductive path woven through the semiconductor substrate, the conductive path operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the semiconductor substrate; and
a test coil embedded in the semiconductor substrate and coupled to the reinforcing magnetic flux. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. An inductor comprising:
-
a silicon carbide substrate;
a conductive path woven through the silicon carbide substrate, the conductive path operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the silicon carbide substrate; and
a detachable test coil embedded in the silicon carbide substrate and coupled to the reinforcing magnetic flux. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. An inductor comprising:
-
a gallium arsenide substrate;
a conductive path woven through the gallium arsenide substrate, the conductive path operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the gallium arsenide substrate; and
a detachable test coil embedded in the gallium arsenide substrate and coupled to the reinforcing magnetic flux. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. An inductor comprising:
-
a germanium substrate;
a conductive path woven through the germanium substrate, the conductive path operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the germanium substrate; and
a test coil embedded in the germanium substrate and coupled to the reinforcing magnetic flux. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. An inductor comprising:
-
a semiconductor substrate;
a conductive path woven through the semiconductor substrate, the conductive path operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the semiconductor substrate; and
a spiral test coil formed on the semiconductor substrate and coupled to the reinforcing magnetic flux. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. An inductor comprising:
-
a gallium arsenide substrate;
a conductive path woven through the gallium arsenide substrate, the conductive path operable for creating a reinforcing magnetic flux within the gallium arsenide substrate; and
a laser detachable test coil embedded in the gallium arsenide substrate and coupled to the reinforcing magnetic flux. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
Specification