Symmetrical inductor

• US 7,312,685 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Original Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Lee, Sheng-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, ANH T
• Application Number:
  US11/673,613
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 336/200, 336/223, 336/232
• 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

Abstract

An inductor comprises first and second winding portions symmetrically arranged in an insulating layer on a substrate. Each winding portion comprises first, second and third semicircular conductive traces arranged in concentricity from the inside to the outside. Each semicircular conductive trace has first and second ends, in which the first ends of the first semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions are coupled to each other. A coupling portion comprises a first pair of connection layers cross-connecting the first ends of the second and third semicircular conductive traces of both winding portions and a second pair of connection layers cross-connecting the second ends of the first and second semicircular conductive traces of both winding portions. The adjacent semicircular conductive traces of each winding portion have a trace line space therebetween and the relatively outer trace line space is wider than the relatively inner trace line space.

Claims

1. An inductor, comprising:

an insulating layer disposed on a substrate;

first and second winding portions symmetrically arranged in the insulating layer, each winding portion comprising first, second and third semicircular conductive traces arranged from the inside to the outside, each semicircular conductive trace having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions are coupled to each other; and

a coupling portion disposed in the insulating layer between the first and second winding portions, comprising;

a first pair of connection layers, connecting the first ends of the second and third semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions; and

a second pair of connection layers, connecting the second ends of the first and second semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions;

wherein the adjacent semicircular conductive traces of each winding portion have a trace line space and the outer trace line space is wider than the inner trace line space.

2. The inductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each winding portion further comprises a fourth semicircular conductive trace located outside of the third semicircular conductive trace, and the coupling portion further comprises a third pair of connection layers connecting the second ends of the third and fourth semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions.

3. The inductor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the trace line space between the fourth and third semicircular conductive traces is substantially equal to that between third and second semicircular conductive traces and is wider than that between the second and first semicircular conductive traces.

4. The inductor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the trace line space between the second and first semicircular conductive traces is substantially equal to that between third and second semicircular conductive traces and is narrower than that between the fourth and third semicircular conductive traces.

5. The inductor as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the third pair of connection layers is an upper cross-connection and the other is a lower cross-connection.

6. The inductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trace line width of each semicircular conductive trace is substantially the same.

7. The inductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second winding portions are circular, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or polygonal.

8. The inductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first pair of connection layers is an upper cross-connection and the other is a lower cross-connection.

9. The inductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the third pair of connection layers is an upper cross-connection and the other is a lower cross-connection.

13. The inductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first or second pair of connection layers is an upper cross-connection and the other is a lower cross-connection.

10. An inductor, comprising:

an insulating layer;

a plurality of semicircular conductive traces disposed in the insulating layer and arranged in concentricity, each semicircular conductive trace having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the two inmost semicircular conductive traces are coupled to each other;

at least one first pair of connection layers, connected to the first ends of the semicircular conductive traces; and

at least one second pair of connection layers, connected to the second ends of the semicircular conductive traces;

wherein the adjacent semicircular conductive traces have a trace line space and the outer trace line space is wider than the inner trace line space.

11. The inductor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the trace line widths of the semicircular conductive traces are substantially the same.

12. The inductor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the semicircular conductive traces are circular, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or polygonal.

14. An inductor, comprising:

an insulating layer;

a first winding portion disposed in the insulating layer and comprising a plurality of semicircular conductive traces;

a second winding portion disposed in the insulating layer and comprising a plurality of semicircular conductive traces, wherein the second winding portion is symmetrical to the first winding portion;

two additional semicircular conductive traces located in a region outside the area surrounded by he first and second winding portions and disposed in the insulating layer, wherein the additional semicircular conductive traces are electrically connected to the first and second winding portions;

wherein the trace line space between one additional semicircular conductive trace and its corresponding winding portion is wider than the line space between two adjacent semicircular conductive traces of the first or second winding portion.

15. The inductor as claimed in claim 14, wherein each winding portion comprises first, second and third semicircular conductive traces arranged from the inside to the outside, wherein each semicircular conductive trace has a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions are coupled to each other.

16. The inductor as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a coupling portion disposed in the insulating layer between the first and second winding portions, wherein the coupling portion comprises:

a first pair of connection layers connecting the first ends of the second and third semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions; and

a second pair of connection layers connecting the second ends of the first and second semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions.

17. The inductor as claimed in claim 16, wherein one of the first or second pair of connection layers is an upper cross-connection and the other is a lower cross-connection.

18. The inductor as claimed in claim 15, wherein each winding portion further comprises a fourth semicircular conductive trace located outside of the third semicircular conductive trace, and the coupling portion further comprises a third pair of connection layers connecting the second ends of the third and fourth semicircular conductive traces of the first and second winding portions.

19. The inductor as claimed in claim 15, wherein the trace line widths of the semicircular conductive traces are substantially the same.

20. The inductor as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second winding portions are circular, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or polygonal.