Hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer

• US 7,751,790 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/529,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 455/280, 455/292, 455/323, 455/333, 455/334
• US Class Current: 455/292
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 19/08 Transformers having magnetic bias, e.g. for handling pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/48 Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the solid state body in operation, e.g. leads, terminal arrangements ; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5227 Inductive arrangements or effects of, or between, wiring layers other inductive arrangements H01L23/645
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer includes an off-chip winding section and an on-chip winding section. The off-chip winding section is coupled to produce a first electromagnetic signal from a reference source. The on-chip winding section is coupled to derive a second electromagnetic signal from the first electromagnetic signal when the on-chip winding section is with in a proximal coupling distance of the off-chip winding section.

Claims

1. A hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer comprising:

an off-chip winding section coupled to produce a first electromagnetic signal from a reference source; and

an on-chip winding section coupled to derive a second electromagnetic signal from the first electromagnetic signal when the on-chip winding section is within a proximal coupling distance of the off-chip winding section, in which the on-chip winding section is integrated on a multiple layer integrated circuit (IC) die that also contains integrated circuitry to respond to the second electromagnetic signal;

the on-chip winding section including a first plurality of multiple turn coils on a first layer of the multiple layer IC die, wherein the proximal coupling distance provides a substantially perpendicular, with respect to the first layer of the multiple layer IC die, electromagnetic field of the first electromagnetic signal to the first plurality of multiple turn coils and a second plurality of multiple turn coils on a second layer of the multiple layer IC die, wherein the proximal coupling distance provides a substantially perpendicular, with respect to the second layer of the multiple layer IC die, electromagnetic field of the first electromagnetic signal to the second plurality of multiple turn coils, in which the first and second pluralities of multiple turn coils provide the second electromagnetic signal.

2. The hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer of claim 1, wherein the off-chip winding section includes:

a ferrite core having an air gap; and

a first winding wrapped around the ferrite core, wherein the air gap substantially provides the first electromagnetic signal to the on-chip winding section.

3. The hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer of claim 2, further comprising:

an alignment guide such that, when the off-chip winding section is within the proximal coupling distance of the on-chip winding section, the air gap provides the substantially perpendicular.

4. The hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer of claim 2, wherein the integrated circuitry includes:

an electromagnetic field conversion circuit coupled to the on-chip winding section, in which when the first winding is within the proximal coupling distance of the on-chip winding section, the electromagnetic field conversion circuit changes orientation of an electromagnetic field provided by the air gap to be substantially perpendicular to the first and second layers of the IC die.

5. The hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer of claim 1, wherein the off-chip winding section includes:

an air core; and

a first winding wrapped around the air core, wherein flux from the air core substantially provides the first electromagnetic signal to the on-chip winding section.

6. The hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer of claim 1, wherein:

the on-chip winding section is coupled to produce a third electromagnetic signal from the integrated circuitry; and

the off-chip winding section is coupled to receive the third electromagnetic signal when the on-chip winding section is within the proximal coupling distance.