Variable integrated inductor
First Claim
1. A variable integrated inductor, comprising:
- a multi-loop primary inductor; and
a pair of secondary inductors, electromagnetically coupled to said multi-loop primary inductor, said secondary inductors are connected to one another to form a closed circuit within which said secondary inductors have a changeable topology that can be switched between a series connection and a parallel connection to change an inductance value output by said multi-loop primary inductor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A variable integrated inductor is described herein which has an inductance value that can be switched between two or more values. In the preferred embodiment, the variable integrated inductor includes a multi-loop primary inductor which is electromagnetically coupled to a pair of secondary inductors. The secondary inductors are connected to one another to form a closed circuit within which the secondary inductors have a changeable topology that can be switched between a series connection and a parallel connection in order to change an inductance value which is output by the multi-loop primary inductor. In one application, the variable integrated inductor is used in a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) which is of the type that can be used in a multi-band RF radio transceiver (e.g., wireless communication device). In other applications, the variable integrated inductor can be used in a tuned amplifier load, an impedance matching network, a digitally controlled oscillator or any other type of frequency selective LC-network.
44 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A variable integrated inductor, comprising:
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a multi-loop primary inductor; and a pair of secondary inductors, electromagnetically coupled to said multi-loop primary inductor, said secondary inductors are connected to one another to form a closed circuit within which said secondary inductors have a changeable topology that can be switched between a series connection and a parallel connection to change an inductance value output by said multi-loop primary inductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for manufacturing a switched integrated inductor, said method comprising the steps of:
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forming a multi-loop primary inductor on a chip; forming a pair of secondary inductors on the chip such that; said pair of secondary inductors are electromagnetically coupled to said multi-loop primary inductor; and said pair of secondary inductors form a closed circuit which has a switchable topology; and forming a switch on said chip, said switch is used to change the switchable topology of said pair of secondary inductors to either a series connection or a parallel connection to change an inductance value which is output by said multi-loop primary inductor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A multi-band radio transceiver, comprising:
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a receive path incorporating a first voltage controlled oscillator which includes; a first variable capacitor; and a first variable integrated inductor, wherein said first variable integrated inductor includes; a first multi-loop primary inductor; and a first pair of secondary inductors, electromagnetically coupled to said first multi-loop primary inductor, said first pair of secondary inductors are connected to one another to form a closed circuit within which said first pair of secondary inductors have a changeable topology that can be switched between a series connection and a parallel connection to change an inductance value output by said first multi-loop primary inductor; and a transmit path incorporating a second voltage controlled oscillator which includes; a second variable capacitor; and a second variable integrated inductor, wherein said second variable integrated inductor includes; a second multi-loop primary inductor; and a second pair of secondary inductors, electromagnetically coupled to said second multi-loop primary inductor, said second pair of secondary inductors are connected to one another to form a closed circuit within which said second pair of secondary inductors have a changeable topology that can be switched between a series connection and a parallel connection to change an inductance value output by said second multi-loop primary inductor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a receive path incorporating a first voltage controlled oscillator which includes; a first variable capacitor; and a first symmetric variable integrated inductor, wherein said first symmetric variable integrated inductor includes; a first multi-loop primary inductor; and a first pair of secondary inductors, electromagnetically coupled to said first multi-loop primary inductor, said first pair of secondaryinductors are connected to one another to form a closed circuit within which said first pair of secondary inductors have a changeable topology that can be switched between a series connection and a parallel connection to change an inductance value output by said first multi-loop primary inductor; and a transmit path incorporating a second voltage controlled oscillator which includes; a second variable capacitor; and a second symmetric variable integrated inductor, wherein said second symmetric variable integrated inductor includes; a second multi-loop primary inductor; and a second pair of secondary inductors, electromagnetically coupled to said second multi-loop primary inductor, said second pair of secondary inductors are connected to one another to form a closed circuit within which said second pair of secondary inductors have a changeable topology that can be switched between a series connection and a parallel connection to change an inductance value output by said second multi-loop primary inductor.
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Specification