Patent ID: 7875955
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: H01F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A power inductor structure that is formed on a semiconductor substrate as part of a semiconductor integrated circuit, the power inductor structure comprising: a switching node; at least one MOS transistor connected to the switching node; a spiral power inductor connected to the switching node, the spiral power inductor including (i) a conductive coil; (ii) a bottom metal magnetic member formed over an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, the bottom metal magnetic member including a plurality of spaced-apart bottom member segments, each bottom member segment having a first edge that is parallel to and spaced-apart from an edge of a first adjacent bottom member segment and a second edge that is parallel to the first edge and parallel to and spaced-apart from an edge of a second adjacent bottom member segment, the first and second edges being perpendicular to the direction of current flow through the conductive coil; (iii) a top metal magnetic member formed over the bottom metal magnetic member, the top metal magnetic member including a plurality of spaced-apart top member segments, each top member segment having a first edge that is parallel to and spaced-apart from an edge of a first adjacent top member segment and a second edge that is parallel to the first edge and parallel to and spaced-apart from an edge of a second adjacent top member segment, the first and second edges being perpendicular to the direction of current flow through the conductive coil, the bottom metal magnetic member and the top metal magnetic member defining an inductor coil region therebetween, the conductive coil being disposed in the inductor coil region to be spaced-apart from the bottom metal magnetic member and the top metal magnetic member.