Patterned ground shield

A patterned ground shield includes a plurality of portions, a first connection member, a second connection member, and a third connection member. Each of the first connection member and the second connection member is coupled to any of two of the portions which are not adjacent to each other. The third connection member is coupled to two of the portions which are adjacent to each other.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Ser. No. 105102673, filed Jan. 28, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to basic electronic elements. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a patterned ground shield.

Description of Related Art

With advances in technology, manufacturing processes of integrated inductors are developing toward 28 nm and 20 nm. Such extremely small dimensions of integrated inductors, however, are the cause of a number of negative effects. For example, the capacitance thereof is high since the oxide layer of the integrated inductor is thin, the capacitance among redistribution layers (RIX) is high since the RDLs employed in the integrated inductor is thick, and so on. Such situations affect the quality factor of inductors.

In view of the foregoing, problems and disadvantages are associated with existing products that require further improvement. However, those skilled in the art have yet to find a solution.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a patterned ground shield. The patterned ground shield comprises a plurality of portions, a first connection member, a second connection member, and a third connection member. Each of the first connection member and the second connection member is coupled to any of two of the portions which are not adjacent to each other. The third connection member is coupled to two of the portions which are adjacent to each other.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a ground shield. The ground shield comprises a first portion to an eighth portion, and a first connection member to a fourth connection member. The first connection member is coupled to the first portion, the fourth portion and the seventh portion. The second connection member is coupled to the second portion, the fifth portion and the seventh portion. The third connection member is coupled to the third portion, the fifth portion and the eighth portion. The fourth connection member is coupled to the first portion, the third portion and the sixth portion. The first portion to the eighth portion are disposed around the first connection member to the fourth connection member in sequential order.

In view of the foregoing, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a patterned ground shield layer for improving the quality factor of an inductor in an integrated inductor and enhance the performance of the integrated inductor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms, in which the present examples may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of the examples and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the examples. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the patterned ground shield layer (patterned ground shield)100comprises a plurality of portions (e.g., a first portion110, a second portion120, a third portion130and a fourth portion140), a first connection member191, a second connection member192and a third connection member199. With respect to the connection structure of these elements, each of the first connection member191and the second connection member192is coupled to any of two of the portions which are not adjacent to each other. For instance, the first connection member191is coupled to the first portion110and the fourth portion140which are not adjacent to each other. In addition the second connection member192is coupled to the second portion120and the third portion130which are not adjacent to each other. Moreover, the third connection member199is coupled to two of the portions which are adjacent to each other. For instance, the third connection member199is coupled to the first portion110and the second portion120which are adjacent to each other. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment as shown inFIG. 1, and the third connection member199can be coupled to the second portion120and the fourth portion140which are adjacent to each other, the third connection member199can be coupled to the third portion130and the fourth portion140which are adjacent to each other, or the third connection member199can be coupled to the first portion110and the third portion130which are adjacent to each other, depending on actual requirements.

Among the portions110-140of the patterned ground shield layer100, each of the connection members191,192is coupled to any of two of the portions which are not adjacent to each other, and the third connection member199is coupled to the portions which are adjacent to each other. Hence, if the patterned ground shield layer100is disposed inside an integrated inductor (i.e., disposed between an inductor and a substrate of the integrated inductor), the patterned ground shield layer100can not only prevent the inductor inside the integrated inductor form generating current on the substrate inside the integrated inductor to thereby affect the quality of the inductor, but also can make the current hard to flow on the patterned ground shield layer100due to its special disposition for avoiding coupling generated among therein, such that the quality of the inductor can be enhanced.

FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For facilitating the understanding of the disposition and the connection of the patterned ground shield layer100inFIG. 1, the portions110-140ofFIG. 1are represented by blocks. The patterned ground shield layer100A comprises a first portion110, a second portion120, a third portion130and a fourth portion140. With respect to the disposition of these elements, the second portion120is adjacent to the first portion110, the third portion130is adjacent to the first portion110, and the fourth portion140is adjacent to the second portion120and the third portion130. With respect to the connection structure of these elements, the first connection member191is coupled to the first portion110and the fourth portion140. Moreover, the second connection member192is coupled to the second portion120and the third portion130. In this embodiment, the patterned ground shield layer100A also comprises a third connection member199. The third connection member199is coupled to two of the portions which are adjacent to each other. For example, the third connection member199is coupled to the first portion110and the second portion120, coupled to the first portion110and third portion130, coupled to the third portion130and the fourth portion140, or coupled to the second portion120and the fourth portion140, depending on the actual requirements.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Compared with the patterned ground shield layer100A as shown inFIG. 2, the patterned ground shield layer100B as shown inFIG. 3further comprises a fifth portion150, a sixth portion160, a fourth connection member193and a fifth connection member194. With respect to the disposition of these elements, the fifth portion150is adjacent to the third portion130, and the sixth portion160is adjacent to the fourth portion140and the fifth portion150. With respect to the connection structure of these elements, the fourth connection member193is coupled to the third portion130and the sixth portion160, and the fifth connection member194is coupled to the fourth portion140and the fifth portion150. In some embodiments, the first connection member191is disposed above the second connection member192, and the fifth connection member194is disposed above the fourth connection member193. In some embodiments, the patterned ground shield layer100B also comprises the third connection member199. The third connection member199is coupled to two of the portions which are adjacent to each other. For example, the third connection member199is coupled to the first portion110and the second portion120, coupled to the third portion130and the fourth portion140, or coupled to the fifth portion150and the sixth portion160, depending on actual requirements.

FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Compared with the patterned ground shield layer100A as shown inFIG. 2, the patterned ground shield layer100C as shown inFIG. 4further comprises a fifth portion150, a sixth portion160, a seventh portion170, an eighth portion180, a fourth connection member193and a fifth connection member194. With respect to the disposition of these elements, the fifth portion150is coupled to the third portion130, the sixth portion160is coupled to the fourth portion140, the seventh portion170is adjacent to the fifth portion150, and the eighth portion180is adjacent to the sixth portion160and the seventh portion170. With respect to the connection structure of these elements, the fourth connection member193is coupled to the fifth portion150and the eighth portion180, and the fifth connection member194is coupled to the sixth portion160and the seventh portion170. In some embodiments, the first connection member191is disposed above the second connection member192, and the fifth connection member194is disposed above the fourth connection member193.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Compared with the patterned ground shield layer100A as shown inFIG. 2, the patterned ground shield layer100D as shown inFIG. 5further comprises a fifth portion150, a sixth portion160, a seventh portion170, an eighth portion180, a fourth connection member193, a fifth connection member194, a sixth connection member195and a seventh connection member196. With respect to the disposition of these elements, the fifth portion150is adjacent to the third portion130, the sixth portion160is adjacent to the fourth portion140and the fifth portion150, the seventh portion170is adjacent to the fifth portion150, the eighth portion180is adjacent to the sixth portion160and the seventh portion170. With respect to the connection structure of these elements, the fourth connection member193is coupled to the third portion130and the sixth portion160, the fifth connection member194is coupled to the fourth portion140and the fifth portion150, the sixth connection member195is coupled to the fifth portion150and the eighth portion180, the seventh connection member196is coupled to the sixth portion160and the seventh portion170. In some embodiments, the first connection member191is disposed above the second connection member192, the fifth connection member194is disposed above the fourth connection member193, and the sixth connection member195is disposed above the seventh connection member196.

Reference is made to both ofFIG. 4andFIG. 5. In some embodiments, the patterned ground shield layers1000,100D also comprise a third connection member199. The third connection member199is coupled to two of the portions which are adjacent to each other. For example, the third connection member199is coupled to the first portion110and the second portion120, coupled to the first portion110and the third portion130, coupled to the third portion130and the fourth portion140, coupled to the fifth portion150and the sixth portion160, or coupled to the seventh portion170and the eighth portion180, depending on actual requirements.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the connection members191-196do not couple to each other. In addition, each of the portions110-180in the patterned ground shield layers100and100A-100D comprises an outer frame and a plurality of metal portions. The metal portions are coupled to the outer frame. For facilitating understanding of these technical features, reference is now made toFIG. 1. The first portion110of the patterned ground shield layer100comprises an outer frame112and a plurality of metal portions114, and the metal portions114are coupled to the outer frame112. The remaining portions (i.e., the portions120-140) of the patterned ground shield layer100are similar to the first portion110, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted herein. In some embodiments, every two of the portions which are coupled to each other are symmetrically disposed with respect to a center of the connection members. For instance, the first portion110and the fourth portion140which are coupled to each other are symmetrically disposed with respect to a center of the connection members191,192, and the second portion120and the third portion130which are coupled to each other are symmetrically disposed with respect to a center of the connection members191,192. In some embodiments, any portions which are adjacent to each other are symmetrically disposed. For instance, the first portion110and the second portion120which are adjacent to each other are symmetrically disposed, the first portion110and the third portion130which are adjacent to each other are symmetrically disposed, and so on. It is noted that although the patterned ground shield layer100ofFIG. 1is used herein for explanation, the technical feature of every two of the portions which are coupled to each other being symmetrically disposed with respect to a center of the connection members and the technical feature of any portions which are adjacent to each other being symmetrically disposed are also present in the patterned ground shield layers100A-100D as shown inFIG. 2-FIG. 5, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted herein.

FIG. 6is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the patterned ground shield layer100E comprises a first portion610to an eighth portion680. With respect to the disposition of these elements, the first portion610to the eighth portion680are disposed around connection members691,692in sequential order. With respect to the connection structure of these elements, the first connection member691is coupled to the odd indexed portions, and the second connection member692is coupled to the even indexed portions. For instance, the first connection member691is coupled to the first portion610, the third portion630, the fifth portion650and the seventh portion670. The second connection member692is coupled to the second portion620, the fourth portion640, the sixth portion660and the eighth portion680. In some embodiments, the patterned ground shield layer100E further comprises a third connection member699. The third connection member699is coupled to one of the odd indexed portions and one of the even indexed portions. For instance, the third connection member699is coupled to the first portion610and the eighth portion680.

FIG. 7is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Compared with the patterned ground shield layer100E as shown inFIG. 6, the connection of the connection members of the patterned ground shield layer100F as shown inFIG. 7is different, which is described below. Referring toFIG. 7, the first connection member791is coupled to the first portion610, the fourth portion640and the seventh portion670, the second connection member792is coupled to the seventh portion670, the second portion620and the fifth portion650, the third connection member793is coupled to the fifth portion650, the eighth portion680and the third portion630, and the fourth connection member794is coupled to the third portion630, the sixth portion660and the first portion610. In some embodiments, the first connection member791is disposed above the second connection member792, the second connection member792is disposed above the third connection member793, and the third connection member793id disposed above the fourth connection member794,

FIG. 8is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Compared with the patterned ground shield layer100E as shown inFIG. 6, the connection of the connection members of the patterned ground shield layer100G inFIG. 8is different, which is described below. Referring toFIG. 8, the first connection member891is coupled to the third portion630and the seventh portion670, the second connection member892is coupled to the fourth portion640and the eighth portion680, the third connection member893is coupled to the second portion620and the third portion630, the fourth connection member894is coupled to the first portion610and the fifth portion650, and the fifth connection member895is coupled to the second portion620and the sixth portion660. In some embodiments, the patterned ground shield layer100E further comprises a sixth connection member896and a seventh connection member897. The sixth connection member896is coupled to the fourth portion640and the fifth portion650, and the seventh connection member897is coupled to the seventh portion670and the eighth portion680. In some embodiments, the first connection member891is disposed above the second connection member892; the second connection member892is disposed above the fourth connection member894, and the fourth connection member894is disposed above the fifth connection member895. In addition, the third connection member893, the sixth connection member896and the seventh connection member897are disposed at the same layer. In some embodiments, the third connection member893, the sixth connection member896, the seventh connection member897, and the fourth connection member894can be disposed at the same layer.

FIG. 9is a schematic diagram of a patterned ground shield according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Reference is now made toFIG. 1The portions110-140of the patterned ground shield layer100comprise bar portions. The bar portions are disposed in an oblique direction in connection to the frame of the patterned ground shield layer100. Compared withFIG. 1, the bar portions disposed between the connection area of the first portion110and the second portion120in the patterned ground shield layer100H ofFIG. 9are disposed in a straight direction, and the bar portions disposed between the connection area of the third portion130and the fourth portion140are also disposed in a straight direction. In some embodiments, the number of the bar portions disposed in a straight direction can be one or plural.

FIG. 10is an experimental data diagram of an integrated inductor according to embodiments of the present disclosure. This experimental data diagram is used for describing the quality factor a of an inductor of the integrated inductor when the inductor operates in different frequencies. InFIG. 10, the curve C1represents experimental data if the patterned ground shield layer is not used in the integrated inductor of embodiments of the present disclosure. The curve C2represents experimental data if the patterned ground shield layer is used in the integrated inductor of embodiments of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the patterned ground shield layer of the present disclosure is disposed between the inductor and the substrate of the integrated inductor. As can be seen in the experimental data ofFIG. 10, the quality factor of the curve C2is better than that of the curve C1Therefore, the diagram shows that the integrated inductor adopting the patterned ground shield layer of the present disclosure indeed can improve the quality factor of the inductor inside the integrated inductor. According to the experimental data, the quality factor of the inductor is enhanced by about 20%, thereby increasing the performance of the integrated inductor.

In view of the above embodiments of the present disclosure, it is apparent that the application of the present disclosure has a number of advantages. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a patterned ground shield layer for improving the quality factor of an inductor in an integrated inductor and enhance the performance of the integrated inductor.