Patent Publication Number: US-2023154667-A1

Title: Inductor device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 110142599, filed Nov. 16, 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of Invention 
     This disclosure relates to an electronic device, and in particular to an inductor device. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Various types of existing inductors have their own advantages and disadvantages. For an inductor having a structure of interleaved coils, its parasitic capacitance is low, which results in a low self-resonance frequency and a low quality factor. Therefore, the application range of the aforementioned inductor is limited. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of present disclosure relates to an inductor device. The inductor device includes a plurality of coils including a first winding and a second winding. The first winding includes a plurality of first sub-coils, wherein a first one of the plurality of first sub-coils is configured in a first region, and a second one and a third one of the plurality of first sub-coils are configured in a second region different from the first region. The second winding includes a plurality of second sub-coils, wherein a first one of the plurality of second sub-coils is configured in the second region, and a second one and a third one of the plurality of second sub-coils are configured in the first region. Each of the plurality of coils is composed of one of the plurality of first sub-coils and one of the plurality of second sub-coils. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an inductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic diagram of an inductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of an inductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of an inductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of an inductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of experimental data of the inductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the appended drawings to better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. However, the provided embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, and the description of the structural operation is not intended to limit the order in which they are performed. Any device that has been recombined by components and produces an equivalent function is within the scope covered by the disclosure. 
     The terms used in the entire specification and the scope of the patent application, unless otherwise specified, generally have the ordinary meaning of each term used in the field, the content disclosed herein, and the particular content. 
     The terms “coupled” or “connected” as used herein may mean that two or more elements are directly in physical or electrical contact, or are indirectly in physical or electrical contact with each other. It can also mean that two or more elements interact with each other. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  1    a schematic diagram of an inductor device  100  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The inductor device  100  includes a plurality of coils, a first crossing portion CN 1 , a second crossing portion CN 2 , a central tap terminal CT and an input-output terminal  10 E. In particular, the coils of the inductor device  100  are composed of a first winding C 1  (presented by areas filled with cross lines) and a second winding C 2  (presented by areas filled with dots). 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1   , the first winding C 1  includes a plurality of first sub-coils FC 1 -FC 3 . The first sub-coil FC 1  (i.e., a first one of the first sub-coils) is configured in a first region R 1 , and other first sub-coils FC 2 -FC 3  (i.e., a second one and a third one of the first sub-coils) are configured in a second region R 2  different from the first region R 1 . For example, the first region R 1  is a right region of  FIG.  1   , and the second region R 2  is a left region of  FIG.  1   . 
     The second winding C 2  also includes a plurality of second sub-coils SC 1 -SC 3 . The second sub-coil SC 1  (i.e., a first one of the second sub-coils) is configured in the second region R 2  together with the first sub-coils FC 2 -FC 3 , and other second sub-coils SC 2 -SC 3  (i.e., a second one and a third one of the second sub-coils) are configured in the first region R 1  together with the first sub-coil FC 1 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  1   , each of the coils of the inductor device  100  is composed of one of the first sub-coils FC 1 -FC 3  and one of the second sub-coils SC 1 -SC 3 . For example, the inductor device  100  is configured with a first coil, a second coil and a third coil from inside to outside. The first coil of the inductor device  100  is composed of the first sub-coil FC 1  and the second sub-coil SC 1 , the second coil of the inductor device  100  is composed of the first sub-coil FC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 2 , and the third coil of the inductor device  100  is composed of the first sub-coil FC 3  and the second sub-coil SC 3 . 
     In some embodiments, the first crossing portion CN 1  includes a plurality of connecting members  101  and  102 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the connecting member  101  is configured to couple the first sub-coil FC 1  and the first sub-coil FC 2 , and the connecting member  102  is configured to couple the second sub-coil SC 1  and the second sub-coil SC 2 . It can be appreciated that the connecting members  101  and  102  are intersected with each other and in different metal layers. For example, the connecting member  101  is located in a first metal layer, and the connecting member  102  is located in a second metal layer. 
     In some embodiments, the second crossing portion CN 2  includes a plurality of connecting members  201  and  202 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the connecting member  201  is configured to couple the first sub-coil FC 1  and the first sub-coil FC 3 , and the connecting member  202  is configured to couple the second sub-coil SC 1  and the second sub-coil SC 3 . It can be appreciated that the connecting members  201  and  202  are intersected with each other and in different metal layers. For example, the connecting member  201  is located in the second metal layer, and the connecting member  202  is located in the first metal layer. 
     In some embodiments, the first crossing portion CN 1  is on a first side S 1  of the inductor device  100 , and the second crossing portion CN 2  is on a second side S 2  of the inductor device  100 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the first side S 1  (e.g., an upper side) and the second side S 2  (e.g., a lower side) are two opposite sides. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , the input-output terminal  10 E is configured to input or output signal and is coupled to the first sub-coil FC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 2  on the second side S 2  of the inductor device  100 . In addition, the central tap terminal CT is coupled to the first sub-coil FC 3  and the second sub-coil SC 3  on the first side S 1  of the inductor device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the first sub-coils FC 1 -FC 3 , the second sub-coils SC 1 -SC 3  and the connecting members  101  and  202  are located in the same metal layer (i.e., the first metal layer), but the present disclosure is not limited herein. In other embodiments, the first sub-coils FC 1 -FC 3  and the second sub-coils SC 1 -SC 3  are located in the second metal layer. 
     In some embodiments, the first metal layer is different from the second metal layer. For example, the first metal layer is an ultra-thick metal (UTM) layer, and the second metal layer is aluminum redistribution layer (AL-RDL). It can be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited herein. 
     The structure of the first winding C 1  is described first. In detail, the first sub-coil FC 2  is coupled to the input-output terminal  10 E on the second side S 2 , is wound clockwise from the second side S 2  to the first side S 1 , and is directly coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  101  on the first side S 1 . Another terminal of the connecting member  101  is directly coupled to the first sub-coil FC 1 . The first sub-coil FC 1  is wound clockwise from the first side S 1  to the second side S 2 , and is coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  201  through a via on the second side S 2 . Another terminal of the connecting member  201  is coupled to the first sub-coil FC 3  through a via. The first sub-coil FC 3  is wound clockwise from the second side S 2  to the first side S 1 , and is coupled to the central tap terminal CT directly or indirectly (for example, through a via) on the first side S 1 . 
     The structure of the second winding C 2  is described then. In detail, the second sub-coil SC 2  is coupled to the input-output terminal  10 E on the second side S 2 , is wound counterclockwise from the second side S 2  to the first side S 1 , and is coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  102  through a via on the first side S 1 . Another terminal of the connecting member  102  is coupled to the second sub-coil SC 1  through a via. The second sub-coil SC 1  is wound counterclockwise from the first side S 1  to the second side S 2 , and is directly coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  202  on the second side S 2 . Another terminal of the connecting member  202  is directly coupled to the second sub-coil SC 3 . The second sub-coil SC 3  is wound counterclockwise from the second side S 2  to the first side S 1 , and is coupled to the central tap terminal CT directly or indirectly (for example, through a via) on the first side S 1 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , the first sub-coil FC 1  of the first winding C 1  and the second sub-coils SC 2 -SC 3  of the second winding C 2  are distributed in different positions of the first region R 1  (in other words, the first sub-coil FC 1  of the first winding C 1  and the second sub-coils SC 2 -SC 3  of the second winding C 2  are not overlapped with each other). The first sub-coils FC 2 -FC 3  of the first winding C 1  and the second sub-coil SC 1  of the second winding C 2  are distributed in different positions of the second region R 2  (in other words, the first sub-coils FC 2 -FC 3  of the first winding C 1  and the second sub-coil SC 1  of the second winding C 2  are not overlapped with each other). 
     In particular, in the second region R 2  of  FIG.  1   , the second sub-coil SC 1  and the first sub-coil FC 2  are spaced at a first interval W 1 , the first sub-coil FC 2  and the first sub-coil FC 3  are spaced at a second interval W 2 , and the first interval W 1  is equal to the second interval W 2 . Similarly, in the first region R 1  of  FIG.  1   , the first sub-coil FC 1  and the second sub-coil SC 2  are spaced at the first interval W 1 , the second sub-coil SC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 3  are spaced at the second interval W 2 . 
     It can be appreciated that the first sub-coils FC 1 -FC 3  are configured to transmit first signals with same polarity (e.g., same positive polarity signals or same negative polarity signals), the second sub-coils SC 1 -SC 3  are configured to transmit second signals with same polarity (e.g., same negative polarity signals or same positive polarity signals), and the first signals are different from the second signals. Notably, by the configuration of the first crossing portion CN 1  and the second crossing portion CN 2 , most of the first sub-coils (e.g., the first sub-coil FC 2  and the first sub-coil FC 3 ) are configured in the second region R 2  and are adjacent to each other, and most of the second sub-coils (e.g., the second sub-coil SC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 3 ) are configured in the first region R 1  and are adjacent to each other. Accordingly, since the coils in same region are responsible for transmitting signals with same polarity, the equivalent parasitic capacitance value of the inductor device  100  can be reduced dramatically, and the equivalent inductance vale and the quality factor of the inductor device  100  can be increased dramatically. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  2    a schematic diagram of an inductor device  200  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The symbols in  FIG.  2    which are same as those in  FIG.  1    represent same or similar component, and therefore the description thereof is omitted herein. In the second region R 2  of  FIG.  2   , the second sub-coil SC 1  and the first sub-coil FC 2  are spaced at a first interval W 1 ′, the first sub-coil FC 2  and the first sub-coil FC 3  are spaced at a second interval W 2 ′, and the first interval W 1 ′ is at least about 1.5 times the second interval W 2 . Similarly, in the first region R 1  of  FIG.  2   , the first sub-coil FC 1  and the second sub-coil SC 2  are spaced at the first interval W 1 ′, the second sub-coil SC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 3  are spaced at the second interval W 2 ′. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  2   , since the first interval W 1 ′ between the first sub-coil FC 1  and the second sub-coil SC 2  (or between the second sub-coil SC 1  and the first sub-coil FC 2 ) is increased, the inductor device  200  of  FIG.  2    has an equivalent parasitic capacitance value lower than those of the inductor device  100  of  FIG.  1   . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the coils of the inductor devices  100  and  200  are located in the same layer, but the present disclosure is not limited herein. In other embodiments, some coils of the inductor device are overlapped with each other. The descriptions would be made below by taking the embodiment of  FIG.  3    as an example. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  3    a schematic diagram of an inductor device  300  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The symbols in  FIG.  3    which are same as those in  FIG.  1    represent same or similar component, and therefore the description thereof is omitted herein. In the second region R 2  of  FIG.  3   , the first sub-coil FC 2  and the first sub-coil FC 3  are located in different metal layers and are overlapped with each other, and the second sub-coil SC 1  and the first sub-coil FC 3  are located at the same metal layer and are not overlapped with each other. Similarly, in the first region R 1  of  FIG.  3   , the second sub-coil SC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 3  are located in different metal layers and are overlapped with each other, and the first sub-coil FC 1  and the second sub-coil SC 3  are located at the same metal layer and are not overlapped with each other. In other words, the second coil of the inductor device  300  (i.e., the first sub-coil FC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 2 ) and the third coil of the inductor device  300  (i.e., the first sub-coil FC 3  and the second sub-coil SC 3 ) are overlapped with each other, and are not overlapped with the first coil of the inductor device  300  (i.e., the second sub-coil SC 1  and the first sub-coil FC 1 ). 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  3   , since the second coil and the third coil of the inductor device  300  are overlapped with each other, the inductor device  300  of  FIG.  3    has an equivalent inductance value and a quality factor higher than those of the inductor device  100  of  FIG.  1   . 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  3   , the central tap terminal CT is located on the first side S 1  of the inductor device, and the input-output terminal IOE is located on the second sides S 2  of the inductor device. However, the present disclosure is not limited herein. The position of the central tap terminal CT and the input-output terminal IOE can be change according to the requirement. The descriptions would be made below by taking the embodiments of  FIGS.  4  and  5    as examples. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  4    a schematic diagram of an inductor device  400  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The symbols in  FIG.  4    which are same as those in  FIG.  1    represent same or similar component, and therefore the description thereof is omitted herein. In the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , the central tap terminal CT is located on the second side S 2  of the inductor device  400 , and the input-output terminal IOE is located on the first sides S 1  of the inductor device  400 . In particular, the central tap terminal CT can be coupled to the first sub-coil FC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 2  through vias on the second side S 2 , and is located in a different metal layer from at least the connecting members  201  and  202 , the second coil of the inductor device  400  (i.e., the first sub-coil FC 2  and the second sub-coil SC 2 ) and the third coil of the inductor device  400  (i.e., the first sub-coil FC 3  and the second sub-coil SC 3 ). In addition, the input-output terminal IOE is coupled to the first sub-coil FC 3  and the second sub-coil SC 3  directly or indirectly on the first sides S 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   ,  FIG.  5    a schematic diagram of an inductor device  500  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The symbols in  FIG.  5    which are same as those in  FIG.  1    represent same or similar component, and therefore the description thereof is omitted herein. In the embodiment of  FIG.  5   , the central tap terminal CT is located on the second side S 2  of the inductor device  500 , and the input-output terminal IOE is located on the first sides S 1  of the inductor device  500 . In particular, the central tap terminal CT can be coupled to the first sub-coil FC 2  through a connecting member  301  on the second side S 2 , and can be coupled to the second sub-coil SC 2  through another connecting member  302  on the second side S 2 . The connecting members  301  and  302  are located in different metal layers. For example, the connecting member  301  is located in the first metal layer as the connecting member  202 , and the connecting member  302  is located in the second metal layer as the connecting member  201 . It can be appreciated that the connecting member  301  is intersected with the connecting member  201 , and that the connecting member  302  is intersected with the connecting member  202 . In addition, the input-output terminal  10 E is coupled to the first sub-coil FC 3  and the second sub-coil SC 3  directly or indirectly on the first sides S 1 . 
     In the above embodiments, the inductor device (e.g., the inductor device  100  of  FIG.  1   , the inductor device  200  of  FIG.  2   , the inductor device  300  of  FIG.  3   , the inductor device  400  of  FIG.  4   , the inductor device  500  of  FIG.  5   ) has a square structure (i.e., a quadrilateral structure). It can be appreciated that the inductor device can also be other polygonal structure in other embodiments. In addition, the structure of the inductor device of the above embodiments can also be applied to a figure-eight inductor device. 
     It can be appreciated that the number of the coils of the first winding C 1  and the number of the coils of the second winding C 2  are only for illustrated purpose, and the present disclosure is not limited to the number as shown in the drawings. In other words, the number of the coils of the inductor device is not limited to 3 as shown in the drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   ,  FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of experimental data of the inductor device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure and experimental data of the prior art. As shown in  FIG.  6   , by adopting the structural configuration of the present disclosure, the experimental curve of the quality factor of the inductor device is Q′ (presented by solid line), and the experimental curve of the inductance value of the inductor device is L′ (presented by solid line). By adopting the prior art, the experimental curve of the quality factor of the inductor device is Q (presented by broken line), and the experimental curve of the inductance value of the inductor device is L (presented by broken line). It can be seen from  FIG.  6    that the inductor device adopting the structure of the present disclosure has better quality factor and inductance value in comparison to the prior art. For example, the inductance value of the inductor device of the present disclosure is increased by about 15% at the frequency of 4.8 GHz in comparison to the prior art. 
     It can be seen from the above embodiments of the present disclosure that the inductor device of the present disclosure (e.g., the inductor device  100  of  FIG.  1   , the inductor device  200  of  FIG.  2   , the inductor device  300  of  FIG.  3   , the inductor device  400  of  FIG.  4   , the inductor device  500  of  FIG.  5   ) has the advantage of reduced equivalent parasitic capacitance value by arranging multiple coils for transmitting same polarity signals and few coils for transmitting different polarity signals in same region. In addition, the inductor device can further increase the inductance value and the quality factor by the structure of the present disclosure. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.