Patent Publication Number: US-2023154666-A1

Title: Inductor device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 110142939, filed Nov. 18, 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, it has a large parasitic capacitance and a high inductance, 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, a first central connecting portion and a plurality of side connecting portions. The coils include a first winding including a plurality of first coils and a second winding including a plurality of second coils. The first central connecting portion is configured to couple the first coils and the second coils which are interleaved, so that a first one of the second coils is coupled to a second one of the second coils. The side connecting portions are configured on two sides of the first central connecting portion and each configured to couple the second one of the second coils to a third one of the second coils, so that the second one of the second coils and a first one of the first coils compose one of the coils of the inductor device, wherein the second one of the second coils is close adjacent to the third one of the second 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; and 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of an 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. In some embodiments, the inductor device  100  includes a plurality of coils located in a same metal layer, and the coils of the inductor device  100  are composed of a first winding C 1  and a second winding C 2 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the inductor device  100  further includes a first central connecting portion CN 1 , a second central connecting portion CN 2 , a plurality of side connecting portions PN 1 -PN 2 , a first input-output terminal IOE 1  and a second input-output terminal IOE 2 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , the first winding C 1  is configured with a plurality of first coils FC 1 -FC 3  (presented by areas filled with dots in  FIG.  1   ) from outside to inside, wherein the first coil FC 3  of the first winding C 1  is composed of multiple first parts FC 3 - 1   a  and FC 3 - 1   b  and a second part FC 3 - 2 . The second winding C 2  is also configured with a plurality of second coils SC 1 -SC 2  (presented by areas filled with inclined lines in  FIG.  1   ) from outside to inside, wherein the second coil SC 2  of the second winding C 2  is composed of multiple third parts SC 2 - 1   a  and SC 2 - 1   b  and a fourth part SC 2 - 2 . It can be appreciated that the first winding C 1  and the second winding C 2  are not overlapped with each other. 
     In some embodiments, the first input-output terminal IOE 1  and the second input-output terminal IOE 2  are configured to input or output signal. In particular, the first input-output terminal IOE 1  is coupled to the outermost first coil FC 1  on a first side S 1  of the inductor device  100 , and the second input-output terminal IOE 2  is coupled to the outermost second coil SC 1  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 some embodiments, the first central connecting portion CN 1  is located on the first side S 1  of the inductor device  100 , and the second central connecting portion CN 2  is located on the second side S 2  of the inductor device  100 . The side connecting portions PN 1 -PN 2  are arranged on two sides of the first central connecting portion CN 1  respectively. For example, the side connecting portion PN 1  is arranged on a left side of the first central connecting portion CN 1 , and the side connecting portion PN 2  is arranged on a right side of the first central connecting portion CN 1 . The structures of the first central connecting portion CN 1 , the second central connecting portion CN 2  and the side connecting portions PN 1 -PN 2  would be described below respectively. 
     In some embodiments, the first central connecting portion CN 1  is configured to couple the first coils FC 2 -FC 3  and the second coils SC 1 -SC 2  which are interleaved, and the first central connecting portion CN 1  includes a first crossing portion and a second crossing portion. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the first crossing portion and the second crossing portion are incompletely overlapped. The first crossing portion includes multiple connecting members  101  and  102  and is configured to couple the first coil FC 2  (i.e., the middle first coil) and the first coil FC 3  (i.e., the innermost first coil). The second crossing portion includes multiple connecting members  103  and  104  and is configured to couple the second coil SC 1  (i.e., the outermost second coil) and the second coil SC 2  (i.e., the innermost second coil). In particular, the connecting member  101  is located in a first metal layer. The connecting member  102  is located in a second metal layer and is intersected with the connecting member  101 . The connecting member  103  is located in the first metal layer, is not overlapped with the connecting member  101  and is intersected with the connecting member  102 . The connecting member  104  is located in the second metal layer, is not overlapped with the connecting member  102  and is intersected with the connecting members  101  and  103 . 
     In some embodiments, the side connecting members PN 1 -PN 2  each are configured to couple the first coil and the second coil adjacent to each other (e.g., the innermost first coil FC 3  and the innermost second coil SC 2 ). As shown in  FIG.  1   , the side connecting members PN 1 -PN 2  each include multiple connecting members  301 - 302 . In particular, the connecting member  301  is located in the first metal layer. The connecting member  302  is located in the second metal layer and is intersected with the connecting member  301 . 
     In some embodiments, the second central connecting portion CN 2  includes a third crossing portion. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the third crossing portion includes multiple connecting members  201 - 202  and is configured to couple the outermost first coil FC 1  and the middle first coil FC 2 . In particular, the connecting member  201  is located in the first metal layer. The connecting member  202  is located in the second metal layer and is intersected with the connecting member  201 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  1   , the first coils FC 1 -FC 3  and the second coils SC 1 -SC 2  are also located in the first metal layer, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the first coils FC 1 -FC 3  and the second coils SC 1 -SC 2  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. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    again, the structure of the first winding C 1  is described first. in detail, a left half-coil of the first coil FC 1  is coupled to the first input-output terminal IOE 1  on the first side S 1 , is wound counterclockwise from the first side S 1  to the second side S 2  and is coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  202  through a via on the second side S 2 . Another terminal of the connecting member  202  is also coupled to a right half-coil of the first coil FC 2  through a via. 
     The right half-coil of the first coil FC 2  is wound counterclockwise from the second side S 2  to the first side S 1  and is directly coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  101 . Another terminal of the connecting member  101  is also directly coupled to a terminal of the first part FC 3 - 1   a  of the first coil FC 3 . Another terminal of the first part FC 3 - 1   a  of the first coil FC 3  is coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  302  of the side connecting portion PN 1  through a via, and another terminal of the connecting member  302  of the side connecting portion PN 1  is also coupled to the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3  through a via. In other words, a first one of the first coils (e.g., the right half-coil of the first coil FC 2 ) is coupled to a second one of the first coils (e.g., the first part FC 3 - 1   a  of the first coil FC 3 ) through the first central connecting portion CN 1 , and the second one of the first coils is coupled to a third one of the first coils (e.g., the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3 ) through the side connecting portion PN 1 . 
     The second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3  is wound counterclockwise from a left side of the side connecting portion PN 1  to a right side of the side connecting portion PN 2  and is coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  302  of the side connecting portion PN 2  through a via. Another terminal of the connecting member  302  of the side connecting portion PN 2  is also coupled to a terminal of the first part FC 3 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 3  through a via. Another terminal of the first part FC 3 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 3  is coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  102  through a via, and another terminal of the connecting member  102  is coupled to a left half-coil of the first coil FC 2  through a via. In other words, a first one of the first coils (e.g., the left half-coil of the first coil FC 2 ) is coupled to a second one of the first coils (e.g., the first part FC 3 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 3 ) through the first central connecting portion CN 1 , and the second one of the first coils is coupled to a third one of the first coils (e.g., the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3 ) through the side connecting portion PN 2 . 
     The left half-coil of the first coil FC 2  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  201  on the second side S 2 . Another terminal of the connecting member  201  is also directly coupled to a right half-coil of the first coil FC 1 . Finally, the right half-coil of the first coil FC 1  is wound counterclockwise from the second side S 2  to the first side S 1  and is coupled to the first input-output terminal IOE 1  on the first side S 1 . 
     It can be seen from the above descriptions that the second one of the first coils (e.g., the first part FC 3 - 1   a  or FC 3 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 3 ) is close adjacent to the third one of the first coils (e.g., the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3 ) by the configuration of the side connecting portions PN 1  and PN 2 . 
     The structure of the second winding C 2  is then described. In detail, a right half-coil of the second coil SC 1  is coupled to the second input-output terminal IOE 2  on the second side S 2  through a connecting member crossed over the right half-coil of the first coil FC 1 , is wound counterclockwise from the second side S 2  to the first side S 1  and is directly coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  103  on the first side S 1 . Another terminal of the connecting member  103  is also directly coupled to a terminal of the third part SC 2 - 1   a  of the second coil SC 2 . Another terminal of the third part SC 2 - 1   a  of the second coil SC 2  is directly coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  301  of the side connecting portion PN 1 . Another terminal of the connecting member  301  of the side connecting portion PN 1  is directly coupled to the fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2 . In other words, a first one of the second coils (e.g., the right half-coil of the second coil SC 1 ) is coupled to a second one of the second coils (e.g., the third part SC 2 - 1   a  of the second coil SC 2 ) through the first central connecting portion CN 1 , and the second one of the second coils is coupled to a third one of the second coils (e.g., the fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2 ) through the side connecting portion PN 1 . 
     The fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2  is wound counterclockwise from the left side of the side connecting portion PN 1  to the right side of the side connecting portion PN 2  and is directly coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  301  of the side connecting portion PN 2 . Another terminal of the connecting member  301  of the side connecting portion PN 2  is also directly coupled to a terminal of the third part SC 2 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 2 . Another terminal of the third part SC 2 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 2  is coupled to a terminal of the connecting member  104  through a via, and another terminal of the connecting member  104  is also coupled to a left half-coil of the second coil SC 1  through a via. In other words, a first one of the second coils (e.g., the left half-coil of the second coil SC 1 ) is coupled to a second one of the second coils (e.g., the third part SC 2 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 2 ) through the first central connecting portion CN 1 , and the second one of the second coils is coupled to a third one of the second coils (e.g., the fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2 ) through the side connecting portion PN 2 . 
     Finally, the left half-coil of the second coil SC 1  is wound counterclockwise from the first side S 1  to the second side S 2  and is coupled to the second input-output terminal IOE 2  through another connecting member crossed over the left half-coil of the first coil FC 1 . 
     It can be seen from the above descriptions that the second one of the second coils (e.g., the third part SC 2 - 1   a  or SC 2 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 2 ) is close adjacent to the third one of the second coils (e.g., the fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2 ) by the configuration of the side connecting portions PN 1  and PN 2 . 
     It can be further seen from the above descriptions that the first coils of the first winding C 1  and the second coils of the second winding C 2  are distributed at different positions of a same metal layer via the configuration of the first central connecting portion CN 1 , the second central connecting portion CN 2  and the side connecting portions PN 1 -PN 2  to form multiple turns of the inductor device  100 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the inductor device  100  is configured with a first turn, a second turn, a third turn, a fourth turn and a fifth turn from outside to inside. 
     In particular, the turns of the inductor device  100  which are provided with the side connecting portions PN 1 -PN 2  are composed of the first coil and the second coil. For example, the fourth turn of the inductor device  100  is composed of the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3  and the two third parts SC 2 - 1   a  and SC 2 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 2 . The fifth turn of the inductor device  100  is composed of the two first parts FC 3 - 1   a  and FC 3 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 3  and the fourth parts SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2 . In other words, one of the coils of the inductor device  100  is composed of one of the first coils coupled to one side of the side connecting portion PN 1  (or PN 2 ) (e.g., the first part FC 3 - 1   a  or the second part FC 3 - 2 ) and one of the second coils coupled to the other side of the side connecting portion PN 1  (or PN 2 ) (e.g., the fourth part SC 2 - 2  or the third part SC 2 - 1   a ). 
     In addition, the turns of the inductor device  100  which are not provided with the side connecting portions PN 1 -PN 2  are composed of the first coil or the second coil alone. For example, the first turn of the inductor device  100  is composed of the first coil FC 1  of the first winding C 1  only. The second turn of the inductor device  100  is composed of the second coil SC 1  of the second winding C 2  only. The third turn of the inductor device  100  is composed of the first coil FC 2  of the first winding C 1  only. 
     It can be further seen from the above descriptions that the first coils FC 2 -FC 3  and the second coils SC 1 -SC 2  which are coupled to two sides of the first central connecting portion CN 1  are arranged symmetrically. For example, the left half-coil of the first coil FC 1 , the left half-coil of the second coil SC 1 , the left half-coil of the first coil FC 2 , the left third part SC 2 - 1   a  of the second coil SC 2  and the left first part FC 3 - 1   a  of the first coil FC 3  are sequentially arranged on the left side of the first central connecting portion CN 1  from outside to inside. The right half-coil of the first coil FC 1 , the right half-coil of the second coil SC 1 , the right half-coil of the first coil FC 2 , the right third part SC 2 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 2  and the right first part FC 3 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 3  are sequentially arranged on the right side of the first central connecting portion CN 1  from outside to inside. 
     In addition, the first coils and the second coils on two sides of the side connecting portion PN 1  are arranged asymmetrically. For example, the first coil FC 2 , the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3  and the fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2  are sequentially arranged on the left side of the side connecting portion PN 1  from outside to inside (that is, the second part FC 3 - 2  is arranged between the middle first coil FC 2  and the fourth part SC 2 - 2 ). However, the first coil FC 2 , the left third part SC 2 - 1   a  of the second coil SC 2  and the left first part FC 3 - 1   a  of the first coil FC 3  are sequentially arranged on the right side of the side connecting portion PN 1  from outside to inside (that is, the third part SC 2 - 1   a  is arranged between the middle first coil FC 2  and the first part FC 3 - 1   a ). It can be appreciated that the first coils and the second coils coupled to two sides of the side connecting portion PN 2  are also arranged asymmetrically, and the descriptions thereof are omitted herein. 
     Notably, by the configuration of the left side connecting portion PN 1 , the left half-coil of the first coil FC 2  is adjacent to the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3  (that is, the second coil is not provided between the left half-coil of the first coil FC 2  and the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3 ), and is not adjacent to the fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2 . For the same reason, by the configuration of the right side connecting portion PN 2 , the right half-coil of the first coil FC 2  is adjacent to the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3  (that is, the second coil is not provided between the right half-coil of the first coil FC 2  and the second part FC 3 - 2  of the first coil FC 3 ), and is not adjacent to the fourth part SC 2 - 2  of the second coil SC 2 . In such way, the equivalent inductance value and the quality factor of the inductor device  100  can be increased dramatically, and the equivalent parasitic capacitance value of the inductor device  100  can be reduced dramatically. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  2    is 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 components, and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted herein. In the embodiment of  FIG.  2   , each of the side connecting portions PN 3 -PN 4  of the inductor device  200  is coupled to the middle first coil FC 2  and the outermost second coil SC 2 . Also, the middle first coil FC 2  is composed of multiple first parts FC 2 - 1   a  and FC 2 - 1   b  and a second part FC 2 - 2 , and the outermost second coil SC 1  is composed of multiple third parts SC 1 - 1   a  and SC 1 - 1   b  and a fourth part SC 1 - 2 . The second turn of the inductor device  200  is composed of the two first parts FC 2 - 1   a  and FC 2 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 2  and the fourth part SC 1 - 2  of the second coil SC 1 . The third turn of the inductor device  200  is composed of the second part FC 2 - 2  of the first coil FC 2  and the two third parts SC 1 - 1   a  and SC 1 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 1 . It can be appreciated that the side connecting portion PN 3  or PN 4  can be implemented by the side connecting portion PN 1  or PN 2  of  FIG.  1   , and therefore the descriptions of its structure are omitted herein. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  2   , a first one of the first coils (e.g., the first coil FC 3 ) is coupled to a second one of the first coils (e.g., the first part FC 2 - 1   a  or FC 2 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 2 ) through the first central connecting portion CN 1 , and the second one of the first coils is coupled to a third one of the first coils (e.g., the left or right second part FC 2 - 2  of the first coil FC 2 ) through the side connecting portion PN 3  or PN 4 . Similarly, a first one of the second coils (e.g., the second coil SC 2 ) is coupled to a second one of the second coils (e.g., the third part SC 1 - 1   a  or SC 1 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 1 ) through the first central connecting portion CN 1 , and the second one of the second coils is coupled to a third one of the second coils (e.g., the left or right fourth part SC 1 - 2  of the second coil SC 1 ) through the side connecting portion PN 3  or PN 4 . 
     In addition, the second one of the first coils (e.g., the first part FC 2 - 1   a  or FC 2 - 1   b  of the first coil FC 2 ) is close adjacent to the third one of the first coils (e.g., the left or right second part FC 2 - 2  of the first coil FC 2 ) by the configuration of the side connecting portions PN 3  and PN 4 . For the same reason, the second one of the second coils (e.g., the third part SC 1 - 1   a  or SC 1 - 1   b  of the second coil SC 1 ) is close adjacent to the third one of the second coils (e.g., the left or right fourth part SC 1 - 2  of the second coil SC 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  2    again, by the configuration of the left side connecting portion PN 3 , the first coil FC 3  is adjacent to the left second part FC 2 - 2  of the first coil FC 2  and is not adjacent to the left fourth part SC 1 - 2  of the second coil SC 1 . For the same reason, by the configuration of the right side connecting portion PN 4 , the first coil FC 3  is adjacent to the right second part FC 2 - 2  of the first coil FC 2  and is not adjacent to the right fourth part SC 1 - 2  of the second coil SC 1 . In such way, the equivalent inductance value and the quality factor of the inductor device  200  can be increased dramatically, and the equivalent parasitic capacitance value of the inductor device  200  can be reduced dramatically. 
     In above embodiments, the inductor device (e.g., the inductor device  100  of  FIG.  1   , the inductor device  200  of  FIG.  2   ) 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, it can be appreciated that the number of the coils of the inductor device is only for illustrated purpose, and the present disclosure is not limited to the number as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2    (e.g.,  5  turns). The descriptions would be made below by taking the embodiment of  FIG.  3    as example. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of an inductor device  300  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, the inductor device  300  has an octagonal structure and has at least 7 coils. The symbols in  FIG.  3    which are same as those in  FIG.  1    represent same or similar components, and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted herein. 
     In above embodiments, the side connecting portions (e.g., PN 1 -PN 2  in  FIG.  1  or  3    and PN 3 -PN 4  in  FIG.  2   ) and the first central connecting portion CN 1  are all on the first side S 1  of the inductor device, but the present disclosure is not limited herein. In other embodiments, the side connecting portions are on the second side S 2  of the inductor device  100 , or are on a third side S 3  and a fourth side S 4  of the inductor device  100 , respectively. In particular, the third side S 3  (e.g., a left side) and the fourth side S 4  (e.g., a right side) are two opposite sides. The descriptions would be made below by taking the embodiment of  FIG.  4    as example. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of an inductor device  400  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, multiple connecting portions PN 1 -PN 2  are on the third side S 3  and the fourth side S 4  of the inductor device  400 , respectively. The symbols in  FIG.  4    which are same as those in  FIG.  1    represent same or similar components, and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted herein. 
     It can be seen from the above embodiments of the present disclosure that the inductor device of the present disclosure has the advantage of reduced equivalent parasitic capacitance value by the side connecting portions configured on two sides of the first central connecting portion. In addition, the inductor device can further increase the equivalent 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.