Patent Publication Number: US-2023144972-A1

Title: Inductor device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Taiwan Application Serial Number 110141575, filed on Nov. 8, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below in its entirety and for all applicable purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to an electrical device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an inductor device. 
     Description of Related Art 
     For different circumstances, inductors are designed to be various shapes. With development of technology, electrical devices become lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller. If there is any empty area generated around inductors due to the shape of the inductors, and the empty area is not used, it is unfavorable to electrical devices for becoming lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller. 
     SUMMARY 
     The foregoing presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the present disclosure or delineate the scope of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides an inductor device. An electrical device is disposed in a first area of the inductor device, and the inductor device includes a first trace and a second trace. The first trace is disposed in a second area. The second trace is disposed in the second area, and coupled to the first trace. The second area is disposed outside of the first area, and the first area and the second area are not overlapped with each other. 
     Therefore, based on the technical content of the present disclosure, the inductor device of the present disclosure can use the empty area efficiently to dispose the inductor device, such that the inductance of the whole device enhances. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
         FIG.  1    depicts a schematic diagram of an inductor device and an electrical device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    depicts a schematic diagram of the inductor device shown in  FIG.  1    according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    depicts a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the inductor device shown in  FIG.  2    according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    depicts a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the inductor device shown in  FIG.  2    according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  5    depicts a schematic diagram of experimental data of an inductor device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     According to the usual mode of operation, various features and elements in the figures have not been drawn to scale, which are drawn to the best way to present specific features and elements related to the disclosure. In addition, among the different figures, the same or similar element symbols refer to similar elements/components. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     To make the contents of the present disclosure more thorough and complete, the following illustrative description is given with regard to the implementation aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The features of the embodiments and the steps of the method and their sequences that constitute and implement the embodiments are described. However, other embodiments may be used to achieve the same or equivalent functions and step sequences. 
     Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terminologies employed in the present disclosure shall have the meanings that are commonly understood and used by one of ordinary skill in the art. Unless otherwise required by context, it will be understood that singular terms shall include plural forms of the same and plural terms shall include the singular. Furthermore, as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a” and “an” include the plural reference unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
       FIG.  1    depicts a schematic diagram of an inductor device  1000  and an electrical device  5000  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the electrical device  5000  is disposed inside the first area  6000  of the inductor device  1000 . In one embodiment, the electrical device  5000  can be another inductor device or a balanced to unbalanced device (balun), however, the present disclosure is not limited to this regard. 
     For facilitating the understanding of the inductor device  1000  in  FIG.  1   , reference is now made to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    depicts a schematic diagram of the inductor device  1000  shown in  FIG.  1    according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the inductor device  1000  includes a first trace  1100  and a second trace  1200 . The first trace  1100  is disposed at a second area  7000 . The second trace  1200  is disposed at the second area  7000 , and coupled to the first trace  1100 . The second area  7000  is disposed at the outer side of the first area  6000 , and the first area  6000  and the second area  7000  do not overlap to each other. 
     As a result, the inductor device  1000  of the present disclosure can be disposed at an empty area (e.g., the second area  7000 ) which is at the outer side of the electrical device  5000 , so as to use the empty area efficiently, such that the inductance of the whole device enhances. 
     In one embodiment, the first trace  1100  includes a plurality of first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 , the first wire  1120 ), and the second trace  1200  includes a plurality of second wires (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ). For example, in order to enhance inductance, the first trace  1100  is winded to form a plurality of first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 , the first wire  1120 ) at the upper-left corner of the figure. Similarly, the second trace  1200  is winded to form a plurality of second wires (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ) at the upper-right corner of the figure. In addition, the first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 , the first wire  1120 ) can be disposed at a sub-area  7100  of the second area  7000 , and the second wires (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ) can be disposed at a sub-area  7200  of the second area  7000 . 
     In one embodiment, the first wire  1110  which is located at an outermost side of the first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 , the first wire  1120 ) is coupled to the second wire  1210  which is located at an outermost side of the second wires (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ). In another embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a first connecting element  1510 , and the first connecting element  1510  is configured to connect to the first wire  1110  which is located at the outermost side of the first wire (e.g., the first wire  1110 , the first wire  1120 ) and the second wire  1210  which is located at the outermost side of the second wire (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ). In one embodiment, the first connecting element  1510  can be a center-tapped terminal (central tap). 
     In one embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a third trace  1300  and a fourth trace  1400 . The third trace  1300  and the fourth trace  1400  are disposed at the second area  7000 . In another embodiment, the third trace  1300  includes a plurality of third wires (e.g., the third wire  1310 , the third wire  1320 ), and the fourth trace  1400  includes a plurality of fourth wires (e.g., the fourth wire  1410 , the fourth wire  1420 ). For example, in order to enhance inductance, the third trace  1300  is winded to form a plurality of third wires (e.g., the third wire  1310 , the third wire  1320 ) at the lower-left corner of the figure. Similarly, the fourth trace  1400  is winded to form a plurality of fourth wires (e.g., the fourth wire  1410 , the fourth wire  1420 ) at the lower-right corner of the figure. In addition, the third wires (e.g., the third wire  1310 , the third wire  1320 ) can be disposed at a sub-area  7300  of the second area  7000 , and the fourth wires (e.g., the fourth wire  1410 , the fourth wire  1420 ) can be disposed at a sub-area  7400  of the second area  7000 . 
     In one embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a first bridging element  1150  and a second bridging element  1350 . The first bridging element  1150  is configured to connect to the first wire  1120  which is located at an innermost side of the first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 , the first wire  1120 ). The second bridging element  1350  is coupled to the first bridging element  1150 , and configured to connect to the third wire  1320  which is located at an innermost side of the third wires (e.g., the third wire  1310 , the third wire  1320 ). In another embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a second connecting element  1520 , and the second connecting element  1520  is configured to connect to the first bridging element  1150  and the second bridging element  1350 . 
     In one embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a first input/output element  1610 , and the first input/output element  1610  is coupled to the third wire  1310  which is located at the outermost side of the third wires (e.g., the third wire  1310 , the third wire  1320 ). The first input/output element  1610  is a terminal used to input or output a signal. 
     In one embodiment, the first trace  1100 , the second trace  1200 , the third trace  1300 , the fourth trace  1400 , the second connecting element  1520 , and the first input/output element  1610  are located at a first layer, and the first connecting element  1510 , the first bridging element  1150 , and the second bridging element  1350  are located at a second layer. For example, the first layer is a UTM (Ultra Thick Meta) layer, and the second layer is a RDL (Redistribution Layer). 
     In one embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a third bridging element  1250  and a fourth bridging element  1450 . The third bridging element  1250  is configured to connect to the second wire  1220  which is located at an innermost side of the second wires (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ). The fourth bridging element  1450  is coupled to the third bridging element  1250 , and configured to connect to the fourth wire  1420  which is located at an innermost side of the fourth wires (e.g., the fourth wire  1410 , the fourth wire  1420 ). In another embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a third connecting element  1530 , and the third connecting element  1530  is configured to connect to the third bridging element  1250  and the fourth bridging element  1450 . 
     In one embodiment, the inductor device  1000  further includes a second input/output element  1620 , and the second input/output element  1620  is coupled to the fourth wire  1410  which is located at the outermost side of the fourth wires (e.g., the fourth wire  1410 , the fourth wire  1420 ). The second input/output element  1620  is a terminal used to input or output a signal. 
     In one embodiment, the third connecting element  1530  and the second input/output element  1620  are located at the first layer, and the third bridging element  1250  and the fourth bridging element  1450  are located at the second layer. For example, the first layer is a UTM layer, and the second layer is a RDL. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the shape of the electrical device  5000  can be octagon. Therefore, the shape of the first area  6000 , where the electrical device  5000  is located, is octagon. Since the shape of the first area  6000  is octagon, the shape of the second area  7000  around the octagon is triangle. The inductor device  1000  of the present disclosure can be disposed at these triangle areas, so as to enhance the inductance. Specifically, the shape of the sub-areas  7100 ,  7200 ,  7300 ,  7400  of the second area  7000  can be triangles, and the sub-areas  7100 ,  7200 ,  7300 ,  7400  are located at the upper-left corner, the upper-right corner, the lower-left corner, and the lower-right corner of the inductor device  1000 . However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments as shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , those skilled in the art can adopt diamond or other suitable shape of the electrical device  5000  to dispose inductor device  1000  around the electrical device  5000 , depending on actual requirements. 
       FIG.  3    depicts a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the inductor device  1000  shown in  FIG.  2    according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the structure shown in  FIG.  2    is the upper-left corner of the inductor device  1000 . The structure in the upper-left corner includes the first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 A, the first wire  1120 A) and the first bridging element  1150 A. As can be seen in the figure, a winding direction of the first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 A, the first wire  1120 A) is a counterclockwise direction. Similarly, in the inductor device  1000  of  FIG.  2   , a winding direction of the second wires (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ), the third wires (e.g., the third wire  1310 , the third wire  1320 ) and the fourth wires (e.g., the fourth wire  1410 , the fourth wire  1420 ) can be a counterclockwise direction. It is noted that, the element in  FIG.  3   , whose symbol is similar to the symbol of the element in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , has similar structure feature in connection with the element in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   . Therefore, a detail description regarding the structure feature of the element in  FIG.  3    is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. Besides, the present disclosure is not limited to the structure as shown in  FIG.  3   , and it is merely an example for illustrating one of the implements of the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  4    depicts a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the inductor device  1000  shown in  FIG.  2    according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the structure shown in  FIG.  2    is the upper-left corner of the inductor device  1000 . The structure in the upper-left corner includes the first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 B, the first wire  1120 B) and the first bridging element  1150 B. As can be seen in the figure, a winding direction of the first wires (e.g., the first wire  1110 B, the first wire  1120 B) is a clockwise direction. Similarly, in the inductor device  1000  of  FIG.  2   , a winding direction of the second wires (e.g., the second wire  1210 , the second wire  1220 ), the third wires (e.g., the third wire  1310 , the third wire  1320 ) and the fourth wires (e.g., the fourth wire  1410 , the fourth wire  1420 ) can also be a clockwise direction. It is noted that, the element in  FIG.  4   , whose symbol is similar to the symbol of the element in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , has similar structure feature in connection with the element in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   . Therefore, a detail description regarding the structure feature of the element in  FIG.  4    is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. Besides, the present disclosure is not limited to the structure as shown in  FIG.  4   , and it is merely an example for illustrating one of the implements of the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  5    depicts a schematic diagram of experimental data of an inductor device  1000  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The experimental curve of the inductance adopting the structural configuration of the present disclosure is L 1 , and experimental curve of the quality factor adopting the structural configuration of the present disclosure is C 1 . As can be seen from the figure, the inductor device  1000  adopting the structural configuration of the present disclosure provides additional inductance, so as to enhance the inductance of the whole device. For example, at a frequency 2.4 GHz, the inductance of the inductor device  1000  is about 2.5 nH. 
     Although the present invention 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 invention 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 and their equivalents.