Patent Publication Number: US-2022230801-A1

Title: Inductor device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of TAIWAN Application serial no. 110101716, filed Jan. 15, 2021, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of Invention 
     The invention relates to a device. More particularly, the invention relates to an inductor device. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Existing inductors of various types includes their advantages and disadvantages, such as a spiral-type inductor, which has a high Q value and a large mutual inductance. However, the mutual inductance and coupling occur between the coils. On the other hand, for an 8-shaped inductor, since the direction of the induced magnetic field of the two coils is opposite, the coupling and mutual inductance occur in the coupling magnetic field of the other coil. In addition, the 8-shaped inductor occupies a large area in the device. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide an inductor device to provide different inductance values so as to expand the use range of the inductor device while maintaining the quality factor of the inductor. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of this disclosure is to provide an inductor device includes a first ring-type structure, a second ring-type structure, and a third ring-type structure. The second ring-type structure is coupled to the first ring-type structure and formed an 8-shaped loop with the first ring-type structure. The third ring-type structure is coupled to the second ring-type structure. The first ring-type structure and the second ring-type structure are located at an area surrounded by the third ring-type structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, according to the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an inductor device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an inductor device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device in  FIG. 5  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device in  FIG. 5  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an inductor device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the invention. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
     The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the invention, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the invention are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the invention. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an inductor device  100  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The inductor device  100  includes a ring-type structure  110 , a ring-type structure  130  and a ring-type structure  150 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Structurally, the ring-type structure  130  is coupled to the ring-type structure  110 , and the ring-type structure  150  is coupled to the ring-type structure  130 . The ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  form an 8-shaped loop. The ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  are located at an area surrounded by the ring-type structure  150 . 
     In detail, the terminal  112 A of the ring-type structure  110  is connected to the terminal  132 A of the ring-type structure  130 , the terminal  112 B of the ring-type structure  110  is connected to the terminal  132 B of the ring-type structure  130 , and terminal  132 C of the ring-type structure  130  is connected to the terminal  152 A of the ring-type structure  150 , the terminal  132 D of the ring-type structure  130  is connected to the terminal  152 B of the ring-type structure  150 . 
     In some embodiments, the inductor device  100  further includes a connector  160 . The connector  160  is coupled to the ring-type structure  130  and the ring-type structure  150 . In detail, the connector  160  includes a switch  162  and a switch  164 . The switch  162  is connected to the terminal  152 A of the ring-type structure  150  and the terminal  152 B of the ring-type structure  150 , and the switch  164  is connected to the terminal  132 C of the ring-type structure  130  and the terminal  132 D of the ring-type structure  130 . 
     The ring-type structure  130  and the ring-type structure  150  are staggered at the staggered point  172 . The switch  162  is disposed at a side of the staggered point  172 , for example, the upper side in the figure, and the switch  164  is disposed at another side of the staggered point  172 , for example, the bottom side in the figure. 
     In some embodiments, the inductor device  100  further includes a connector  180 . The connector  180  is coupled to the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130 . In detail, the connector  180  includes a switch  182  and a switch  184 . The switch  182  is connected to the terminal  132 A of the ring-type structure  130  and the terminal  112 B of the ring-type structure  110 , and the switch  184  is connected to the terminal  132 B of the ring-type structure  130  and the terminal  112 A of the ring-type structure  110 . 
     The ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  are staggered at the staggered point  174 . The switch  182  is disposed at a side of the staggered point  174 , for example, the left side in the figure, and the switch  184  is disposed at another side of the staggered point  174 , for example, the right side in the figure. 
     In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the connector  160  is disposed in the Y direction, and the connector  180  is disposed in the X direction. The X direction and the Y direction are perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, the ring-type structure  150  further includes an opening  192 . The opening  192  is disposed in the Y direction. The ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  are disposed in the Y direction. 
     The connector  160  is configured to selectively connect to the ring-type structure  130  and the ring-type structure  150 . The connector  180  is configured to selectively connect to the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130 . 
     The following will describe the different conduction status of the connector  160  and the connector  180 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device  100  in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when the connector  160  in  FIG. 1  is not conducted and the connector  180  is conducted, the ring-type structure  110 , the ring-type structure  130  and the ring-type structure  150  form a loop together. At this time, the ring-type structure  150  is a ring-shaped loop, and the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  also form a ring-shaped loop. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the current flows from the terminal  152 A of the ring-type structure  150  to the terminal  132 C of the ring-type structure  130 , from the terminal  132 B of the ring-type structure  130  through the switch  184  to the terminal  112 A of the ring-type structure  110 , from the terminal  112 B of the ring-type structure  110  through the switch  182  to the terminal  132 A of the ring-type structure  130 , and from the terminal  132 D of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  152 B of the ring-type structure  150 . The current directions mentioning above are for illustrative purposes only. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device  100  in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when the connector  160  in  FIG. 1  is conducted and the connector  180  is not conducted, the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  form a loop together, and the ring-type structure  150  forms another loop. The loop formed by the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  together mentioning above is the 8-shaped loop. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the current flows from the terminal  152 A of the ring-type structure  150  through the switch  162  to the terminal  152 B of the ring-type structure  150 . Furthermore, the current flows from the terminal  132 D of the ring-type structure  130  through the switch  164  to the terminal  132 C of the ring-type structure  130 , from the terminal  132 C of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  132 B of the ring-type structure  130 , from the terminal  132 B of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  112 B of the ring-type structure  110 , from the terminal  112 B of the ring-type structure  110  to the terminal  112 A of the ring-type structure  110 , from the terminal  112 A of the ring-type structure  110  to the terminal  132 A of the ring-type structure  130 , and then from the terminal  132 A of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  132 D of the ring-type structure  130 . The current directions mentioning above are for illustrative purposes only. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device  100  in  FIG. 1  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when both of the connector  160  and the connector  180  in  FIG. 1  are not conducted, the ring-type structure  110 , the ring-type structure  130  and the ring-type structure  150  form a loop together, and the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  form an 8-shaped loop together. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the current flows from the terminal  152 A of the ring-type structure  150  to the terminal  132 C of the ring-type structure  130 , from the terminal  132 C of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  132 B of the ring-type structure  130 , from the terminal  132 B of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  112 B of the ring-type structure  110 , from the terminal  112 B of the ring-type structure  110  to the terminal  112 A of the ring-type structure  110 , from the terminal  112 A of the ring-type structure  110  to the terminal  132 A of the ring-type structure  130 , from the terminal  132 A of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  132 D of the ring-type structure  130 , and then from the terminal  132 D of the ring-type structure  130  to the terminal  152 B of the ring-type structure  150 . The current directions as mentioning above are for illustrative purposes only. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , by controlling the conduction of the connector  160  and the connector  180  in  FIG. 1 , the inductance value of the inductor device  100  can be changed to expand the range of usage of the inductor device  100 . Furthermore, when the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  form an 8-shaped inductor, the coupling effect formed by the ring-type structure  110  and the ring-type structure  130  will cancel each other and reduce the interference caused by the coupling effect. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an inductor device  200  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The inductor device  200  includes a ring-type structure  210 , a ring-type structure  230  and a ring-type structure  250 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Structurally, the ring-type structure  210 , the ring-type structure  230  and the ring-type structure  250  coupled to each other. The ring-type structure  210  and the ring-type structure  230  from an 8-shaped loop. The ring-type structure  210  and the ring-type structure  230  are located in the area surrounded by the ring-type structure  250 . 
     In detail, the terminal  252 A of the ring-type structure  250  is connected to the terminal  212 A of the ring-type structure  210 , the terminal  212 B of the ring-type structure  210  is connected to the terminal  232 A of the ring-type structure  230 , and the terminal  232 B of the ring-type structure  230  is connected to the terminal  252 B of the ring-type structure  250 . 
     In some embodiments, the inductor device  200  further includes the connector  260 . The connector  260  couples to the ring-type structure  210  and the ring-type structure  230  and the ring-type structure  250 . In detail, the connector  260  includes the switch  262  and the switch  264 . The switch  262  is connected to the terminal  252 A of the ring-type structure  250  and the terminal  252 B of the ring-type structure  250 , and the switch  264  is connected to the terminal  232 B of the ring-type structure  230  and the terminal  212 A of the ring-type structure  210 . 
     The ring-type structure  210 , the ring-type structure  230  and the ring-type structure  250  are staggered at the staggered point  272  and the staggered point  274 . The switch  262  is disposed at one side of the staggered point  272 , for example, the upper side in the figure, and the switch  264  is disposed at another side of the staggered point  272 , for example, the bottom side in the figure. 
     In some embodiments, the switch  262  is connected to the terminal  252 A of the ring-type structure  250  and the terminal  252 E of the ring-type structure  250 , and the switch  264  is connected to the terminal  232 B of the ring-type structure  230  and the terminal  212 A of the ring-type structure  210 . 
     In some embodiments, the ring-type structure  250  further includes an opening  292 . The opening  292  is disposed in the Y direction. Furthermore, the ring-type structure  210  and the ring-type structure  230  are disposed in the X direction. The X direction and the Y direction are perpendicular to each other. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device  200  in  FIG. 5  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the connector  260  in  FIG. 6  is not conducted, the ring-type structure  210 , the ring-type structure  230  and the ring-type structure  250  form a loop together. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the current flows from the terminal  252 A of the ring-type structure  250  to the terminal  212 A of the ring-type structure  210 , from the terminal  212 A of the ring-type structure  210  to the terminal  232 A of the ring-type structure  230 , from the terminal  232 A of the ring-type structure  230  to the terminal  232 B of the ring-type structure  230 , from the terminal  232 B of the ring-type structure  230  to the terminal  252 B of the ring-type structure  250 . The current directions as mentioning above are for illustrative purposes only. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the operation of the inductor device  200  in  FIG. 5  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the connector  260  in  FIG. 7  is conducted, the ring-type structure  210  and the ring-type structure  230  forms an 8-shaped loop together. The ring-type structure  250  forms another loop. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the current flows from the terminal  252 A of the ring-type structure  250  through the switch  262  to the terminal  252 B of the ring-type structure  250 . On the other hand, the current flows from the terminal  232 B of the ring-type structure  230  through the switch  264  to the terminal  212 A of the ring-type structure  210 , from the terminal  212 A of the ring-type structure  210  to the terminal  212 B of the ring-type structure  210 , form the terminal  212 B of the ring-type structure  210  to the terminal  232 A of the ring-type structure  230 , and then from the terminal  232 A of the ring-type structure  230  to the terminal  232 B of the ring-type structure  230 . The current directions as mentioning above are for illustrative purposes only. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an inductor device  300  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The difference between the inductor device  300  in  FIG. 8  and the inductor device  100  in  FIG. 1  is that the inductor device  300  further includes a ring-type structure  340 . 
     In detail, the inductor device  300  includes the ring-type structure  310 , the ring-type structure  330 , the ring-type structure  350  and the ring-type structure  340 . The ring-type structure  310  and the ring-type structure  330  are coupled to each other, the ring-type structure  330  and the ring-type structure  350  are coupled to each other, and the ring-type structure  350  and ring-type structure  340  are coupled to each other. Furthermore, the inductor device  300  further includes the connector  360  and the connector  380 . The connector  360  includes the switch  362  and the switch  364 . The connector  380  includes the switch  382  and the switch  384 . 
     The above-mentioned connection method of the ring-type structure  310 , the ring-type structure  330 , the ring-type structure  350 , the connector  360  and the connector  380  is the same as that of the ring-type structure  110 , the ring-type structure  130 , the ring-type structure  150 , the connector  160  and the connector  180  in  FIG. 1 , and will not be described in detail here. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 8 . All of the ring-type structure  310 , the ring-type structure  330 , and the ring-type structure  350  are located in the area surrounded by the ring-type structure  340 . 
     In detail, the terminal  352 C of the ring-type structure  350  is connected to the terminal  342 B of the ring-type structure  340 , and the terminal  352 D of the ring-type structure  350  is connected to the terminal  342 A of the ring-type structure  340 . Furthermore, the ring-type structure  350  further includes an opening  392 , and the opening  392  is disposed in the Y direction. 
     It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the ring-type structure  340  may be further connected to another ring-type structure (not shown in the figure), that is, the number of the ring-type structures surrounding the ring-type structure  310  and the ring-type structure  330  is not limited by  FIG. 8 . Furthermore, the inductor device  200  as shown in  FIG. 5  may also be connected to more ring-type structures, that is to say, the number of the ring-type structures surrounding the ring-type structure  210  and the ring-type structure  230  is not limited by  FIG. 5 . 
     In some embodiments, the location of the opening  192 , the opening  292 , and the opening  392  are not limited as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 8 , those skilled in the art can configure the location of the opening according to actual needs. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, all of the ring-type structures can be octagonal structures, however, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The ring-type structure can also be realized by selectively using other polygonal structures, such as quadrangular structures, hexagonal structures, etc. 
     It should be noted that, the connector  160  and the connector  180  in  FIG. 1  can belong to the same connection device and can be controlled together, or both can be a single connection device and can be controlled separately, depending on the actual needs. 
     According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is understood that the embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide an inductor device. The inductor device can be turned into an 8-shaped inductor or a toroidal inductor through the operation of the connector. Since the inductor device has different inductance values when used as an 8-shaped inductor or a toroidal inductor, different inductance values can be provided to expand the application range of the inductor device. In addition, when the ring-type structure forms a floating 8-shaped inductor, the coupling effect formed by the ring type structure of the 8-shaped inductor will cancel each other to reduce the interference caused by the coupling effect. 
     In this document, the term “coupled” may also be termed as “electrically coupled”, and the term “connected” may be termed as “electrically connected”. “coupled” and “connected” may also be used to indicate that two or more elements cooperate or interact with each other. It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     In addition, the above illustrations comprise sequential demonstration operations, but the operations need not be performed in the order shown. The execution of the operations in a different order is within the scope of this disclosure. In the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the operations may be increased, substituted, changed, and/or omitted as the case may be. 
     The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.