Patent ID: 7782166

Claim:
A cross-coupled helical inductor configuration formed in an integrated circuit (IC), the cross-coupled helical inductor configuration comprising: a first helical inductor comprising a first plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors of said first plurality of conductors are disposed in respective layers of the IC and are conductively connected to form a first helical pattern of conductors; a second helical inductor comprising a second plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors of said second plurality of conductors are disposed in respective layers of the IC and are conductively connected to form a second helical pattern of conductors, the first and second helical inductors being positioned in close proximity to one another in the IC; a first coupling conductor that connects at least a first one of said first plurality of conductors to at least a first one of said second plurality of conductors; and a second coupling conductor that connects at least a second one of said second plurality of conductors to at least a second one of said first plurality of conductors, wherein if a first electrical current is introduced into said first helical inductor, the connection between said at least a first one of said first plurality of conductors and said at least a first one of said second plurality of conductors causes a first electromagnetic field to exist in a first portion of said first helical inductor and a second electromagnetic field to exist in a second portion of said second helical inductor, the first and second electromagnetic fields being oppositely directed, and wherein the oppositely directed electromagnetic fields result in reduced noise levels in a substrate of the IC.