Semiconductor Inductor with Serpentine Core and Wire
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming semiconductor inductors are inadequate for minimizing circuit board space in hand-held devices, as they do not effectively integrate inductors onto chips while maintaining sufficient inductance and frequency characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor inductor design featuring a serpentine-shaped conductive wire woven through a serpentine-shaped ferromagnetic core, with laminated magnetic material to reduce eddy currents and adjust inductance values, is developed. The method involves depositing magnetic materials and forming a conductive wire structure using electroplating and photoimageable epoxy layers to create a compact, high-inductance inductor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If inductors are implemented as stand-alone devices, then inductance and stored energy are sufficient, but circuit board space consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inductor with the semiconductor chip by integrating the ferromagnetic core and conductive wire directly onto the chip substrate. The core is formed as a planar structure with copper traces winding through it, creating a unified chip-inductor component that eliminates the need for separate stand-alone inductor devices, thereby reducing circuit board space while maintaining inductance performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional three-dimensional coil structures to a planar two-dimensional configuration. The ferromagnetic core and conductive traces are arranged in a flat, layered structure on the chip surface, allowing the inductor to be integrated into the chip plane without requiring vertical space, thus minimizing circuit board footprint while preserving magnetic flux path efficiency
2Reliability
If conventional semiconductor inductor techniques are used, then integration onto chip is achieved, but inductance and frequency characteristics are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining ferromagnetic material for the core with copper conductive traces wound through it. This composite design provides both the magnetic properties necessary for high inductance and the electrical conductivity required for signal transmission, achieving superior inductance and frequency characteristics compared to conventional single-material semiconductor inductor techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes serpentine-shaped curved traces instead of straight linear paths. The winding copper traces follow curved paths through the ferromagnetic core, creating multiple turns that increase the magnetic flux linkage and thereby enhancing inductance. The curved geometry allows efficient use of the planar space while maximizing the magnetic path length
3Reliability
If ferromagnetic core is used to increase inductance, then stored energy increases, but eddy currents increase causing degraded frequency characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The ferromagnetic core is divided into multiple laminated layers with insulating barriers between them. This segmentation breaks up the continuous conductive path that would allow large eddy currents to flow, restricting eddy currents to smaller loops within each layer. The laminated structure maintains the magnetic flux path for high inductance while suppressing harmful eddy current losses, thereby improving frequency characteristics
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The serpentine design provides a low reluctance flux path, allows for easy adjustment of inductance, and reduces eddy currents, thereby enhancing frequency characteristics and minimizing circuit board space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The serpentine shape of the ferromagnetic core ensures a low reluctance flux path within the ferromagnetic core
Implementation Method 2
laminated magnetic material to reduce eddy currents and adjust inductance values
Data Source
AI summary
The inductance of an inductor is increased by forming a conductive wire to have a serpentine shape that weaves through a ferromagnetic core that has a number of segments that are connected together in a serpentine shape where each segment of the ferromagnetic core also has a number of sections that are connected together in a serpentine shape.