Stacked Inductor Layout for Low Parasitic Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for compact inductors that can decrease parasitic mutual inductance with neighboring components while maintaining significant self-inductance.
Innovation Solution
The inductor is arranged in a stack of insulating and conductive levels, with specific turns arranged in distinct conductive levels and connected in series, allowing current to flow in alternating rotation directions, thereby reducing mutual parasitic inductance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a planar eight-shaped inductor configuration is used to decrease magnetic field coupling with neighboring components, then parasitic mutual inductance is reduced, but the surface area required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Turns are arranged in multiple vertical levels (first conductive level, second conductive level, third conductive level) separated by insulating layers, allowing the inductor to achieve compact footprint while maintaining effective area for magnetic field generation. This vertical stacking resolves the contradiction by utilizing the third dimension to reduce surface area occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where multiple turns are stacked vertically within a compact footprint. The first and fourth turns are in the same first conductive level, the second and third turns are in the same second conductive level, with alternating current directions. This nesting allows multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping projected areas, significantly reducing the total surface area while maintaining the alternating current pattern that reduces parasitic mutual inductance.
2Reliability
If the number of turns is increased to achieve higher self-inductance, then energy storage capability improves, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves higher self-inductance without increasing device footprint by stacking turns vertically across multiple conductive levels. The inductor includes turns in a first conductive level, second conductive level, and third conductive level, with insulating layers between them. This vertical arrangement allows more turns to be packed into a smaller planar area, increasing self-inductance while controlling device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining multiple conductive materials at different levels with insulating materials between them. The stack includes conductive levels containing turns and insulating levels separating them, creating a multi-material composite that enables high self-inductance in a compact volume by efficiently utilizing vertical space.
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
This configuration effectively limits mutual parasitic inductance with neighboring components without reducing self-inductance, while also reducing the overall size of the inductor, requiring less surface area to achieve similar inductance values compared to planar eight-shaped inductors.
Implementation Method 1
The inductance value, expressed in Henry, represents the ability of the inductor to store energy in the form of a magnetic field when an electric current flows therethrough
Implementation Method 2
The magnetic field generated by an inductor may cause unwanted couplings with neighboring electronic components
Data Source
AI summary
The present description provides an inductor arranged in a stack of insulating and conductive levels. An exemplary inductor includes: in a first area of a stack, at least first and second turns respectively arranged in two distinct conductive levels of the stack; and in a second area of the stack, at least third and fourth turns respectively arranged in two distinct conductive levels of the stack, in which the first, second, third, and fourth turns are series-connected between first and second ends of the inductor, so that a current applied between the first and second ends of the inductor flows in a first rotation direction in the first and second turns and in a second rotation direction opposite to the first direction in the third and fourth turns.