Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Naoki Iida

Masahiko Kawaguchi

Kazuyoshi Uchiyama

Katsuji Matsuta

Katsuhiro Misaki

A directional coupling device includes a main line and a sub line, and line coupling (distributed constant coupling) is effected between the main line and the sub line, each of which has a portion that is arranged substantially parallel to each other and alongside each other. The sub line is longer than the main line. The main line is a substantially straight line or a substantially straight line bending at a predetermined position, i.e., a non-spiraling line, and the sub line is arranged to circle in a spiral manner by bending a substantially straight line at predetermined positions. Thus, a small high-capability directional coupler has excellent isolation properties and directivity, and little insertion loss or deterioration in reflection properties.

Directional coupler

A small directional coupler includes a main line and a subline having a sufficient self-inductance value and achieving a very small insertion loss. A main-line conductor pattern and a subline conductor pattern are formed on the top surface of an insulating substrate by a method using photolithographic technologies. The main-line conductor pattern and the subline conductor pattern are formed in a spiral shape and so as to extend substantially parallel to each other. In order for the self-inductance value of the main line to be lower than the self-inductance value of the subline, the line width of the subline conductor pattern is narrower than the line width of the main-line conductor pattern. More specifically, it is preferable that the line width of the conductor pattern for a subline be about 50% to about 90% of the line width of the main-line conductor pattern.

A variable inductor includes two substantially meandering coils with trimming electrodes disposed therebetween on an insulating substrate. The trimming electrodes are located outside the region where the coils are provided. The two coils and the trimming electrodes are electrically connected. The trimming electrodes are exposed to a laser beam and thus, are trimmed one by one so as to vary the inductance.

Variable inductor and method

In a three-terminal variable inductor, a pair of spiral coil electrodes and a plurality of trimming electrodes are disposed on an insulative substrate. The trimming electrodes are arranged so as to bridge the respective outer portions of the spiral coil electrodes without crossing any of the spiral coil electrodes, thus electrically connecting the spiral coil electrodes. Laser beams are irradiated onto the trimming electrodes, so that a groove is formed so as to cut the trimming electrodes one by one, whereby inductance is changed as desired.

Three-terminal variable inductor and method of making the same

A variable inductor includes an input external electrode, an output external electrode, and a coil formed by electrically connecting at least two spiral coil pattern portions in series between the input external electrode and the output external electrode. At least one trimming electrode is further provided in each of the spiral coil pattern portions. A first end and a second end of each trimming electrode are connected to the spiral coil pattern portion, and a lead out electrode, respectively, so that the trimming electrode bridges between the lead out electrode and the coil. The trimming electrodes are sequentially trimmed one-by-one, by, for example, irradiating a laser beam, starting from a trimming electrode closer to an edge, whereby the inductance of the coil is increased accordingly.

Variable inductor

Three-terminal variable inductor

A variable inductance element includes an inductor pattern provided on the upper surface of an insulating substrate. The inductor pattern is a ladder-shaped electrode including a substantially V-shaped frame portion and a plurality of lateral bars extending across two arms of the substantially V-shaped frame portion to be trimmed for adjustment of the inductance. The plurality of lateral bars are arranged at substantially equal intervals. The two arms of the substantially V-shaped frame portion have an angle of about 45&deg; relative to the lateral bars.

Variable inductance element

A variable inductor includes a coil and an inductance trimming member disposed on an insulating substrate. The inductance trimming member is disposed outside of an area where the coil is located. By exposing the inductance trimming member to a laser beam, cross rail members of the inductance trimming member are trimmed one by one, thus varying the inductance.

A method of manufacturing an electronic component provides a wide area which can be used for forming elements on the surface of a mother substrate and effectively produces an electronic component having excellent performance characteristics. At least a portion of the mother substrate is cut by using a blade having a shape in which a portion thereof butted against the boundary (shoulder) between the electrode arrangement surface and the cut end surface of the mother substrate or a portion which becomes the boundary (shoulder) is inclined at a predetermined angle to form an inclined surface at the boundary (shoulder) or the portion which becomes the boundary (shoulder) so as to expose a part of an electrode at the inclined surface.

Electronic component and method of manufacturing same

A variable inductor device has at least two coils. The at least two coils are disposed on an insulating substrate with an inductance adjusting element located therebetween. The inductance adjusting element is electrically connected at one end to a tap center electrode. The at least two coils are electrically connected to each other via the inductance adjusting element. The inductance adjusting element is grooved and horizontal paths of the inductance adjusting element are sequentially disconnected one by one by, for example, a laser beam. The inductances are thus varied. It is therefore possible to provide a variable inductor device in which the area required for mounting the device on a printed circuit board is decreased and the inductances are stably adjusted while keeping the inductances balanced.

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Sabae, Japan

Naoki Iida