The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 27, 2004
Albert Z. H. Wang, Wilmette, IL (US);
Albert Z. H. Wang, Wilmette, IL (US);
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An on-chip inductor device for Integrated Circuits utilizes coils on a plurality of metal layers of the IC with electrical connectors between the coils and a magnetic core for the inductor of stacked vias running between the coils. The magnetic core is made from a series of stacked vias which are deposited between each metal layer of the IC having a coil. The magnetic core desirably includes an array of magnetic bars comprising the magnetic core. The via material of the magnetic core may be both magnetic and electrically conductive. The magnetic and electrically conductive via material may also be used for the planar coil electrical connectors or other electrically conductive parts of the IC, or both, thereby lessening fabrication steps. Films of magnetic material may be formed at the ends of the inductor to provide a closed magnetic circuit for the inductor. A high Q factor inductor of small (e.g., transistor) size is thus obtained. The materials and processes which enable the on-chip inductor device are compatible with ordinary IC fabrication methods.