The present disclosure relates to an inductor component and a method of manufacturing the same.
A conventional inductor component is described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2014-107513. This inductor component has a component main body including a mounting surface and an external electrode formed on the mounting surface. The component main body has an element body made up of a plurality of insulator layers and a coil provided in the element body and wound into a helical shape.
The coil is made up of coil wirings formed on the insulator layers and via wirings penetrating the insulator layers and electrically connecting a plurality of the coil wirings in series. The axis of the coil is substantially parallel to the mounting surface. The via wirings are formed only on the side farthest from the mounting surface.
As a result, the distance between the external electrode and the via wirings can be made larger to reduce a stray capacitance between the external electrode and a coil conductor so as to achieve an improvement in Q characteristics.
However, the conventional inductor component is still insufficiently improved in the Q value and has room for improvement particularly in improvement in the Q value at higher frequencies.
Therefore, a problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide an inductor component capable of improving the Q value.
To solve the problem, an aspect of the present disclosure provides an inductor component comprising:
an element body including two end surfaces opposite to each other and a bottom surface connected between the two end surfaces;
a coil provided in the element body and wound helically; and
two external electrodes provided in/on the element body and electrically connected to the coil, wherein
one of the external electrodes is formed over one of the end surfaces and the bottom surface while the other external electrode is formed over the other of the end surfaces and the bottom surface, wherein
the coil is formed such that an axial direction thereof is along the two end surfaces and the bottom surface, wherein
the coil includes a coil wiring wound along a plane orthogonal to the axial direction, and wherein
the aspect ratio of the coil wiring is 1.0 or more and less than 8.0.
The aspect ratio of the coil wiring is (the thickness of the coil wiring in the axial direction of the coil)/(the wiring width of the coil wiring). The axial direction of the coil refers to the direction parallel to the central axis of the helix formed by winding the coil. The wiring width of the coil wiring refers to the width in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the coil in a cross section (transverse cross section) orthogonal to the extending direction of the coil wiring.
According to the inductor component, the Q value can be increased.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, the aspect ratio of the coil wiring is 1.5 or more and less than 6.0.
According to the embodiment, the Q value can further be increased.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, the coil wiring is made up of a plurality of coil conductor layers laminated in surface contact with each other.
According to the embodiment, the coil wiring with a high aspect ratio and a high rectangular degree can be formed.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, the multiple coil conductor layers constituting the coil wiring are equal to each other in wiring length and are in surface contact with each other over the wiring length.
According to the embodiment, the aspect ratio and the rectangular degree can be made higher over the entire coil wiring. The wiring length refers to the length along the extending shape of the coil conductor layer.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, the wiring width of the coil wiring is 60 μm or less.
According to the embodiment, the inner diameter of the coil can be ensured, and the Q value can be increased.
In an embodiment of the inductor component,
the coil wiring varies in wiring width along the axial direction,
the coil wiring has an inner surface partially projecting to the inside of the coil wiring, and
a ratio (e/c) of a projection amount e of the inner surface to a maximum wiring width c of the coil wiring is 20% or less.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, the ratio (e/c) is 5% or less.
In an embodiment of the inductor component,
the coil wiring varies in wiring width along the axial direction, and
a ratio (a/c) of a difference (a) between a maximum wiring width (c) and a minimum wiring width of the coil wiring to the maximum width (c) is 40% or less.
According to the embodiment, a resistance loss at high frequencies can be suppressed to improve the Q value.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, the aspect ratio of the coil conductor layer is 2.0 or less.
According to the embodiment, the coil wiring with a high aspect ratio can stably be formed.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, no intervening layer exists between the coil conductor layers in surface contact and between the coil conductor layers and the element body.
According to the embodiment, the adhesion strength can be prevented from deteriorating between the coil conductor layers and between the coil conductor layers and the element body.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, an intervening layer exists in at least a portion between the coil conductor layers in surface contact and between the coil conductor layers and the element body.
According to the embodiment, a method using the intervening layer can be permitted for forming the coil wiring.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, a transverse cross section of the coil wiring has a T shape, an I shape, or a stacked shape of T.
According to the embodiment, the coil wiring with a high aspect ratio can stably be formed.
In an embodiment of the inductor component,
the plurality of coil conductor layers constituting the coil wiring includes a first coil conductor layer and a second coil conductor layer having the same width in a coil radial direction, and
a ratio (d/c) of a deviation amount d between the center of the wiring width of the first coil conductor layer and the center of the wiring width of the second coil conductor layer to the wiring width c of the first coil conductor layer and the second coil conductor layer is 20% or less.
According to the embodiment, a resistance loss at high frequencies can be suppressed to improve the Q value.
In an embodiment of the inductor component, the length of the coil in the axial direction is equal to or greater than 50% of the width of the element body in the axial direction.
According to the embodiment, the coil length can be increased and the Q value can be improved. The coil length refers to the length of the coil in the axial direction.
In an embodiment of a method of manufacturing an inductor component, a portion of the plurality of coil conductor layers is formed by a semi-additive method.
In an embodiment of a method of manufacturing an inductor component, the plurality of coil conductor layers is all formed by a semi-additive method.
In an embodiment of a method of manufacturing an inductor component, a portion of the plurality of coil conductor layers is formed by plating growth.
In an embodiment of a method of manufacturing an inductor component, a portion of the plurality of coil conductor layers is further formed by plating growth.
In an embodiment of a method of manufacturing an inductor component, the plurality of coil conductor layers is all further formed by plating growth.
An embodiment of a method of manufacturing an inductor component comprises the steps of:
forming a first groove in a first insulating layer constituting the element body;
applying a photosensitive conductive paste into the first groove to form a first coil conductor layer in the first groove by a photolithographic method;
forming a second insulating layer constituting the element body on the first insulating layer and forming a second groove in the second insulating layer; and
applying a photosensitive conductive paste into the second groove to form a second coil conductor layer coming into surface contact with the first coil conductor layer in the second groove by a photolithographic method.
The embodiment is more advantageous for forming the high-aspect-ratio coil wiring and lowering the electric resistance of the coil wiring.
According to the inductor component of the present disclosure, the Q value can be increased.
An inductor component considered as a form of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with shown embodiments. It is noted that some of the drawings are schematic and may not reflect actual dimensions and ratios.
The inductor component 1 is electrically connected via the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 to a wiring of a circuit board not shown. The inductor component 1 is used as an impedance matching coil (matching coil) of a high-frequency circuit, for example, and is used for an electronic device such as a personal computer, a DVD player, a digital camera, a TV, a portable telephone, and automotive electronics, as well as medical/industrial equipment.
The element body 10 is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The surface of the element body 10 has a first end surface 15, a second end surface 16 opposite to the first end surface 15, and a bottom surface 17 connected between the first end surface 15 and the second end surface 16. As shown in the figure, an X direction is a direction orthogonal to the first end surface 15 and the second end surface 16; a Y direction is a direction parallel to the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17; and a Z direction is a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction and is a direction orthogonal to the bottom surface 17.
The element body 10 is formed by laminating a plurality of insulating layers. The insulating layers are made of, for example, a glass material mainly composed of borosilicate glass, a ceramic material mainly composed of ferrite, a resin material mainly composed of polyimide, etc. The lamination direction of the insulating layers is a direction (Y direction) parallel to the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17 of the element body 10. Therefore, the insulating layers have a layered shape spreading in the XZ plane. In the inductor component 1, the plurality of the insulating layers may be in a state in which the interfaces of the insulating layer are not visible due to sintering.
The first external electrode 30 and the second external electrode 40 are made of a conductive material such as Ag or Cu, for example. The first external electrode 30 has an L shape provided over the first end surface 15 and the bottom surface 17. The second external electrode 40 has an L shape provided over the second end surface 16 and the bottom surface 17.
The coil 20 is made of a conductive material such as Ag or Cu, for example. Although not shown, one end of the coil 20 is connected to the first external electrode 30 and the other end of the coil 20 is connected to the second external electrode 40 through lead-out wirings etc. The coil 20 is wound into a helical shape around the axis A and is disposed such that an axial direction thereof (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “the axial direction”) is along the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17. In other words, an outer circumferential surface 20a of the coil 20 faces the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17 of the element body 10. The direction of the magnetic flux generated by the coil 20 is the direction along the axis A on the inner and outer circumferences of the coil 20 and is therefore not orthogonal to the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17. As a result, the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 do not interfere with the magnetic flux of the coil 20 and a loss due to the eddy current loss can be reduced, so that the Q value of the inductor component 1 can be improved. The axial direction of the coil 20 coincides with the Y direction.
“The axial direction of the coil 20 is along the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17” includes not only the case that the axial direction of the coil 20 is completely parallel to the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17 but also the case that the axial direction of the coil 20 is slightly inclined with respect to at least one of the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17, and means that the direction is substantially parallel.
The coil 20 includes a plurality of coil wirings 21 laminated along the axial direction. The coil wirings 21 are formed by being wound on the principal surfaces (XZ planes) of the insulating layers orthogonal to the axial direction. The coil wirings 21 adjacent to each other in the lamination direction are electrically connected in series through via wirings penetrating the insulating layers in the thickness direction (Y direction). In this way, the plurality of the coil wirings 21 constitute a helix while being electrically connected in series to each other. The coil 20 may be made up of a single layer of the coil wiring 21 and may have a configuration in which, for example, both ends of the single-layer coil wiring 21 wound less than one turn on the principal surface of the insulating layer are respectively connected through lead-out wirings etc. to the first external electrode 30 and the second external electrode 40.
A length L of the coil 20 in the axial direction is preferably equal to or greater than 50% of a width H of the element body 10 in the axial direction (Y direction). The length L of the coil 20 in the axial direction is preferably equal to or less than 80% of the width H of the element body 10 in the axial direction. The length L of the coil 20 in the axial direction is determined by the coil wirings 21 at both axial ends of the coil 20, and connecting portions to the first external electrode 30 and the second external electrode 40 such as the lead-out wirings are not considered.
According to the inductor component 1, the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 have an L shape exposed only on the end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17. Therefore, the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 can be miniaturized while ensuring a bonding force to a mounting board by forming a solder fillet on the sides of the end surfaces 15, 16 at the time of mounting. Additionally, the blocking of the magnetic flux of the coil 20 can be reduced to improve the Q value.
The coil 20 is disposed such that the axial direction is along the two end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17 of the elementary body 10. Therefore, the coil 20 is laterally wound. Even if the thickness t of the coil wiring 21 in the axial direction is increased, the intervals from the coil wiring 21 to the end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17 are not changed, so that the aspect ratio of the coil wiring 21 can be made higher without bringing the coil 20 closer to the end surface 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17 of the element body 10. As a result, even when the aspect ratio of the coil wiring 21 is made higher, an increase in the stray capacitance between the coil wiring 21 and the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 can be avoided. Additionally, since a large portion of the magnetic flux generated by the coil 20 is parallel to the bottom surface 17, the blocking of the magnetic flux by metal in the mounting board can be reduced when the bottom surface 17 of the element body 10 is mounted on the mounting board, and the Q value can be improved.
The aspect ratio of the coil wiring 21 is 1.0 or more and less than 8.0. Since the aspect ratio is 1.0 or more, the effect of reducing an electric resistance at high frequencies can be acquired due to an increase in the area of the inner surface of the coil wiring 21 (corresponding to a skin area of the coil 20 for a high frequency signal) and, since the aspect ratio is less than 8.0, the effect of increasing an electric resistance due to a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the coil wiring 21 can be suppressed. This leads to a high acquisition efficiency of the Q value with respect to the L value, so that the Q value can consequently be improved. This will hereinafter be described in detail.
As shown in
As a result of extensive studies, the present inventors derived the relationship between the aspect ratio and the Q value shown in
According to the inductor component 1, the length L of the coil 20 in the axial direction is equal to or greater than 50% of the width H of the element body 10 in the coil axis direction. In this case, the proportion of the coil 20 to the element body 10 can be increased so that the miniaturization can further be achieved with respect to the required coil characteristics. Such a configuration is achieved by disposing the axial direction of the coil 20 along the first and second end surfaces 15, 16 and the bottom surface 17. In particular, since the axis A of the coil 20 does not intersect with the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 and the mounting board, even if the length L of the coil 20 in the axial direction is increased, the coil 20 does not come closer to the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 and the mounting board. Therefore, the coil length can be made longer without increasing the stray capacitance between the coil 20 and each of the first and second external electrodes 30, 40 and the mounting pattern on the mounting board.
Since the length L of the coil 20 in the axial direction is preferably equal to or less than 80% of the width H of the element body 10 in the coil axis direction, a certain amount of the insulating layer without the coil 20 formed thereon can be secured, so that the strength of the element body 10 can be ensured.
Preferably, the wiring width of the coil wiring 21 is 60 μm or less. In this case, the inner diameter of the coil 20 can be ensured and the Q value can be increased. In particular, although the chip size is restricted, a helical coil made up of high-aspect-ratio wirings can be formed while ensuring the inner diameter of the coil 20.
Although the coil wiring 21 of the first embodiment is made up of a single layer as shown in
Specifically, the coil wiring 21A is formed as multiple stages. For example, a first groove is formed in a first insulating layer 11a, and the first coil conductor layer 210a is embedded in the first groove. Subsequently, a second insulating layer lib is formed on the first insulating layer 11a, a second groove is formed in the second insulating layer lib, and the second coil conductor layer 210b is embedded in the second groove. Subsequently, a third insulating layer 11c is formed on the second insulating layer lib, a third groove is formed in the third insulating layer 11c, the third coil conductor layer 210c is embedded in the third groove, and a fourth insulating layer 11d is formed on the third insulating layer 11c. As a result, the first to third coil conductor layers 210a to 210c are laminated in surface contact with each other to constitute the coil wiring 21A. The first to fourth insulating layers 11a to 11d are laminated to constitute a portion of the element body 10 and cover the coil wiring 21A. It is noted that the coil conductor layers 210a to 210c can be formed by a photosensitive paste method in which application of a photosensitive conductive paste is followed by photo-curing of necessary portions for patterning. When the photosensitive conductive paste is applied, the paste is preferably applied by screen printing so as to improve a material usage rate. Alternatively, the coil conductor layers 210a to 210c may be formed by firing after applying a conductive paste by screen printing etc., or may be formed by a plating method, a sputtering method, etc.
Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, even if it is difficult to form a coil wiring with a high aspect ratio in terms of process, the coil wiring 21A with a high aspect ratio and a high rectangular degree can be formed by laminating a plurality of the coil conductor layers 210a to 210c to constitute the coil wiring 21A. In particular, since it is no longer necessary to increase the thickness per coil conductor layer for making the aspect ratio higher, the distortion of the cross-sectional shape due to insufficient curing depth of the photosensitive paste or photoresist can be reduced so as to form the coil wiring with the aspect ratio exceeding the limitation of the process.
On the other hand,
Such a problem of the shape of the coil wiring essentially occurs also in screen printing, other plating methods, a sputtering method, etc., and each process has a restriction on the aspect ratio for forming a coil wiring having a stable shape.
On the other hand, since the coil wiring 21A of this embodiment is formed as multiple stages, the coil conductor layers 210a to 210c are formed within a depth range having no influence on photo-curing depth in the grooves of the insulating layers 11a to 11c, so that the coil conductor layers 210a to 210c become rectangular. As a result, the current density distribution is stabilized at high frequencies.
Additionally, since this embodiment eliminates an unexposed portion in the bottom portion of the coil wiring 21A in the photosensitive paste method, a void after firing is hardly generated due to a difference in shrinkage amount during firing.
In the structure of this embodiment, no intervening layer such as the seed layer 131 of
Moreover, the aspect ratio of the coil conductor layers 210a to 210c is preferably 2.0 or less and the coil wiring with a high aspect ratio can stably be formed. Therefore, a reduction is achieved in the influence of distortion of the shape of the coil wiring 21A due to an insufficient curing depth of the photosensitive paste or photoresist.
In
In
Although the coil wiring 21 of the first embodiment is made up of a single layer as shown in
A wiring width c of the first coil conductor layer 210a and the third coil conductor layer 210c is greater than a wiring width b of the second coil conductor layer 210b. Therefore, the coil wiring 21B varies in the wiring width along the axial direction.
The center of the inner diameter of the first and third coil conductor layers 210a, 210c and the center of the inner diameter of the second coil conductor layer 210b coincide with each other in the coil radial direction, and the transverse cross-sectional shape of
Therefore, a gap between inner surfaces 211a, 211c of the first and third coil conductor layers 210a, 210c and an inner surface 211b of the second coil conductor layer 210b is suppressed to a certain level or less (the rectangularity of the coil wiring 21B is ensured) so that the inner surface of the coil wiring 21B can be restrained from decreasing in area of the region in which the current density of the high frequency signal is high (substantial coil skin area). As a result, a resistance loss at high frequencies can be suppressed to improve the Q value.
The ratio (a/c) is preferably 5% or less. As a result, the resistance loss at high frequencies can be more suppressed to further improve the Q value.
First, when the ratio (a/c) is 0%, since no gap exists between the inner surfaces of the coil conductor layers, the constant skin area is ensured and no reduction is seen in the Q value even when a signal frequency f reaches a high frequency exceeding 2 GHz as shown in the graph L0. On the other hand, when the ratio (a/c) exceeds 0% and a gap exists between the inner surfaces of the coil conductor layers, the current density of the high frequency signal becomes lower in the inner surface of the coil conductor layer having the smaller wiring width (the coil conductor layer 210b of
Instead of the ratio (a/c), the following ratio may be used for making the evaluation. As shown in
In this embodiment, as shown in
Furthermore, the transverse cross section of the coil wiring 21B may have a stacked shape of T. For example, when three or more coil conductor layers constitute the one coil wiring 21B, a coil conductor layer having a small wiring width and a coil conductor layer having a large wiring width may alternately be laminated.
Although shown as an easily-understandable simplified manner in
When the transverse cross section of the coil wiring 21B has a T shape, an I shape, or a stacked shape of T as described above, the coil wiring 21B with a high aspect ratio can stably be formed. In particular, in the case of a method of forming a high-aspect-ratio coil wiring by embedding and connecting materials of coil conductor layers in a groove formed in an insulating layer, the groove width formed in the insulating layer can be made narrower than the wiring width of the coil conductor layer so as to prevent the coil wiring from being defectively formed due to a deviation of the formation position of the coil conductor layer.
Description will hereinafter specifically be made with reference to
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
On the other hand, the case of forming the width f of the groove formed in the insulating layer and the wiring width g of the coil conductor layers as the same width, i.e., the case of making the width f of the first and second grooves 110a, 110b equal to the wiring width g of the coil conductor layers 210a, 210b, will be described with reference to
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
It is noted that if the formation position of the second groove 110b is deviated as shown in
Furthermore, although the case of deviation of the formation position of the second groove 110b has been described as above, even when the formation position of the second groove 110b is not deviated, the same problem may occur at the time of formation of the second coil conductor layer 210b due to a deviation of the mask of the screen printing or a deviation of the photomask of the photolithography step. Therefore, preferably, the transverse cross section of the coil wiring 21B has a T shape, an I shape, or a stacked shape of T.
Although the ratio in the mutual relationship of wiring widths of a plurality of coil conductor layers is described in the third embodiment, the plurality of the coil conductor layers may have the first coil conductor layer and the second coil conductor layer having the same wiring width. In this case, for example, the center of the inner diameter of the first coil conductor layer may deviate from the center of the inner diameter of the second coil conductor layer. Even in this case, a ratio (d/c) of a deviation amount d between the center of the wiring width of the first coil conductor layer and the center of the wiring width of the second coil conductor layer to the wiring width c of the first coil conductor layer and the second coil conductor layer is preferably 20% or less, more preferably 5% or less. In this case, the deviation between the inner surface of the first coil conductor layer and the inner surface of the second coil conductor layer is suppressed, so that the resistance loss at high frequencies can be suppressed to improve the Q value.
Although the coil wiring 21A of the second embodiment has no intervening layer between the adjacent coil conductor layers and between the coil conductor layers and the element body as shown in
A method of manufacturing the coil wiring 21C will be described.
As shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
As shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
As shown in
As described above, the first coil conductor layer 210a is a portion of the plurality of the coil conductor layers and is formed by the semi-additive method. Therefore, as compared to the method using a conductive paste, this is advantageous for forming the high-aspect-ratio coil wiring and lowering the resistance of the coil wiring.
The second coil conductor layer 210b and the third coil conductor layer 210c are portions of the plurality of the coil conductor layers and are formed by plating growth. Therefore, as compared to the method using a conductive paste, this is more advantageous for forming the high-aspect-ratio coil wiring and lowering the resistance of the coil wiring.
In the method of manufacturing the coil wiring 21C, a coil wiring 21D shown in
A method of manufacturing the coil wiring 21D will be described.
As shown in
As shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
As shown in
In the coil wiring 21D, the third coil conductor layer 210c serving as a portion of the plurality of the coil conductor layers may further be formed by plating growth without forming the third seed layer 53. As compared to the method using a conductive paste, this is more advantageous for forming the high-aspect-ratio coil wiring and lowering the resistance of the coil wiring.
While the intervening layers such as the seed layers are schematically shown as in
Although the first coil conductor layer 210a serving as a portion of the plurality of the coil conductor layers is formed by the semi-additive method in the coil wiring 21C of the fourth embodiment, all the coil conductor layers 210a, 210b, 210c are formed by the semi-additive method in a coil wiring 21E of the fifth embodiment. Therefore, as compared to the method using a conductive paste, this is advantageous for forming the high-aspect-ratio coil wiring and lowering the resistance of the coil wiring.
A method of manufacturing the coil wiring 21E will be described.
As shown in
Subsequently, as shown in
Subsequently, the third seed layer 53 and the third plating growth layer 53a are formed on the third insulating layer 11c by the same semi-additive method as
Although all the coil conductor layers 210a, 210b, 210c are formed by the semi-additive method in the coil wiring 21F of the fifth embodiment, all the coil conductor layers 210a, 210b, 210c in the coil wiring 21F of the sixth embodiment are formed by the semi-additive method and then increased in the thickness in the coil axial direction and the wiring width by plating growth. Therefore, this is more advantageous for forming the high-aspect-ratio coil wiring and lowering the resistance of the coil wiring.
A method of manufacturing the coil wiring 21E will be described.
First, as is the case with
Subsequently, as is the case with the first coil conductor layer 210a, the second seed layer 52 and the second plating growth layer 221b are formed on the second insulating layer 11b by the semi-additive method. Also in this case, the plating growth of the second plated growth layer 221b is further achieved to form a second additional plating layer 222b. As a result, the second coil conductor layer 210b made up of the second seed layer 52, the second plating growth layer 221b, and the second additional plating layer 222b is formed. The third insulating layer 11c is then formed on the second insulating layer 11b.
Subsequently, as is the case with the first coil conductor layer 210a, the third seed layer 53 and the third plating growth layer 221c are formed on the third insulating layer 11c by the semi-additive method. Also in this case, the plating growth of the third plated growth layer 221c is further achieved to form a third additional plating layer 222c. As a result, the third coil conductor layer 210c made up of the third seed layer 53, the third plating growth layer 221c, and the third additional plating layer 222c is formed. The fourth insulating layer 11d is then formed on the third insulating layer 11c. As a result, the coil wiring 21F made up of the first coil conductor layer 210a, the second coil conductor layer 210b, and the third coil conductor layer 210c shown in
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be changed in design without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, respective feature points of the first to sixth embodiments may variously be combined.
An example of the method of manufacturing the inductor component 1B of the third embodiment will hereinafter be described as an example.
An insulating paste mainly composed of borosilicate glass is repeatedly applied by screen printing to form an insulating layer. This insulating layer serves as an outer-layer insulating layer located on one side in the axial direction relative to the coil 20B in the element body 10.
Subsequently, the coil wiring 21B with a high aspect ratio is formed on the outer-layer insulating layer by the method described above. In this case, the electrode conductor layers 310, 410 serving as the external electrodes 30, 40 are formed at the same time.
A photolithography step is then executed to form an insulating layer provided with openings on the electrode conductor layers 310, 410 and a via hole on one end of the wiring length of the coil wiring 21B. Specifically, a photosensitive insulating paste is applied by screen printing to form a layer on the insulating layer. Ultraviolet rays etc. are then applied through a photomask to the photosensitive conductive paste layer and followed by development with an alkaline solution etc.
Subsequently, similarly, the coil wiring 21B extending from on the via hole and the electrode conductor layers 310, 410 filling the openings are formed on the insulating layer provided with the openings and the via hole. In this case, the via hole is also filled with the photosensitive conductive paste so that the via wiring 22 is formed.
Subsequently, by repeating the steps, the insulating layer, the coil wiring 21B, and the electrode conductor layers 310, 410 are sequentially formed. Additionally, an insulating paste is repeatedly applied by screen printing to form an insulating layer. This insulating layer serves as an outer-layer insulating layer located on the other side in the axial direction relative to the coil 20B in the element body 10. Through the steps described above, a mother laminated body is acquired. In this case, the mother laminated body has a plurality of portions serving as the inductor components 1B formed in a matrix shape.
Subsequently, the mother laminated body is cut into a plurality of unfired laminated bodies by dicing etc. In the step of cutting the mother laminated body, the electrode conductor layers 310, 410 are exposed from the laminated bodies on cut surfaces formed by cutting.
The unfired laminated bodies are fired under predetermined conditions to acquire laminated bodies. These laminated bodies are subjected to barrel finishing. Portions of the electrode conductor layers 310, 410 exposed from the laminated bodies are subjected to Ni plating having a thickness of 2 μm to 10 μm, for example, and Sn plating having a thickness of 2 μm to 10 μm, for example. Through the steps described above, for example, inductor components of 0.4 mm×0.2 mm×0.2 mm are completed.
The construction method of forming the coil conductor layers is not limited to the above method and may be a method using etching for forming a pattern of a conductor film formed by a vapor deposition method, pressure bonding of a foil, etc., or may be a method such as plating transfer.
The conductor material of the coil and the external electrodes may be a good conductor such as Ag, Cu, and Au.
The method of forming the insulating layers as well as the openings and the via holes is not limited to the above method and may be a method in which after pressure bonding, spin coating, or spray application of an insulating material sheet, the sheet is opened by laser or drilling.
The size of the inductor component is not limited to the above description. The method of forming the external electrodes is not limited to the method of applying plating to the electrode conductor layers embedded in the element body and exposed by cutting, and may be a method including further forming conductor layers by dipping of a conductor paste, a sputtering method, etc. on the electrode conductor layers or lead-out wirings exposed by cutting, and then applying plating thereto.
Although the shape of the coil is a helical shape in the embodiments described above, the shape may be a spiral shape.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-186172 | Sep 2016 | JP | national |
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/684,539 filed Aug. 23, 2017, which claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application 2016-186172 filed Sep. 23, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15684539 | Aug 2017 | US |
Child | 16228737 | US |