The invention relates to integrated circuits (ICs). More particularly, the invention relates to inductors having additional, integral, circuit components and methods for using the same.
Point of load power supplies are becoming increasingly smaller and power densities are being made ever higher. Often, exotic assembly and circuit techniques are required to reduce the size of power components. Meanwhile, the size of the control components is also getting smaller and smaller. Inductors are relatively large components, and therefore those skilled in the arts have frequently devoted attention to the reduction of inductor size.
Trade-offs exist, however, in the design and implementation of smaller inductors. Physically smaller inductors, for example, tend to have higher resistance and to have reduced efficiency compared to their larger counterparts. Smaller inductors are also less able to withstand the application of high current levels. One prior art approach has been to mount the desired circuit components side-by-side. Using this approach, the smallest practical size inductor for a given application is mounted on a substrate, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). Adjacent to the inductor, additional IC components, also of the smallest practical size, are attached to the PCB. Thus, the overall area of the system on the PCB consists of the area occupied by the inductor, plus the area occupied by the additional components, plus any additional “wasted” area required in the layout due to electrical or mechanical constraints, such as gaps between components.
Efforts have also been made in the arts to arrange inductors vertically with additional IC components in order to conserve board area. Depicted in
Another approach known in the arts for conserving area in implementing inductors and associated circuitry is illustrated in the cross-section view of
Despite efforts to reduce the area required to implement circuits requiring the use of inductors, there remains a need for improvements in reducing the board area and volume required for the effective use of inductors in IC circuitry.
In carrying out the principles of the present invention, in accordance with preferred embodiments thereof, reduced-volume inductor systems are described.
According to one aspect of the invention, a surface mount coupled inductor system includes at least one core and at least one conductive winding encircling the core. The inductor thus formed has a niche for receiving an IC component. An IC component is interposed in the niche and the system is packaged in encapsulant surrounding the inductor and IC, forming a surface mount coupled inductor system.
According to another aspect of the invention, a surface mount coupled inductor system further includes a substrate to which an inductor is operably affixed with an IC component interposed in a niche between the inductor and the substrate. Encapsulant surrounds the substrate, inductor, and IC.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a surface mount coupled inductor system has a plurality of inductors, each of the inductors having one or more niches and one or more IC components interposed therein.
According to another aspect of the invention, a surface mount inductor system includes a substrate configured for receiving an inductor. An inductor affixed to the substrate has a niche for receiving an IC component. An IC component is interposed in the niche, between the inductor and the substrate.
According to another aspect of the invention, a surface mount inductor system includes an inductor having a niche for receiving an IC component. An IC component is interposed in the niche, providing a system wherein a separate substrate is not included.
According to another aspect of the invention, a surface mount inductor system includes more than one niche, each with one or more IC component operably coupled therein.
According to another aspect of the invention, a surface mount inductor system is configured for a point load power supply.
According to another aspect of the invention, a surface mount inductor system uses an IC that includes controller circuitry.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a surface mount inductor system is provided in which the IC includes sensor circuitry.
The invention has numerous advantages including but not limited to providing methods and circuits offering improvements in efficiency, area and volume reduction, and reduced costs. These and other features, advantages, and benefits of the present invention can be understood by one of ordinary skill in the arts upon careful consideration of the detailed description of representative embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will be more clearly understood from consideration of the following detailed description and drawings in which:
References in the detailed description correspond to like references in the various Figures unless otherwise noted. Descriptive and directional terms used in the written description such as first, second, top, bottom, upper, side, etc., refer to the drawings themselves as laid out on the paper and not to physical limitations of the invention unless specifically noted. The drawings are not to scale, and some features of embodiments shown and discussed are simplified or amplified for illustrating the principles, features, and advantages of the invention.
In general, the invention provides improved vertical integration of a circuit system that includes one or more conductive windings about a core of dielectric, ferromagnetic, or other suitable material, and one or more additional circuit components. As shown and described herein, preferred embodiments of the invention include a coupled inductor system configured to facilitate both vertical integration and a reduction in height.
Now referring primarily to
A bottom view of the system 30 (with the PCB and encapsulant absent) is shown in
An example of an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
As can be seen in
The invention provides advantages including but not limited to a reduction in the chip area and volume required for implementing an inductor and associated components, increased efficiency, and reduced costs. While the invention has been described with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, the methods and systems described are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other advantages and embodiments of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description and claims.