Thin film inductor with extended yokes

Abstract

A thin film inductor with top and bottom pole pieces that are mechanically connected to each other at at least two via zones, to create a magnetically permeable yoke that defines at least one interior space. Enclosed portion(s) of a winding member pass through the interior space(s) of the yoke. The enclosed portion(s) of the winding member define an axial direction and a transverse direction. The pole pieces extend beyond the via zones in the axial and/or transverse direction. The extended pole pieces improve magnetic performance of the thin film inductor, by effectively moving pole piece edges away from locations of high magnetic flux density.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A thin film inductor where a stacking direction of the layers of the thin film defines a vertical direction, the inductor comprising:
 a rectangular bottom yoke portion;   a rectangular top yoke portion;   a magnetic via zone set including a plurality of magnetic via zones, with each magnetic via zone of the magnetic via zone set being structured, sized, shaped, connected and/or located to form a low magnetic reluctance path between the top yoke portion and the bottom yoke portion;   a first current carrier portion; and   a first electrical via;   wherein:   the via zones of the magnetic via zone set are elongated in an axial direction and at least substantially aligned with each other in the axial direction;   the via zones of the magnetic via zone set are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction;   the first and second yoke portions, the first current carrier portion and the first set of via zones are located, sized, shaped and/or connected to act as an inductor when current passes through the first current carrier portion;   the top yoke portion includes a first axial end terminating in a first transverse edge;   the bottom yoke portion includes a first axial end terminating in a first transverse edge;   the first transverse edges of the top and bottom yoke portions are offset from each other to define a gap footprint;   the first electrical via extends in the vertical direction;   the first electrical via is electrically connected to the first current carrying portion; and   a footprint of the first electrical via is located at least substantially within the gap footprint.   
     
     
         14 . The inductor of  claim 13  wherein:
 the via zones of the magnetic via zone set are each defined by locations where the top and bottom yoke are in contact with each other. 
 
     
     
         15 . The inductor of  claim 13  wherein:
 the via zones of the magnetic via zone set each include magnetically permeable material extending vertically from the top yoke portion down to the bottom yoke portion. 
 
     
     
         16 . The inductor of  claim 13  wherein:
 the magnetic via zone set includes at least three via zones; and 
 the first current carrier portion includes a first portion located between the first and second magnetic via zones and a second portion located between the first and third magnetic via zones. 
 
     
     
         17 . The inductor of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first transverse edge of the top yoke portion is spaced apart in the axial direction from the magnetic via set by distance L 1 ; 
 the first transverse edge of bottom yoke portion is spaced apart in the axial direction from the magnetic via set by distance L 2 ; 
 L 1  is greater than L 2  by at least the diameter of the first electric via; and 
 the first electric via extends downwards from the first current carrier portion.