Transformer of the balanced-unbalanced type

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9755610-B2
Application number	US-201514981189-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Jul 28, 2011
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A transformer of the balanced-unbalanced type includes a primary inductive circuit and a secondary inductive circuit housed inside an additional inductive winding connected in parallel to the terminals of the secondary circuit and inductively coupled with the primary circuit and the secondary circuit.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A transformer of the balanced-unbalanced type and comprising:
a primary inductive circuit and a secondary inductive circuit;
an additional inductive winding surrounding the primary and secondary inductive circuits and coupled in parallel to terminals of the secondary inductive circuit, and inductively coupled with the primary inductive circuit and the secondary inductive circuit, the additional inductive winding including a tap point configured to be coupled to a voltage source; and
capacitors respectively coupled between terminals of the additional inductive winding and the terminals of the secondary inductive circuit.

2. The transformer according to claim 1 , further comprising a semiconductor substrate supporting the primary inductive circuit, the secondary circuit, the additional inductive winding and the capacitors.

3. The transformer according to claim 2 , wherein the additional inductive winding is formed from a plurality of metal levels above the semiconductor substrate.

4. The transformer according to claim 3 , wherein the additional inductive winding is formed from the plurality of metal levels in an interlaced and stacked arrangement.

5. The transformer according to claim 1 , wherein the tap point comprises a center tap point.

6. The transformer according to claim 1 , wherein the additional inductive winding is symmetrical and coplanar with the primary inductive circuit and secondary inductive circuit.

7. The transformer according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio between a capacitive value of the capacitors and an inductive value of the additional inductive winding is between 5 and 10.

8. The transformer according to claim 1 , wherein the primary inductive circuit, secondary inductive circuit, and additional inductive winding each has one of a rectangular shape, octagonal shape, and a circular shape.

9. The transformer according to claim 1 , wherein the additional inductive winding surrounds at least half of the primary and secondary inductive circuits.

10. A wireless communication device comprising:
a processing circuit;
an antenna; and
a transformer of the balanced-unbalanced type coupled between the antenna and the processing circuit, and comprising
a primary inductive circuit and a secondary inductive circuit,
an additional inductive winding surrounding the primary and secondary inductive circuits and coupled in parallel to terminals of the secondary inductive circuit, and inductively coupled with the primary inductive circuit and the secondary inductive circuit, the additional inductive winding including a tap point configured to be coupled to a voltage source, and
capacitors respectively coupled between terminals of the additional inductive winding and the terminals of the secondary inductive circuit.

11. The wireless communication device according to claim 10 , further comprising a semiconductor substrate supporting the primary inductive circuit, the secondary circuit, the additional inductive winding and the capacitors.

12. The wireless communication device according to claim 11 , wherein the additional inductive winding is formed from a plurality of metal levels above the semiconductor substrate.

13. The wireless communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the tap point comprises a center tap point.

14. The wireless communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the additional inductive winding is symmetrical and coplanar with the primary inductive circuit and secondary inductive circuit.

15. The wireless communication device according to claim 10 , wherein a ratio between a capacitive value of the capacitors and an inductive value of the additional inductive winding is between 5 and 10.

16. The wireless communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the additional inductive winding surrounds at least half of the primary and secondary inductive circuits.

17. The wireless communication device according to claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit comprises a low noise amplifier.

18. A method of making a transformer of the balanced-unbalanced type, the method comprising:
forming a primary inductive circuit and a secondary inductive circuit;
forming an additional inductive winding surrounding the primary and secondary inductive circuits and coupled in parallel to terminals of the secondary inductive circuit, and inductively coupled with the primary inductive circuit and the secondary inductive circuit, the additional inductive winding including a tap point configured to be coupled to a voltage source; and
forming capacitors respectively coupled between terminals of the additional inductive winding and the terminals of the secondary inductive circuit.

19. The method according to claim 18 , comprising forming the primary inductive circuit, the secondary circuit, the additional inductive winding and the capacitors above a semiconductor substrate.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the additional inductive winding is formed from a plurality of metal levels above the semiconductor substrate.

21. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the tap point comprises a center tap point.

22. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the additional inductive winding is symmetrical and coplanar with the primary inductive circuit and secondary inductive circuit.

23. The method according to claim 18 , wherein a ratio between a capacitive value of the capacitors and an inductive value of the additional inductive winding is between 5 and 10.

24. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the additional inductive winding surrounds at least half of the primary and secondary inductive circuits.

Assignees

• St Microelectronics Sa
• St Microelectronics Crolles 2 Sas

Inventors

• Gianesello Frederic
• Pilard Romain
• Durand Cedric

Classifications

• H10W20/496

  Capacitor integral with wiring layers · CPC title

• H10W20/497

  Inductive arrangements or effects of, or between, wiring layers · CPC title

• H04W88/02

  Terminal devices · CPC title

• H01F27/2804

  Printed windings · CPC title

• H01F27/40

  Structural association with built-in electric component, e.g. fuse · CPC title