Inductor structure with integral components

Claim 2

An inductor, occupying a volume, having electronic components mounted within the volume occupied by the inductor structure, said inductor structure comprised of: a first dielectric substrate layer having at least first and second sides and having an electrically conductive material strip on said first side having a predetermined length and first and second ends; a second dielectric substrate layer, having first and second sides coupled to said first side of said first dielectric substrate layer substantially covering the electrically conductive material strip, the first and second coupled dielectric substrate layers forming a substantially solid volume; a conductive outer layer, coupled to and substantially surrounding the substantially solid volume, and being electrically coupled to the first end of the conductive strip; at least one electrical component enclosed within said solid volume; means for coupling electrical signals between the exterior of the solid volume and the at least one electrical component; such that an inductance exists at said second end of conductive strip, said first end of said strip being shorted to said conductive outer layer.

Claim 3

The inductor structure of claim 1 including via hole means through the substantially solid volume for coupling electrical signals to the at least one electrical component from the exterior of the solid volume.

Claim 4

The inductor structure of claim 2 including cut back areas substantially surrounding the via hole means.

Claim 5

The inductor structure of claim 1 including via hole means through the dielectric layers for coupling electrical signals to at least the electrically conductive material strip on said first side of said first dielectric layer.

Claim 6

The inductor structure of claim 4 including cut back areas substantially surrounding the via hole means through the dielectric layers.

Claim 7

The inductor structure of claim 1 including means for coupling electrical signals between said conductive strip, said outer conductive layer and said at least one electrical component.

Claim 8

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said dielectric layers are glass.

Claim 9

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said dielectric layers have a dielectric constant less than 8 and a dielectric loss less than 0.005.

Claim 10

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said dielectric layers are ceramic.

Claim 11

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said dielectric layers are polymeric.

Claim 12

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said electrically conductive material includes an aluminum layer.

Claim 13

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said electrically conductive material includes a copper layer.

Claim 14

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said electrically conductive material includes a silver layer.

Claim 15

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said electrically conductive material includes a gold layer.

Claim 16

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said conductive outer layer includes a copper layer.

Claim 17

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said conductive outer layer includes an aluminum layer.

Claim 18

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said conductive outer layer includes a silver layer.

Claim 19

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said conductive outer layer includes a gold layer.

Claim 20

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said at least one electrical component is an integrated circuit.

Claim 21

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said at least one electrical component is a passive electrical component.

Claim 22

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said means for coupling signals between the exterior of said volume and said at least one electrical component is comprised of signal paths comprised of electrically conductive material on said first side of said first dielectric layer.

Claim 23

The inductor structure of claim 1 where said second dielectric layer includes at least one cavity adapted to substantially enclose said at least one electrical component enclosed within said volume.

Claim 24

An inductor, occupying a volume, having electronic components mounted within the volume occupied by the inductor structure, said inductor structure comprised of: a first dielectric substrate layer having at least first and second sides and having an electrically conductive material strip on said first side having a predetermined length and first and second ends; a second dielectric substrate layer, having first and second sides coupled to said first side of said first dielectric substrate layer substantially covering the electrically conductive material strip, the first and second coupled dielectric substrate layers forming a substantially solid volume having an exterior surface; at least one cavity, within said solid volume, adapted to enclose an electrical component within said solid volume; a conductive outer layer, coupled to the exterior surface of the solid volume and substantially surrounding the substantially solid volume, and being electrically coupled to the first end of the conductive strip; at least one electrical component enclosed within said solid volume; means for coupling electrical signals between the exterior of the said volume and the at least one electrical component; such that an inductance exists at said second end of conductive strip, said first end of said strip being shorted to said conductive outer layer.

Claim 25

An inductor, occupying a volume, having electronic components mounted within the volume occupied by the inductor structure, said inductor structure comprised of: a first dielectric substrate layer having at least first and second sides and having an electrically conductive material strip on said first side having a predetermined length and first and second ends; a second dielectric substrate layer, having first and second sides coupled to said first side of said first dielectric substrate layer substantially covering the electrically conductive material strip, the first and second coupled dielectric substrate layers forming a substantially solid volume having an exterior surface; at least one cavity, within said solid volume, adapted to enclose an electrical component within said solid volume; a conductive outer layer, coupled to the exterior surface of the solid volume and substantially surrounding the substantially solid volume, and being electrically coupled to the first end of the conductive strip; at least one electrical component enclosed within said solid volume; means for coupling electrical signals between the exterior of the said volume and the at least one electrical component; such that an inductance exists at said second end of conductive strip, said first end of said strip being shorted to said conductive outer layer.

Claim 26

The inductor structure of claim 23 including via hole means through the substantially solid volume for coupling electrical signals to the at least one electrical component from the exterior of the solid volume.

Claim 27

The inductor structure of claim 24 including cut back areas substantially surrounding the via hole means.

Claim 28

The inductor structure of claim 23 including via hole means through the dielectric layers for coupling electrical signals to at least the electrically conductive material strip on said first side of said first dielectric layer.

Claim 29

The inductor structure of claim 26 including cut back areas substantially surrounding the via hole means through the dielectric layers.

Claim 30

The inductor structure of claim 23 including means for coupling electrical signals between said conductive strip, said outer conductive layer and said at least one electrical component.

Claim 31

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said dielectric layers are glass.

Claim 32

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said dielectric layers have a dielectric constant less than 8 and a dielectric loss less than 0.005.

Claim 33

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said dielectric layers are ceramic.

Claim 34

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said dielectric layers are polymeric.

Claim 35

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said electrically conductive material includes an aluminum layer.

Claim 36

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said electrically conductive material includes a silver layer.

Claim 37

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said electrically conductive material includes a gold layer.

Claim 38

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said electrically conductive material a copper layer.

Claim 39

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said conductive outer layer includes a copper layer.

Claim 40

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said conductive outer layer includes an aluminum layer.

Claim 41

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said conductive outer layer includes a silver layer.

Claim 42

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said conductive outer layer includes a gold layer.

Claim 43

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said at least one electrical component is an integrated circuit.

Claim 44

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said at least one electrical component is a passive electrical component.

Claim 45

The inductor structure of claim 23 where said means for coupling signals between the exterior of said volume and said at least one electrical component is comprised of signal paths comprised of electrically conductive material on said first side of said first dielectric layer.

Claim 46

An inductor, occupying a volume, having electronic components mounted within the volume occupied by the inductor structure, said inductor structure comprised of: a first substantially planar glass dielectric substrate layer having at least first and second sides and having an electrically conductive material strip on said first side having a predetermined length and first and second ends; a second substantially planar glass dielectric substrate layer, having first and second sides coupled to the first side of the first glass dielectric substrate layer substantially covering the electrically conductive material strip, the first and second coupled glass dielectric substrate layers forming a substantially solid volume; at least one cavity, within said solid volume, adapted to enclose an electrical component within said solid volume; a conductive outer layer, coupled to and substantially surrounding the substantially solid volume, and being electrically coupled to the first end of the conductive strip; at least one electrical component enclosed within said solid volume; means for coupling electrical signals between the exterior of the solid volume and the at least one electrical component; such that an inductance exists at said second end of conductive strip, said first end of said strip being shorted to said conductive outer layer.

Claim 47

An inductor, occupying a volume, having electronic components mounted within the volume occupied by the inductor structure, said inductor structure comprised of: a first substantially planar glass dielectric substrate layer having at least first and second sides and having an electrically conductive material strip on said first side having a predetermined length and first and second ends; a second substantially planar glass dielectric substrate layer, having first and second sides coupled to the first side of the first glass dielectric substrate layer substantially covering the electrically conductive material strip, the first and second coupled glass dielectric substrate layers forming a substantially solid volume; at least one cavity, within said solid volume, adapted to enclose an electrical component within said solid volume; a conductive outer layer, coupled to and substantially surrounding the substantially solid volume, and being electrically coupled to the first end of the conductive strip; at least one electrical component enclosed within said solid volume; means for coupling electrical signals between the exterior of the solid volume and the at least one electrical component; such that an inductance exists at said second end of conductive strip, said first end of said strip being shorted to said conductive outer layer.

Claim 48

The inductor structure of claim 44 including via hole means through the substantially solid volume for coupling electrical signals to the at least one electrical component from the exterior of the solid volume.

Claim 49

The inductor structure of claim 45 including cut back areas substantially surrounding the via hole means.

Claim 50

The inductor structure of claim 44 including via hole means through the dielectric layers for coupling electrical signals to at least the electrically conductive material strip on said first side of said first dielectric layer.

Claim 51

The inductor structure of claim 47 including cut back areas substantially surrounding the via hole means through the dielectric layers.

Claim 52

The inductor structure of claim 44 including means for coupling electrical signals between said conductive strip, said outer conductive layer and said at least one electrical component.

Claim 53

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said electrically conductive material includes an aluminum layer.

Claim 54

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said electrically conductive material includes a copper layer.

Claim 55

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said electrically conductive material includes a silver layer.

Claim 56

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said electrically conductive material includes a gold layer.

Claim 57

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said conductive outer layer includes a copper layer.

Claim 58

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said conductive outer layer includes an aluminum layer.

Claim 59

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said conductive outer layer includes a silver layer.

Claim 60

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said conductive outer layer includes a gold layer.

Claim 61

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said at least one electrical component is an integrated circuit.

Claim 62

The inductor structure of claim 44 where said at least one electrical component is a passive electrical component.