Patent US5572478A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5572478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power supply unit for an IC memory card
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1995-03-31
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Granted: 1996-11-05
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Expires: 2015-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A power supply unit including DC-DC converter using a thin and planar inductor arranged in an IC memory card incorporating an EEPROM memory chip, wherein a voltage is adjusted by a dropping regulator, thereby reducing power consumption. The thin and planar inductor includes, stacked on a semiconductor substrate, a planar coil and magnetic thin films formed to sandwich the planar coil, so that an entire area of an IC card can be decreased. The IC card can be driven by a single power supply, thus providing a compact portable information device which can be driven by a battery for a long time.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiro Sato
- 👤 Tomoharu Tanaka
- 👤 Tetsuhiko Mizoguchi
- 👤 Yuji Ide
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:53
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/14; G11C5/145; G11C16/00; G11C16/02; G11C16/06; G11C16/30; G11C5/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A one-chip power supply unit, comprising: a DC-DC converter formed on a semiconductor substrate, for converting an input DC voltage to an output DC voltage by means of a switching converter scheme; and a regulator for converting said output DC voltage to a predetermined DC power supply voltage for a semiconductor element; wherein said DC-DC converter includes a thin and planar inductor comprising, stacked on said semiconductor substrate, a planar coil and magnetic thin films formed to sandwich said planar coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A one-chip power supply unit, comprising: a DC-DC converter formed on a semiconductor substrate, for converting an input DC voltage to an output DC voltage by means of a switching converter scheme; and a regulator for converting said output DC voltage to a predetermined DC power supply voltage for a semiconductor element; wherein said DC-DC converter includes a thin and planar inductor comprising, stacked on said semiconductor substrate, a planar coil and magnetic thin films formed to sandwich said planar coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A one-chip power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein said thin and planar inductor comprises planar rectangular spiral coils arranged adjacent to each other and wound in opposite directions, and upper and lower magnetic thin films for sandwiching said planar rectangular spiral coils.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A one-chip power supply unit according to claim 2, wherein said planar rectangular spiral coils are made of aluminum or copper, and said upper and lower magnetic thin films are made of uniaxial magnetic anisotropic thin films.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A one-chip power supply unit according to claim 3, wherein said planar rectangular spiral coils and said upper and lower magnetic thin films are aligned such that an axis of easy magnetization of said uniaxial magnetic anisotropic thin films coincides with a direction of a long side of said planar rectangular spiral coils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A one-chip power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein said thin and planar inductor comprises a sliced spiral coil, and upper and lower magnetic thin films for sandwiching said planar rectangular spiral coils therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A one-chip power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein said thin and planar inductor is formed as a magnetic thin-film inductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
A micro boosting power supply unit for use in an IC memory card, comprising: an input capacitor placed on a high heat conductive package, for suppressing variations in an input voltage to an input terminal; a semiconductor IC unit formed on a semiconductor substrate which is placed on said high heat conductive package, for ON/OFF-controlling and smoothing an input current from said input terminal, said semiconductor IC unit having a control IC unit, a power MOSFET, and a diode; a thin and planar inductor for accumulating electromagnetic energy, said thin and planar inductor comprising, stacked on said semiconductor substrate, a planar coil and magnetic thin films formed to sandwich said planar coil; an output capacitor for smoothing said input voltage to supply an output DC voltage; and a regulator for converting said output DC voltage to a predetermined DC power supply voltage for a semiconductor element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
A micro boosting power supply unit for use in an IC memory card, comprising: an input capacitor placed on a high heat conductive package, for suppressing variations in an input voltage to an input terminal; a semiconductor IC unit formed on a semiconductor substrate which is placed on said high heat conductive package, for ON/OFF-controlling and smoothing an input current from said input terminal, said semiconductor IC unit having a control IC unit, a power MOSFET, and a diode; a thin and planar inductor for accumulating electromagnetic energy, said thin and planar inductor comprising, stacked on said semiconductor substrate, a planar coil and magnetic thin films formed to sandwich said planar coil; an output capacitor for smoothing said input voltage to supply an output DC voltage; and a regulator for converting said output DC voltage to a predetermined DC power supply voltage for a semiconductor element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A micro boosting power supply unit according to claim 7, wherein said thin and planar inductor comprises: planar rectangular spiral coils arranged adjacent to each other and wound in opposite directions; and upper and lower magnetic thin films for sandwiching said planar rectangular spiral coils.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A micro boosting power supply unit according to claim 8, wherein said planar rectangular spiral coils are made of aluminum or copper, and said upper and lower magnetic thin films are made of uniaxial magnetic anisotropic thin films.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A micro boosting power supply unit according to claim 9, wherein said planar rectangular spiral coils and said upper and lower magnetic thin films, are aligned such that an axis of easy magnetization of said uniaxial magnetic anisotropic thin films coincides with a direction of a long side of said planar rectangular spiral coils.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5267218A
Cited
US5388084A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-05 | 2000-05-06 | 2000-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-05 | 2004-05-06 | 2004-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-05 | 2008-05-06 | 2008-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |