Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T17:38:56.075Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Development of High Permeability Core Materials for Embeddable Inductors in Flexible Organic Substrates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

C. K. Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
P. L. Cheng
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
S. Y. Y. Leung
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
T. W. Law
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
D. C. C. Lam
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
Get access

Abstract

Capacitors, resistors and inductors are surface mounted components on circuit boards, which occupy up to 70% of the circuit board area. For selected applications, these passives are packaged inside green ceramic tape substrates and sintered at temperatures over 700°C in a co-fired process. These high temperature processes are incompatible with organic substrates, and low temperature processes are needed if passives are to be embedded into organic substrates. A new high permeability dual-phase Nickel Zinc Ferrite (DP NZF) core fabricated using a low temperature sol-gel route was developed for use in embedded inductors in organic substrates. Crystalline NZF powder was added to the sol-gel precursor of NZF. The solution was deposited onto the substrates as thin films and heat-treated at different temperatures. The changes in the microstructures were characterized using XRD and SEM. Results showed that addition of NZF powder induced low temperature transformation of the sol-gel NZF phase to high permeability phase at 250°C, which is approximately 350°C lower than transformation temperature for pure NZF sol gel films. Electrical measurements of DP NZF cored two-layered spiral inductors indicated that the inductance increased by three times compared to inductors without the DP NZF cores. From microstructural observations, the increase is correlated with the changes in microstructural connectivity of the powder phase.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Dakeya, Y, et al., “Chip multilayer antenna for 2.45 GHz-band application using LTCC technology”. 2000 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, IEEE Part vol 3, p.16931696, 2000.Google Scholar
2. Sheen, Jyh-Wen and Tang, Ching-Wen, “LTCC-MLC balun for WLAN/Bluetooth”. 2001 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Sympsoium Digest IEEE Part vol 1, p.315318, 2001.Google Scholar
3. Park, J.Y. and Allen, M.G., “Integrated electroplated micromachined magnetic devices using low temperature fabrication processes”. IEEE Transactions on Electronics Packaging Manufacturing, vol.23, p. 4855, 2000.Google Scholar
4. Tang, S.C., Hui, S.Y.R., and Chung, H.S.H., “A low-profile power converter using printed-circuit board (PCB) power transformer with ferrite polymer composite”. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 16, p.493498, 2001.Google Scholar
5. Park, J.Y. and Allen, M.G., “Packaging compatible micromagnetic devices using screen printed polymer/ferrite composites”. International Journal of Microcircuits & Electronic Packaging, vol 21, p. 243252, 1998.Google Scholar
6. Park, J.Y., Lagorce, L.K., and Allen, M.G., “Ferrite-based integrated planar inductors and transformers fabricated at low temperature”. IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, vol. 33, p. 33223324, 1997.Google Scholar
7. Park, J.Y. and Allen, M.G., “Low temperature fabrication and characterization of integrated packaging-compatible, ferrite-core magnetic devices”. Conference Proceedings - IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition - APEC. V. 1, p. 361367, 1997.Google Scholar
8. Arshak, K.I., Ajina, A., and Egan, D., “Development of screen-printed polymer thick film planner transformer using Mn-Zn ferrite as core material”. Microelectronics Journal, vol. 32, p. 113116, 2001.Google Scholar
9. Liu, C.K.; Law, T.W.; Cheng, P.L.; Chong, I.T.; Lam, D.C.C., “Low temperature processing and electrical properties of embedded ferrite-cored inductor”, ECTC, 2002. Proceedings. 52nd p. 490494, 2002.Google Scholar
10. Bae, S.Y., et al., “Magnetic properties of sol-gel derived Ni-Zn ferrite thin films”. Journal de Physique IV, vol.8, p. 261264, 1998.Google Scholar
11. Hoffman, C., “Design, fabrication, and testing of sol-gel magnetic devices”. Electrical Insulation Conference and Electrical Manufacturing & Coil Winding Conference. Proceedings, p.4752, 1999.Google Scholar