A tunable inductor arrangement arrangable on a chip or substrate is disclosed. The tunable inductor comprises a first winding part connected at one end to a first input of the tunable inductor arrangement, a second winding part connected at one end to the other end of the first winding part, a third winding part connected at one end to a second input of the tunable inductor arrangement, a fourth winding part connected at one end to the other end of the third winding part, and a switch arrangement arranged to tune the tunable inductor arrangement. Tuning is performed by selectively provide any of a circuit comprising the first and third winding parts in series between the first and second inputs, or a circuit comprising the first, second, fourth and third winding parts in series between the first and second inputs. The first and third winding parts are arranged on the chip or substrate such that magnetic fields of the first and third windings are essentially common, and the second and fourth winding parts are arranged to cancel electro-magnetic coupling with the first and third winding parts. A receiver, transceiver, communication device, method and computer program are also disclosed.

A transformer includes a first winding conductor and a second winding conductor, magnetically coupled to the first winding conductor. A first transformation ratio is achieved between the second winding conductor and the first winding conductor. A first distance between the first winding conductor and the second winding conductor is higher than a distance threshold, and accordingly, a first coupling factor between the first winding conductor and the second winding conductor is lower than a coupling factor threshold.

A transformer-based balun circuit s disclosed herein. The balun can be implemented using a spiral transformer, where primary and secondary transformer windings can be inductively coupled and can be implemented on the same metal layer (or different metal layers, e.g. vertically adjacent metal layers). The balun can further include a compensation capacitor and a digital frequency tuning circuit. The compensation capacitor can be introduced at one of the differential terminals to reduce or suppress the amplitude and phase imbalance. The digital frequency tuning circuit can be a switchable bank of capacitors, which allows for tuning the frequency of operation of the transformer-based balun.

A tunable inductor arrangement arrangable on a chip or substrate is disclosed. The tunable inductor comprises a first winding part connected at one end to a first input of the tunable inductor arrangement, a second winding part connected at one end to the other end of the first winding part, a third winding part connected at one end to a second input of the tunable inductor arrangement, a fourth winding part connected at one end to the other end of the third winding part, and a switch arrangement arranged to tune the tunable inductor arrangement by selectively provide a circuit either comprising the first and fourth winding parts in parallel and the second and third winding parts in parallel, with the parallel couplings in series between the first and second inputs, or a circuit comprising the first, second, fourth and third winding parts in series between the first and second inputs. A transceiver, communication device, method and computer program are also disclosed.

An inductor structure has a first terminal and a second terminal, and includes a conductor path between the first terminal and the second terminal. The conductor path includes a first inductor, a second inductor, a third inductor, a fourth inductor, a fifth inductor, and a sixth inductor. The conductor path may be configured such that, when a current flows from the first terminal to the second terminal, the current flows in a first direction in the first inductor, the third inductor, and the fifth inductor, and the current flows in a second direction in the second inductor, the fourth inductor, and the sixth inductor. The first direction may be clockwise and the second direction may be counterclockwise, or vice versa.

A varainductor includes a spiral inductor, a ground ring, and a floating ring. The floating ring is disposed between the ground ring and the spiral inductor and surrounds a ring portion of the spiral inductor. A switching element, controlled by a switch control signal, selectively electrically connects the ground ring to the floating ring. The switching element includes one or more switches. The one or more switches are controlled by one or more signals of the switch control signal to adjust the inductance level of the varainductor.

Some features pertain to a device package that includes a die and a package substrate. The die includes a first switch. The package substrate is coupled to the die. The package substrate includes at least one dielectric layer, a primary inductor, and a first secondary inductor coupled to the first switch of the die. The first secondary inductor and the first switch are coupled to a plurality of interconnects configured to provide an electrical path for a reference ground signal. The primary inductor is configurable to have different inductances by opening and closing the first switch coupled to the first secondary inductor. In some implementations, the primary inductor is configurable in real time while the die is operational. In some implementations, the die further includes a second switch, and the package substrate further includes a second secondary inductor coupled to the second switch of the die.

A switchable coil includes a first coil including a first outer coil and a first inner coil, the first inner coil and the first outer coil forming a first crossing-region, a second coil including a second outer coil and a second inner coil, the second inner coil and the second outer coil forming a second crossing-region, and the second crossing-region being inside the first inner coil viewed in a first direction, and a switch connected to a region facing the second crossing-region in the second inner coil.

In an embodiment, an apparatus and system comprising a first inductor with a first diameter; and a switched inductor including a metal layer and a switch; wherein when the switch is closed the switch connects the metal layer of the switched inductor to form an inductor with a parallel circuit enabling current to flow through the switched conductor; and wherein when the switch is open, current is not enabled to flow through the switched conductor. In another embodiment, a method for tuning a high-Q inductor, the method comprising closing a switch of a switched inductor, wherein the switch connects the switched inductor to a first inductor; wherein closing the switch enables current to flow though the switched inductor as well as the first inductor to change the inductance of the high Q inductor.

A varainductor includes a spiral inductor, a ground ring, and a floating ring. The floating ring is disposed between the ground ring and the spiral inductor and surrounds a ring portion of the spiral inductor. A switching element, controlled by a switch control signal, selectively electrically connects the ground ring to the floating ring. The switching element includes one or more switches. The one or more switches are controlled by one or more signals of the switch control signal to adjust the inductance level of the varainductor.