An inductor device includes a first inductor, a second inductor, and at least one switch circuit. The second inductor is arranged to enclose the first inductor, and use a topmost layer metal to resist external interference for the first inductor. The at least one switch circuit is coupled to the second inductor, and is arranged to receive at least one control voltage, wherein the at least one control voltage is arranged to adjust conduction degree of the at least one switch circuit.

An alternative approach to flux pumping in superconducting devices is described for fast and extremely precise tuning of the current during persistent mode operation. Rather than bringing in new flux from outside the circuit, the alternative approach stores a small flux in a tunable inductor (also referred to herein as a “flux bank”) at the initial point of powering. Flux can be transferred back and forth from this bank to the main coil by simply changing the inductance of the bank. This allows for fine and fast adjustments of the persistent current without the use of thermal switches found in other approaches (which limit the adjustment speed and accuracy).

An alternative approach to flux pumping in superconducting devices is described for fast and extremely precise tuning of the current during persistent mode operation. Rather than bringing in new flux from outside the circuit, the alternative approach stores a small flux in a tunable inductor (also referred to herein as a “flux bank”) at the initial point of powering. Flux can be transferred back and forth from this bank to the main coil by simply changing the inductance of the bank. This allows for fine and fast adjustments of the persistent current without the use of thermal switches found in other approaches (which limit the adjustment speed and accuracy).

An inductor structure includes a first curve metal component, a second curve metal component, a connection component, and a capacitor. The first and the second curve metal components are disposed on a layer. The layer is located at a first plane, the first and the second curve metal components are located at a second plane. The connection component is coupled to the first curve metal component and the second curve metal component. A first terminal of the connection component is coupled to a first terminal of the first curve metal component. A second terminal of the connection component is coupled to a first terminal of the second curve metal component. A first terminal of the capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the first curve metal component. A second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the second curve metal component.

An inductor structure includes a first curve metal component, a second curve metal component, a connection component, and a capacitor. The first and the second curve metal components are disposed on a layer. The layer is located at a first plane, the first and the second curve metal components are located at a second plane. The connection component is coupled to the first curve metal component and the second curve metal component. A first terminal of the connection component is coupled to a first terminal of the first curve metal component. A second terminal of the connection component is coupled to a first terminal of the second curve metal component. A first terminal of the capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the first curve metal component. A second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the second curve metal component.

An inductive switch comprises an inductor that has a primary metallic winding having a boundary configured in shape of a figure eight, such as in two loops, and a plurality of secondary metallic windings arranged within the boundary of the primary metallic winding. The inductive switch includes a plurality of switches, each switch arranged in series with a respective one of the plurality of secondary metallic windings. An equal number of the secondary windings is arranged within each loop. A tunable inductor comprises at least one main metallic loop and at least one secondary metallic loop, wherein the at least one secondary metallic loop comprises a switch that is arranged to configure the at least one secondary metallic loop into at least one shorted metallic loop or at least one closed metallic loop. The at least one shorted loop is floating.

An inductive switch comprises an inductor that has a primary metallic winding having a boundary configured in shape of a figure eight, such as in two loops, and a plurality of secondary metallic windings arranged within the boundary of the primary metallic winding. The inductive switch includes a plurality of switches, each switch arranged in series with a respective one of the plurality of secondary metallic windings. An equal number of the secondary windings is arranged within each loop. A tunable inductor comprises at least one main metallic loop and at least one secondary metallic loop, wherein the at least one secondary metallic loop comprises a switch that is arranged to configure the at least one secondary metallic loop into at least one shorted metallic loop or at least one closed metallic loop. The at least one shorted loop is floating.

Balun device and differential phase shifter are provided. The balun device includes a first primary coil, a first secondary coil, a second primary coil and a second secondary coil, the first primary coil having a first terminal receiving a first differential signal, and a second terminal outputting a first in-phase component, the first secondary coil having a first terminal outputting a first component orthogonal to the first in-phase component, and a second terminal coupled to AC ground, the second primary coil having a first terminal receiving a second differential signal, and a second terminal outputting a second in-phase component; the second secondary coil having a first terminal outputting a second component orthogonal to the second in-phase component, and a second terminal coupled to AC ground; phase differences between the first and second differential signals, between the first and second in-phase components, between the first and second orthogonal component are 180°.

Disclosed is a tunable inductor device having a substrate, a planar spiral conductor having a plurality of spaced-apart turns disposed over the substrate, and a phase change switch (PCS) having a patch of a phase change material (PCM) disposed over the substrate between and in contact with a pair of adjacent segments of the plurality of spaced-apart turns, wherein the patch of the PCM is electrically insulating in an amorphous state and electrically conductive in a crystalline state. The PCS further includes a thermal element disposed adjacent to the patch of PCM, wherein the thermal element is configured to maintain the patch of the PCM to within a first temperature range until the patch of the PCM converts to the amorphous state and maintain the patch of the PCM within a second temperature range until the first patch of PCM converts to the crystalline state.

A tunable inductor arrangeable on a chip or substrate 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. The switch arrangement tunes the tunable inductor by selectively connecting 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 connecting the first, second, fourth and third winding parts in series between the first and second inputs. Corresponding transceivers, communication devices, methods and computer programs are disclosed.