Laminated Transformer

The present invention relates to a laminated transformer, and more particularly, to a laminated transformer used mainly in a high frequency circuit.

The conventional transformers of a winding type and a lamination type are well-known as parts of an electronic circuit.

The winding type transformer comprises the primary and secondary windings on a ferrite core, which is hard to miniaturize. Since terminal treatment on the lead wire is difficult, the transformer is hard to mass-produce, whereby it is difficult to eliminate lead wires or to be chipped. Moreover, in order to adjust an inductance value, the number of turns of each winding must be changed and must be an integer, whereby it is difficult to obtain a desired inductance value.

On the contrary, the lamination type transformer, which enables miniaturization and chipping, has recently widely been used.

One conventional example of such a lamination type transformer is a laminated transformer 30 (FIG. 5) known as the through-hole system. The laminated transformer 30 comprises a plurality (seven in FIG. 5) of ferrite sheets 31 to 37 laminated in order and baked to be integral, each ferrite sheet including a conductor pattern or a through hole formed as follows. At first, on the surface of the ferrite sheet 31 is formed a J-shaped conductor pattern 31a extending at one end to the outer edge of the sheet 31. On the surface of the ferrite sheet 32 is formed a U-shaped conductor pattern 32a and at one end thereof is formed a through hole 32b perforating the ferrite sheet 32. On the surface of the ferrite sheet 33 is formed a J-shaped conductor pattern 33a extending at one end to the outer edge of the sheet 33 and at the other end of the conductor pattern 33a is formed a through hole 33b perforating the sheet 33.

On the surface of the ferrite sheet 34 is formed a J-shaped conductor pattern 34a extending at one end to the outer edge of the sheet 34. On the surface of the ferrite sheet 35 is formed a U-shaped conductor pattern 35a and at one end thereof is formed a through-hole 35b perforating the sheet 35. On the surface of the ferrite sheet 36 is formed a J-shaped conductor pattern 36a extending at one end to the outer edge of the sheet 36 and at the other end of the conductive pattern 36a is formed a through hole 36b. The ferrite sheet 37 does not have a conductor pattern or through hole.

The ferrite sheets 31 through 37 thus constructed are sequentially laminated and baked so that the conductor patterns 31a and 32a are electrically connected through the through hole 32b, and those 32a and 33a, through the through hole 33b. A primary coil is provided between one end of the conductor pattern 31a and one end of the conductor pattern 33a. The conductor patterns 34a and 35a are electrically connected through the through hole 35b, and those 35a and 36a, through the through hole 36b. A secondary coil is provided between one end of the conductor pattern 34a and one end of the conductor pattern 36a.

Another example of the conventional laminated transformer is called the printing system one as shown in FIG. 6.

Such a laminated transformer at first is provided on a burnable ferrite sheet 45 with a first conductor pattern 46 of about a half turn of the winding (FIG. 6a). Next, a second ferrite layer 47 is printed on the first conductor pattern in a manner in which one end portion of the first conductor pattern 46 remains exposed (FIG.6b). And, on the second ferrite layer 47, a second conductor pattern 48 is formed of about a half turn of the winding and is connected to one end of the first conductor pattern 46 (FIG. 6c). Such ferrite layers and conductor patterns are formed foregoing order and are baked to form an integral laminated transformer.

In the through hole system laminated transformer 30, the conductor patterns 31a and 32a constituting the primary coil are vertically opposite each other with the ferrite sheet 32 disposed therebetween, while patterns 32a and 33a are vertically opposite each other with the ferrite sheet 33 disposed therebetween. Similarly, the conductor patterns 34a and 35a constituting the secondary coil are vertically opposite to each other with the ferrite sheet 35 disposed therebetween while patterns 35a and 36a are similarly disposed with the ferrite sheet 36 therebetween. Hence, capacitors are constituted between the conductor patterns 31a and 32a, 32a and 33a, 34a and 35a, and 35a and 36a, thereby facilitating an increase in the self distributed capacity which promotes self-resonance, whereby the laminated transformer having such construction has not been suitable for use in a high frequency circuit. When the through hole 32b shifts from the conductor pattern 31a, or the through hole 33b shifts from the conductor pattern 32a, or the through hole 35b shifts from the conductor pattern 34a, or the through hole 36b shifts from the conductor pattern 35a during the lamination of ferrite sheets 31 through 37, the continuous winding cannot be formed so as to occasionally cause a problem such as disconnection, thereby lowering the reliability.

On the other hand, the laminated transformer of the printing system, similar to the through hole system, has the capacitor defined between the respective conductor patterns, thereby being defective in that this laminated transformer is not suitable for use in a high frequency circuit.

The manufacture of the through hole system laminated transformer requires much time to form the through holes and to connect the ferrite sheets through the through holes, while, the manufacture of the printing system requires much time to superpose the ferrite layers and conductor patterns. Hence, the laminated transformers of both the aforesaid systems involve a problem in that their manufacturing processes are complicated and require much time.

A first object of the invention is to provide a laminated transformer which causes no self-resonance even when used in a high frequency band.

A second object of the invention is to provide a laminated transformer the manufacture of which is free from problems.

A third object of the invention is to provide a laminated transformer that is easy to manufacture and is high in reliability in comparison with the conventional laminated transformer of the through hole system or the printing system.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a laminated transformer which can obtain an optional characteristic impedance with an appropriate design of the width of each conductor pattern and the intervals between the respective conductor patterns.

These and other objects of the invention will be seen by reference to the description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laminated transformer of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the laminated transformer in FIG. 1, which comprises ferrite sheets on which linear conductor patterns are formed,

FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the laminated transformer shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ferrite sheet on which a conductor pattern having a circular arc shape is formed,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the conventional laminated transformer of a through hole system, and

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing the manufacturing process of the conventional printing system laminated transformer.

The laminated transformer of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a laminated sintered body 16 formed of a plurality (five in the drawings) of ferrite sheets 11 through 15 and external electrodes 17 through 20 provided an the sintered body 16.

The respective ferrite sheets 11 through 15 are rectangular and equal in size and have conductor patterns formed on the surface thereof as follows.

A linear conductor pattern 11a used for the primary is formed at the central portion of the surface of the ferrite sheet 11 and lead-out electrodes 11b and 11c connected to both ends of the conductor pattern 11a are formed at two corners of the sheet 11.

At the central portion of the surface of the ferrite sheet 12 is formed a linear conductor pattern 12a used for the secondary, and at two corners of the same and disposed opposite to the lead-out electrodes 11b and 11c of the ferrite sheet 11, are formed lead-out electrodes 12b and 12c, respectively.

The ferrite sheet 13 is the same as the ferrite sheet 11, and is provided with conductor pattern 13a used for the primary and two lead-out electrodes 13b and 13c.

The ferrite sheet 14 is the same as the ferrite sheet 12 and is provided with conductor pattern 14a used for the secondary and two lead-out electrodes 14b and 14c. The ferrite sheet 15 has no conductor pattern on the surface thereof. The ferrite sheets 11 through 15 thus constructed are laminated in the foregoing order and baked to form the laminated sintered body 16.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numerals 17 and 18 designate the primary external electrodes, and 19 and 20 designate the secondary external electrodes, the electrodes 17 through 20 being formed at four corners of the laminated sintered body 16 by baking silver paste or the like thereon. The primary external electrode 17 is electrically connected with the lead-out electrodes 11b and 13b, the primary external electrode 18 with the lead-out electrodes 11c and 13c, the secondary external electrode 19 with the lead-out electrodes 12b and 14b, and the secondary external electrode 20 with the lead out electrodes 12c and 14c, respectively. As a result, an equivalent circuit of the laminated transformer is as shown in FIG. 3, in which the conductor patterns 11a and 13a are connected in parallel to each other for the primary and conductor patterns 12a and 14a are connected in parallel to each other for the secondary.

Thus, the laminated transformer of the invention comprises a plurality of ferrite sheets each having a conductor pattern formed on the surface thereof and laminated and baked to form the laminated sintered body, and the external electrodes formed at four corners of the sintered body, thereby facilitating ease in manufacture and high reliability in comparison with the conventional laminated transformer of the through hole system or the printing system.

Also, the conductor patterns used for the primary and the secondary have no coil and no self-distributed capacity, thereby not being subject to self-resonance even when used in the high frequency band.

In the embodiment of the laminated transformer of the invention, the ferrite sheets 11 to 14 have four conductor patterns. However, the present invention is not limited to having such a number, but may include any in number of patterns corresponding to a desired current capacity or inductance of the laminated transformer.

Also, the configuration of the conductor patterns 11a through 14a on the ferrite sheets 11 through 14 is optional, and may be a circular arc as shown in FIG. 4, and intermediate taps may alternatively be provided at the primary and the secondary.

Furthermore, when the laminated transformer is used as a wide-band transformer, such as a balun transformer, the width and interval between the conductor patterns can be changed, thereby enabling optional characteristic impedance to be obtained.

Although several embodiments have been described, they are merely exemplary of the invention and not to be constructed as limiting, the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.