Thin-Film, Micron-Scale Transformers

40899 Integrated Microtransducer Electronics Corp. Thin-film transformers have many applications in miniaturized power systems and control curcuits but are unreliable or unusable at low frequencies. In previous work, multilayer, thin magnetic films have been developed that offer the potential for eliminating this problem. The transformer is based on an active giant magnetoresistive (GMR) device that will work even down to DC. The input is completely isolated from the output, and there is no resistive path between the two. Both voltage and current can be stepped either up or down. Because of its large bandwidth, the transformer is suitable for both analog and some digital circuitry. It can be fabricated on the same substrate as other GMR-based logic circuits and memory elements. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of using these films to develop useful micron-scale transformers through design, calculation, fabrication, and testing. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: Silicon technology has no microtransformers. GMR technology, on the other hand, is intrinsically able to implement such transformers, thereby enabling broader circuit-design capabilities for a variety of communications, measurement and control circuits, as well as for a broad spectrum of new applications.