Patent attributes
In general, the invention is directed to a tunable inductor that makes use of eddy current effect to tune the inductance of an inductor. The tunable inductor may include a spiral or helical inductor in proximity to one or more sets of eddy current coils. Each eddy current coil may be coupled to a corresponding switch that controls whether the eddy current coil is grounded or floating. In operation, a first time-varying current through the inductor induces a first magnetic field that, in turn, induces a time-varying voltage in an eddy current coil. If the eddy current coil is not grounded, an eddy current flows through the eddy current coil. The eddy current, which flows in the opposite direction of the first time-varying current, induces a second magnetic field. The second magnetic field, which opposes the first magnetic field, reduces the inductance of the tunable inductor.
