Abstract:
The integrated inductor (40) comprises a coil (21b) of metal which is formed in the second metal level (21). The coil is supported by a bracket (20a) extending above spaced from a semiconductor material body (3) by an air gap (28) obtained by removing a sacrificial region formed in the first metal level (16). The bracket (20a) is carried by the semiconductor material body (3) through support regions (20b) which are arranged peripherally on the bracket (20a) and are separated from one another by through apertures (36) which are connected to the air gap (28). A thick oxide region (4) extends above the semiconductor material body (3), below the air gap (28), to reduce the capacitive coupling between the inductor and the semiconductor material body (3). The inductor thus has a high quality factor, and is produced by a process compatible with present microelectronics processes.