An on-chip inductor structure includes top and bottom metal plates that
are formed to surround a conductor coil formed between the top and bottom
plates, but is separated therefrom by intervening dielectric material.
The top and bottom plates are preferably formed from a ferromagnetic
alloy, e.g. Permalloy, and are subdivided into a plurality of space-apart
segments, thereby reducing eddy currents. The number of segments is
optimized based upon the process technology utilized to fabricate the
structure. Preferably, a finite gap is formed between the top plate and
the bottom plate, the height of the gap being chosen to adjust the total
inductance of the structure.