Coupled inductor arrays and associated methods
First Claim
1. A coupled inductor array having length, width, and height, the coupled inductor array comprising:
- a monolithic magnetic core formed of a magnetic material having a distributed gap;
a plurality of windings embedded in the monolithic magnetic core, each winding forming a respective winding loop of one or more turns around a respective winding axis, each winding axis extending in the height direction, each winding axis offset from each other winding axis in the widthwise direction; and
one or more magnetic flux impeding structures embedded in the monolithic magnetic core, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures having a magnetic permeability that is lower than a magnetic permeability of the magnetic material having the distributed gap, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures being disposed outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction,the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures comprising at least one magnetic flux impeding structure disposed outside of each winding loop, in a common lengthwise by widthwise plane with the winding loop, the monolithic magnetic core overlapping with each of the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction,areas of the monolithic magnetic core enclosed by the winding loops and non-overlapping with the winding loops being greater than areas of the monolithic magnetic core outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupled inductor array has length, width, and height. The coupled inductor array includes a monolithic magnetic core formed of a magnetic material having a distributed gap, and a plurality of windings embedded in the monolithic magnetic core. Each winding forms a respective winding loop of one or more turns around a respective winding axis, and each winding axis extends in the height direction. Areas of the monolithic magnetic core enclosed by the winding loops are greater than areas of the monolithic magnetic core outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction. One possible application of the coupled inductor array is in a multi-phase switching power converter.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A coupled inductor array having length, width, and height, the coupled inductor array comprising:
-
a monolithic magnetic core formed of a magnetic material having a distributed gap; a plurality of windings embedded in the monolithic magnetic core, each winding forming a respective winding loop of one or more turns around a respective winding axis, each winding axis extending in the height direction, each winding axis offset from each other winding axis in the widthwise direction; and one or more magnetic flux impeding structures embedded in the monolithic magnetic core, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures having a magnetic permeability that is lower than a magnetic permeability of the magnetic material having the distributed gap, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures being disposed outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures comprising at least one magnetic flux impeding structure disposed outside of each winding loop, in a common lengthwise by widthwise plane with the winding loop, the monolithic magnetic core overlapping with each of the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction, areas of the monolithic magnetic core enclosed by the winding loops and non-overlapping with the winding loops being greater than areas of the monolithic magnetic core outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A coupled inductor array having length, width, and height, the coupled inductor array comprising:
-
a monolithic magnetic core formed of a magnetic material having a distributed gap; a plurality of windings embedded in the monolithic magnetic core, each winding forming a respective winding loop of one or more turns around a respective winding axis, each winding axis extending in the height direction, each winding axis offset from each other winding axis in the widthwise direction; and one or more magnetic flux impeding structures embedded in the monolithic magnetic core, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures having a magnetic permeability that is lower than a magnetic permeability of the magnetic material having the distributed gap, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures being disposed only outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures being formed of an electrically conductive material, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures being electrically isolated from the plurality of windings, the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures non-overlapping with the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction, and the monolithic magnetic core overlapping with each of the one or more magnetic flux impeding structures, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
Specification