Inductor component

Abstract

Provided is an inductor component capable of easily adjusting a coupling coefficient. The inductor component comprises: a core material; a first wiring group which is embedded in the core material; and a second wiring group which is embedded in the core material to at least partially overlap with the first wiring group when viewed in the thickness direction of the core material and which is electrically insulated from the first wiring group. The first wiring group comprises two first conductors which are electrically insulated. Both end parts of the two first conductors are two sets of first parallel parts extending in parallel or substantially parallel to each other. The second wiring group comprises three or more second conductors which are electrically insulated from each other. The end parts of three or more sets of two conductors selected as mutually-different combinations from among the three or more second conductors are three sets of second parallel parts extending in parallel or substantially parallel to each other. Each of the two sets of the first parallel parts at least partially overlaps with and in parallel or substantially parallel to any of the three or more sets of the second parallel parts when viewed in the thickness direction.

Description

Inductor Components

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inductor component in which a conductor is embedded in a core material containing a magnetic substance.

[0002] As an example of an inductor component in which a conductor is embedded in a core material containing a magnetic substance, a magnetic component assembly is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] The magnetic part assembly disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a magnetic body and a plurality of different coils disposed inside the magnetic body, the plurality of different coils being magnetically coupled to one another.

[0004] US Patent Publication No. 2010 / 0039200

[0005] In an inductor component in which multiple different coils are magnetically coupled to each other, it is desirable to set the coupling coefficient to an appropriate value, because if the coupling coefficient is too high or too low, problems such as those listed below may occur.

[0006] If the coupling coefficient is too high, the magnetic flux received by the core material increases, increasing the likelihood of core saturation, which can adversely affect the performance and efficiency of the inductor component, such as reducing inductance.

[0007] If the coupling coefficient is too low, the mutual inductance between the different coils will be low. This will reduce the efficiency of magnetic flux density transmission between the different coils, which may result in a decrease in the performance of a system that includes the inductor component. Furthermore, if the coupling coefficient is too low, there is a risk of increased leakage flux. This leakage flux may cause noise in electronic components or circuits located near the inductor component, which may result in a decrease in the quality of the system that includes the inductor component.

[0008] Therefore, in an inductor component, it is desirable that the coupling coefficient be easily adjustable to set the coupling coefficient to an appropriate value, and there is room for further improvement in this regard.

[0009] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an inductor component whose coupling coefficient can be easily adjusted.

[0010] An inductor component according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a core material containing a magnetic substance; a first wiring group incorporated in the core material; and a second wiring group incorporated in the core material such that at least a portion of the second wiring group overlaps the first wiring group when viewed along the thickness direction of the core material, and the second wiring group is electrically insulated from the first wiring group; the first wiring group comprises two first conductors extending in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and electrically insulated from each other, both ends of the two first conductors being two sets of first parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other; the second wiring group comprises three or more second conductors extending in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and electrically insulated from each other, and three or more sets of two conductors selected in different combinations from the three or more second conductors being three or more sets of second parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other, and each of the two sets of first parallel portions at least partially overlaps and is parallel or approximately parallel to one of the three or more sets of second parallel portions when viewed along the thickness direction.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, an inductor component that allows for easy adjustment of the coupling coefficient can be provided.

[0012] 1 is a perspective view of an inductor component according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 2 is a plan view of an inductor component according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 3 is an exploded perspective view of an inductor component according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 4 is a perspective view of a first wiring group and a second wiring group; 5 is a plan view of the first wiring group and the second wiring group; 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2; 7 is a front view of an inductor component according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] An example of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is essentially merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its applications, or its uses. The drawings are schematic, and the dimensional ratios and the like do not necessarily correspond to reality. In the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions (e.g., terms including "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "front," and "rear") may be used as necessary. The present specification and drawings define the X, Y, and Z directions. The Z direction is the thickness direction of the core material of the inductor component, and the X and Y directions are directions perpendicular to the thickness direction of the core material. The X and Y directions intersect each other (orthogonal in the present specification and drawings). The X direction is an example of a first direction, the Y direction is an example of a second direction, and the Z direction is an example of a thickness direction. The use of the terms indicating specific directions or positions described above is intended to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, and the meanings of these terms do not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0014] <First embodiment> Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inductor component according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inductor component according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inductor component according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] The inductor component 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is mounted, for example, on a mobile object such as an automobile, or on a consumer device such as a smartphone or a smartwatch.

[0016] 1 to 3, the inductor component 10 includes a core material 20, a first wiring group 30, and a second wiring group 40. Although not shown in the figures, the inductor component 10 is covered with a resin or the like except for exposed portions of the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 that function as terminals. The exposed portions are, for example, exposed portions of the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 that are located outside the core material 20. In other words, the exposed portions are the portions of the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 that are visible in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0017] The core material 20 includes a magnetic material, and is made of, for example, a metallic magnetic material, ferrite, etc. The first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 are made of a conductor such as copper or aluminum.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the core material 20 includes an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22 .

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3, the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22 are substantially rectangular parallelepiped in shape. Note that the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22 are not limited to being substantially rectangular parallelepiped in shape, and may be, for example, cylindrical in shape. The lower plate 22 has a groove 22B. The groove 22B is provided on the upper surface of the lower plate 22 (in other words, the surface of the lower plate 22 facing the upper plate 21). The groove 22B has a portion extending in the X direction and a portion extending in the Y direction, and these two portions intersect at the center of the upper surface of the lower plate 22.

[0020] The first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 are located in the groove 22B. The second wiring group 40 is located on the bottom side of the groove 22B, and the first wiring group 30 is located on the opening side of the groove 22B. The upper plate 21 is disposed opposite the lower plate 22 in the Z direction so as to cover the groove 22B. As a result, the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22 sandwich the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 in the Z direction. In other words, the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 are embedded in the core material 20.

[0021] In the first embodiment, insulating tape, magnetic powder, or the like is provided between the upper plate 21, the lower plate 22, the first wiring group 30, and the second wiring group 40. As a result, the upper plate 21, the lower plate 22, the first wiring group 30, and the second wiring group 40 are separated from each other and electrically insulated from each other.

[0022] 4 and 5 are perspective and plan views of the first and second wiring groups, respectively.

[0023] 4 and 5 , the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 overlap when viewed along the Z direction. The first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 are located close to each other and face each other in the Z direction. In the first embodiment, when viewed along the Z direction, the entire first wiring group 30 overlaps the second wiring group 40. In other words, when viewed along the Z direction, the first wiring group 30 is included in the second wiring group 40.

[0024] Note that the configuration is not limited to one in which the first wiring group 30 is included in the second wiring group 40 when viewed along the Z direction. It is sufficient that at least a portion of the first wiring group 30 overlaps at least a portion of the second wiring group 40 when viewed along the Z direction. For example, when viewed along the Z direction, a portion of the first wiring group 30 and a portion of the second wiring group 40 may overlap each other. Furthermore, for example, the entire second wiring group 40 may overlap the entire first wiring group 30. In other words, when viewed along the Z direction, the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 may completely coincide with each other.

[0025] The first wiring group 30 includes two first conductors 31, 32 extending in a direction intersecting the Z direction. In this embodiment, the two first conductors 31, 32 are provided in positions that are symmetrical to each other with respect to an imaginary line that extends along the X direction when viewed along the Z direction. The two first conductors 31, 32 are provided adjacent to each other and in close proximity. Similar to the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40, the two first conductors 31, 32 are separated and electrically insulated from each other by tape made of an insulating material, magnetic powder, or the like.

[0026] Both ends of the first conductor 31 and both ends of the first conductor 32 are positioned side by side in the Y direction and both extend along the X direction. One ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 are first parallel portions 30A extending parallel to each other, and the other ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 are first parallel portions 30B extending parallel to each other. In other words, both ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 are two sets of first parallel portions 30A, 30B extending parallel to each other.

[0027] The ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 do not have to extend completely parallel to each other, and one end of each of the two first conductors 31, 32 may extend at a slight angle relative to the other end. In other words, the two sets of first parallel portions 30A, 30B are not limited to extending parallel to each other, but may also extend approximately parallel to each other.

[0028] 3, the second wiring group 40 includes four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 that extend in a direction intersecting the Z direction. In this embodiment, the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 are arranged in the following positional relationship.

[0029] The second conductor 41 faces the second conductor 42 in the X direction and faces the second conductor 43 in the Y direction. The second conductor 44 faces the second conductor 43 in the X direction and faces the second conductor 42 in the Y direction.

[0030] Furthermore, the two second conductors 41, 42 are arranged at positions that are line-symmetrical to each other with respect to an imaginary line along the Y direction when viewed along the Z direction. The two second conductors 43, 44 are arranged at positions that are line-symmetrical to each other with respect to an imaginary line along the Y direction when viewed along the Z direction. The two second conductors 41, 43 are arranged at positions that are line-symmetrical to each other with respect to an imaginary line along the X direction when viewed along the Z direction. The two second conductors 42, 44 are arranged at positions that are line-symmetrical to each other with respect to an imaginary line along the X direction when viewed along the Z direction.

[0031] In the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44, the portions facing each other are adjacent to each other and are located close to each other.

[0032] The four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 are separated from each other and electrically insulated by tape or magnetic powder made of insulating material, similar to the space between the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40.

[0033] The ends of four pairs of two conductors selected in different combinations from the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 are four pairs of second parallel portions 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D that extend parallel or approximately parallel to each other, as described in detail below.

[0034] The ends of the two second conductors 41, 42 are positioned side by side in the X direction and both extend along the Y direction. The ends of the two second conductors 41, 42 form a first set of second parallel portions 40A that extend parallel to each other.

[0035] The ends of the two second conductors 43, 44 are positioned side by side in the X direction and both extend along the Y direction. The ends of the two second conductors 43, 44 extend parallel to each other to form a second set of second parallel portions 40B.

[0036] The ends of the two second conductors 41, 43 are positioned side by side in the Y direction and both extend along the X direction. The ends of the two second conductors 41, 43 extend parallel to each other to form a third set of second parallel portions 40C.

[0037] The ends of the two second conductors 42, 44 are positioned side by side in the Y direction and both extend along the X direction. The ends of the two second conductors 42, 44 extend parallel to each other to form a fourth set of second parallel portions 40D.

[0038] The ends of two conductors selected from the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 do not have to extend completely parallel to each other, and one end of the two conductors may extend at a slight angle relative to the other end. In other words, the four sets of second parallel portions 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D are not limited to extending parallel to each other, but may also extend approximately parallel to each other.

[0039] Furthermore, the number of second conductors included in the second wiring group 40 is not limited to four, and may be three or more. For example, the second wiring group 40 may include five second conductors. In this case, the ends of up to five pairs of two conductors selected in different combinations from the five second conductors form up to five pairs of second parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other. In other words, the second wiring group 40 includes three or more second conductors, and the ends of three or more pairs of two conductors selected in different combinations from the three or more second conductors form three or more pairs of second parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other.

[0040] 4 and 5, when viewed along the Z direction, the first parallel portion 30A overlaps at least a portion with the second parallel portion 40C and is parallel or approximately parallel to the second parallel portion 40C. Also, when viewed along the Z direction, the first parallel portion 30B overlaps at least a portion with the second parallel portion 40D and is parallel or approximately parallel to the second parallel portion 40D.

[0041] Note that the combinations of first parallel portions and second parallel portions that at least partially overlap and are parallel or approximately parallel to each other are not limited to the combinations described above. For example, when viewed along the Z direction, the first parallel portion 30A may at least partially overlap and be parallel or approximately parallel to the second parallel portion 40A. In other words, when viewed along the Z direction, each of the two sets of first parallel portions at least partially overlaps and is parallel or approximately parallel to one of the three or more sets of second parallel portions.

[0042] The shapes of the two first conductors 31, 32 and the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, 44 will be explained in more detail below.

[0043] First, the shapes of the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3 , each of the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 extends while changing direction from the X direction to the Y direction. The second conductor 41 extends along the X direction from the second parallel portion 40C, then changes direction while curving from the X direction to the Y direction, and extends along the Y direction to the second parallel portion 40A. The second conductor 42 extends along the X direction from the second parallel portion 40D, then changes direction while curving from the X direction to the Y direction, and extends along the Y direction to the second parallel portion 40A. The second conductor 43 extends along the X direction from the second parallel portion 40C, then changes direction while curving from the X direction to the Y direction, and extends along the Y direction to the second parallel portion 40A. The second conductor 44 extends from the second parallel part 40D in the X direction, changes direction while curving from the X direction to the Y direction, and extends in the Y direction to the second parallel part 40B.

[0044] By arranging the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 having the shapes described above, a space 40E is formed that is surrounded by the curved portions of the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 when viewed along the Z direction.

[0045] Furthermore, by arranging the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 in the shapes described above, the second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 comprise pairs of conductors that are arranged symmetrically with respect to a line parallel to the Y direction. In the first embodiment, two pairs of conductors are provided. The first pair of conductors is the second conductors 41 and 42. The second pair of conductors is the second conductors 43 and 44.

[0046] The number of pairs of conductors is not limited to 2. For example, the number of pairs of conductors may be 1. In this case, for example, while the second conductors 41 and 42 are arranged line-symmetrically with respect to each other, the second conductors 43 and 44 do not have to be arranged line-symmetrically with respect to each other.

[0047] Next, the shapes of the two first conductors 31 and 32 will be described.

[0048] In this embodiment, the two first conductors 31 and 32 have the same configuration, so the configuration of the first conductor 31 will be described below, and the configuration of the first conductor 32 will be omitted in principle and mentioned only as necessary.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first conductor 31 has a first portion 311, a second portion 312, and a third portion 313.

[0050] The first portion 311 extends parallel to the second conductor 41, which is one of a pair of conductors. The first portion 311 extends in the X direction from an end 311A, which is a part of the first parallel portion 30A, then changes direction while curving from the X direction to the Y direction, and extends in the Y direction to an end 311B. The second portion 312 extends parallel to the second conductor 42, which is the other of the pair of conductors. The second portion 312 extends in the X direction from an end 312A, which is a part of the first parallel portion 30B, then changes direction while curving from the X direction to the Y direction, and extends in the Y direction to an end 312B.

[0051] The first portion 311 does not have to extend completely parallel to the second conductor 41, and may extend at a slight angle relative to the second conductor 41. In other words, the first portion 311 may extend approximately parallel to the second conductor 41. Similarly, the second portion 312 may extend approximately parallel to the second conductor 42.

[0052] When viewed along the Z direction, the first portion 311 overlaps the second conductor 41. In the first embodiment, when viewed along the Z direction, the entire first portion 311 overlaps the second conductor 41. In other words, when viewed along the Z direction, the first portion 311 is included in the second conductor 41.

[0053] When viewed along the Z direction, the second portion 312 overlaps the second conductor 42. In the first embodiment, when viewed along the Z direction, the entire second portion 312 overlaps the second conductor 42. In other words, when viewed along the Z direction, the second portion 312 is included in the second conductor 42.

[0054] Note that, when viewed along the Z direction, the first portion 311 is not limited to being included in the second conductor 41. When viewed along the Z direction, at least a portion of the first portion 311 may overlap with at least a portion of the second conductor 41. Similarly, when viewed along the Z direction, at least a portion of the second portion 312 may overlap with at least a portion of the second conductor 42.

[0055] The third portion 313 is a portion that connects an end portion 311B located at a portion extending in the Y direction of both end portions 311A, 311B of the first portion 311 and an end portion 312B located at a portion extending in the Y direction of both end portions 312A, 312B of the second portion 312. In Fig. 5, the third portion 313 is a portion sandwiched between two dashed lines.

[0056] The first conductor 31 configured as described above has a recess 31A defined by the curved portion of the first portion 311, the curved portion of the second portion 312, and the third portion 313 when viewed along the Z direction.

[0057] In this embodiment, the first conductor 32 has a first portion 321, a second portion 322, and a third portion 323. The first portion 321 corresponds to the first portion 311, the second portion 322 corresponds to the second portion 312, the third portion 323 corresponds to the third portion 313, and the recess 32A corresponds to the recess 31A.

[0058] In this embodiment, the two first conductors 31 and 32 have the same configuration, but the two first conductors 31 and 32 may have different configurations.

[0059] 3 and 4, some of the ends of the two first conductors 31 and 32 and the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 have one-side extending portions 50. The one-side extending portions 50 extend in one direction in the Z direction at the ends. In the first embodiment, the one-side extending portions 50 extend along the outer surface 21A of the upper plate 21 of the core material 20, as shown in FIG.

[0060] 3 and 4 , one or more ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 and the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, 44 that are different from the aforementioned some of the ends have a second extension portion 60. The second extension portion 60 extends toward the other side in the Z direction at the end, that is, in the opposite direction to the first extension portion 50. In the first embodiment, the second extension portion 60 extends along the outer surface 22A of the lower plate 22 of the core material 20, as shown in FIG.

[0061] 3 and 4 , in the first embodiment, both end portions of the two first conductors 31, 32 have one-side extending portions 50. That is, in the first embodiment, all end portions of the two first conductors 31, 32 have one-side extending portions 50. Also, in the first embodiment, each of the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, 44 has one-side extending portions 50 at one end and another-side extending portions 60 at the other end.

[0062] The one-side extending portions 50 of the first conductor and the second conductor that face each other face each other. For example, the one-side extending portion 50 provided at the end portion 311A ​​of the first conductor 31 and the one-side extending portion 50 provided at the end portion of the second conductor 41 that faces the first conductor 31 face each other in the X direction.

[0063] In each of the four sets of second parallel parts 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D, one of the ends of the two second conductors constituting each set has a one-side extension part 50, and the other has a other-side extension part 60. For example, the end of second conductor 41, which is one of second parallel parts 40A, has the other-side extension part 60, and the end of second conductor 42, which is the other of second parallel parts 40A, has the one-side extension part 50.

[0064] Note that which end the one-side extension portion 50 and the other-side extension portion 60 are provided on is arbitrary and is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, in the above-described configuration, all ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 have the one-side extension portion 50, but only some ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 may have the one-side extension portion 50. Furthermore, at least some ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 may have the other-side extension portion 60. Furthermore, for example, in each of the four sets of second parallel portions 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D, both ends of the two second conductors constituting each set may have the one-side extension portion 50. Furthermore, for example, in the above-described configuration, each end of the two first conductors 31, 32 and the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 has either the one-side extension portion 50 or the other-side extension portion 60, but there may be an end that has neither the one-side extension portion 50 nor the other-side extension portion 60.

[0065] The inductor element 10 may further include a lateral extension 70 extending from at least one of the one extension 50 and the other extension 60 in a direction intersecting the Z direction and along the outer surfaces 21A, 22A of the core material 20.

[0066] In the first embodiment, the lateral extending portions 70 extend from one-side extending portions 50 provided at one end of four second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44. In detail, the lateral extending portions 70 extend in the Y direction from one-side extending portions 50 provided at one end of two second conductors 41 and 44, and extend in the X direction from one-side extending portions 50 provided at one end of two second conductors 42 and 43. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5 , each lateral extending portion 70 extends in the same direction (counterclockwise in Fig. 5 ) in the circumferential direction around the Z direction.

[0067] In the first embodiment, each lateral extension portion 70 extends in a direction not facing a conductor other than the conductor on which the lateral extension portion 70 is provided, among the two first conductors 31, 32 and the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, 44. For example, the lateral extension portion 70 of the second conductor 41 extends in a direction not facing a conductor other than the second conductor 41 (e.g., the first conductor 32). In other words, the lateral extension portion 70 of the second conductor 41 extends in a direction away from the first conductor 32 in the Y direction.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 5, when viewed along the Z direction, a first distance, which will be described in more detail below, is greater than a second distance, which will be described in more detail below.

[0069] The first distance is the distance along the Y direction between one end of one of the pair of conductors located in a portion extending in the Y direction and one end of one of the two first conductors located in a portion extending in the Y direction. For example, the first distance D1 shown in Fig. 5 is the distance along the Y direction between an end of the second conductor 41 located in a portion extending in the Y direction (the portion where the other extending portion 60 is provided in Fig. 5) and an end 311B of the first conductor 31 located in a portion extending in the Y direction.

[0070] The second distance is the distance along the X direction between one end of the pair of conductors that is located in the portion extending in the X direction and one end of the two first conductors that is located in the portion extending in the X direction. For example, the second distance D2 shown in Fig. 5 is the distance along the X direction between the end of the second conductor 41 that is located in the portion extending in the X direction and the end 311A ​​of the first conductor 31 that is located in the portion extending in the X direction. In Fig. 5, the end of the second conductor 41 that is located in the portion extending in the X direction is the portion where the one-way extension portion 50 and the lateral extension portion 70 are provided.

[0071] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross section IV-IV of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the thickness T1 of the first wiring group 30 is thinner than the thickness T2 of the second wiring group 40. For example, in most of the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40, the length of the first wiring group 30 in the Z direction is smaller than the length of the second wiring group 40 in the Z direction. The thickness T1 is the length in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first wiring group 30 and the width direction of the first wiring group 30. Similarly, the thickness T2 is the length in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second wiring group 40 and the width direction of the second wiring group 40.

[0072] As described above, the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 are electrically insulated from each other. Furthermore, the first conductors 31 and 32 included in the first wiring group 30 are electrically insulated from each other. Furthermore, the second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 included in the second wiring group 40 are electrically insulated from each other. That is, these wiring groups and conductors are electrically insulated from each other within the inductor component 10. However, these wiring groups and conductors may be connected (in other words, electrically conducted) outside the inductor component 10. For example, when the inductor component 10 is mounted on an external substrate, one extension portion 50 of the first conductor 31 and one extension portion 50 of the first conductor 32 may be connected to each other via a wiring pattern on the substrate or an external wiring. Furthermore, for example, one extension portion 50 of the first conductor 31 and the other extension portion 60 of the second conductor 41 may be connected to each other via a wiring pattern on the substrate, an external wiring, or the like.

[0073] The inductor element 10 according to the first embodiment can achieve the following effects.

[0074] According to the first embodiment, the coupling coefficient can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the first parallel portions 30A, 30B, which are parallel or approximately parallel portions of the two first conductors 31, 32 of the first wiring group 30. Furthermore, the coupling coefficient can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the second parallel portions 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, which are parallel or approximately parallel portions of the three or more second conductors 41, 42, 43, 44 of the second wiring group 40. Furthermore, the coupling coefficient can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the overlapping portions between the first conductors 31, 32 and the second conductors 41, 42, 43, 44 as viewed along the Z direction. Thus, according to the first embodiment, the coupling coefficient can be flexibly adjusted by increasing or decreasing the parallel or approximately parallel portions or overlapping portions between conductors within the same wiring group and between conductors in different wiring groups. This allows for easy adjustment of the coupling coefficient.

[0075] According to the first embodiment, when viewed along the Z direction, one of the two first conductors (e.g., the first conductor 31) can overlap the pair of conductors (e.g., the second conductors 41 and 42) in the first portion 311 and the second portion 312. That is, according to the first embodiment, the area where one of the two first conductors and the pair of conductors overlap can be increased. This can increase the coupling coefficient between one of the two first conductors and the pair of conductors.

[0076] According to the first embodiment, by increasing the first distance D1 and increasing the difference between the first distance D1 and the second distance D2, the following effect can be achieved. That is, the overlapping area between one of the two first conductors (e.g., the first conductor 31) and one of the pair of conductors (e.g., the second conductors 41 and 42) can be reduced when viewed along the Z direction. Furthermore, by decreasing the first distance D1 and decreasing the difference between the first distance D1 and the second distance D2, the following effect can be achieved. That is, the overlapping area between one of the two first conductors and one of the pair of conductors can be increased when viewed along the Z direction. By adjusting the first distance D1 in this manner, the coupling coefficient can be easily adjusted.

[0077] According to the first embodiment, when the inductor component 10 is configured to be sandwiched between two substrates in the Z direction, the one extension portion 50 can be electrically connected to one of the two substrates, and the other extension portion 60 can be electrically connected to the other of the two substrates. This makes it possible to easily realize a configuration in which the inductor component 10 is sandwiched between two substrates in the Z direction. In other words, it is possible to easily realize an inductor component 10 that can be mounted on both sides.

[0078] According to the first embodiment, all ends of the two first conductors 31, 32 in the first wiring group 30 extend to the same side in the Z direction. This allows the first wiring groups 30 of the inductor components 10 to be easily connected in parallel when multiple inductor components 10 are mounted on the same substrate.

[0079] According to the first embodiment, the ends of the first conductors 31 and 32 and the second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 can be made larger than in a configuration that does not include the lateral extension portion 70. The larger ends can improve the stability of the inductor component 10 when the inductor component 10 is mounted on a substrate.

[0080] According to the first embodiment, the lateral extension portion 70 extends in a direction that does not face any of the two first conductors 31, 32 and the four second conductors 41, 42, 43, 44 that are different from the conductor on which the lateral extension portion 70 is provided. This reduces the magnetic influence of the conductors other than the conductor on which the lateral extension portion 70 is provided.

[0081] According to the first embodiment, since the first wiring group 30 is thinner than the second wiring group 40, when a large number of first wiring groups 30 are arranged in a stacked manner, it is possible to prevent the overall thickness of the large number of first wiring groups 30 from becoming excessively thick. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, since the second wiring group 40 is thicker than the first wiring group 30, it is easy to electrically connect the second wiring group 40 to a power source or the like through which a large current can flow.

[0082] According to the first embodiment, the entire first wiring group 30 overlaps with the second wiring group 40 when viewed along the Z direction. Therefore, it is possible to increase the overlapping area between the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 when viewed along the Z direction. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, it is easier to reduce the size of the inductor component 10 compared to a configuration in which the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 only partially overlap when viewed along the Z direction.

[0083] 7 is a front view of an inductor component according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The inductor component 10A according to the second embodiment differs from the inductor component 10A according to the first embodiment in that the lower plate 22 of the core material 20 includes multiple plates, and the second wiring group 40 includes a support portion 45. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference numerals are used to denote commonalities with the inductor component 10 according to the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted in principle and will be provided only as necessary.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 7, in the core material 20 of the inductor component 10A, the lower plate 22 includes a first plate 221 and a second plate 222.

[0085] The first plate 221 is stacked on the second wiring group 40 in the Z direction. As a result, the second wiring group 40 is sandwiched between the first plate 221 and the first wiring group 30 in the Z direction.

[0086] The second plate 222 is stacked on the opposite side of the first plate 221 from the second wiring group 40 in the Z direction.

[0087] The first plate 221 and the second plate 222 may be made of the same material or different materials.

[0088] The number of plates included in the lower plate 22 is not limited to two, but may be three or more.

[0089] Furthermore, the upper plate 21 may have multiple plates, instead of the lower plate 22. That is, in the core material 20, the first plate and the second plate may be stacked on the first wiring group 30. That is, the first plate and the second plate are stacked on one of the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40. In this case, the number of plates included in the upper plate 21 is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

[0090] Furthermore, each of the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22 may have a plurality of plates. In this case, the number of plates included in the upper plate 21 and the number of plates included in the lower plate 22 may be the same or different.

[0091] The second wiring group 40 includes support portions 45 and 46 that sandwich and support at least one of the first plate 221 and the second plate 222 between the second wiring group 40 and the support portions 45 and 46 in the Z direction.

[0092] In the second embodiment, the support portions 45 and 46 extend from at least one of the second conductors 41, 42, 43, and 44 toward the lower plate 22 as viewed along the Z direction. The support portion 45 is inserted between the first plate 221 and the second plate 222 in the Z direction. The support portion 46 presses the second plate 222 from the side opposite the support portion 45 in the Z direction. As a result, the first plate 221 is sandwiched between the second wiring group 40 and the support portion 46, and the second plate 222 is sandwiched between the support portions 45 and 46. In other words, the support portion 45 supports the first plate 221 by sandwiching it between itself and the second wiring group 40 in the Z direction. Furthermore, the support portion 46 supports the first plate 221 and the second plate 222 by sandwiching it between itself and the second wiring group 40 in the Z direction.

[0093] In the second embodiment, the support portions 45, 46 are set to a thickness that allows them to be easily bent. Furthermore, the support portions 45, 46 overlap only the outer edge portion of the lower plate 22 when viewed along the Z direction. This allows the first plate 221 and the second plate 222 to be easily attached to and detached from the inductor component 10 by bending the support portions 45, 46.

[0094] In the second embodiment, the support portions 45, 46 are configured integrally with the second wiring group 40. For example, the support portions 45, 46 are formed by providing a U-shaped elongated hole in the second wiring group 40 and bending the inner portion of the elongated hole. Note that the support portions 45, 46 may be separate members from the second wiring group 40.

[0095] 7 , the lower plate 22 includes multiple plates, and the second wiring group 40 includes support portions 45 and 46 corresponding to the multiple plates. However, this configuration is not limited to this. For example, if the upper plate 21 includes multiple plates, the first wiring group 30 may include a support portion that supports at least one of the multiple plates by sandwiching it between the first wiring group 30 and the first wiring group 30 in the Z direction. Of course, if both the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22 include multiple plates, each of the first wiring group 30 and the second wiring group 40 may include a support portion.

[0096] The inductor component 10A according to the second embodiment can achieve the following effects.

[0097] According to the second embodiment, the lower plate 22 of the core material 20 includes the first plate 221 and the second plate 222, which makes it possible to easily adjust the coupling coefficient. For example, the coupling coefficient can be adjusted by changing the material of one of the first plate 221 and the second plate 222. Furthermore, for example, by removing the second plate 222 and configuring the lower plate 22 with only the first plate 221, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the lower plate 22 (in other words, the length of the lower plate 22 in the Z direction). This makes it possible to adjust the coupling coefficient.

[0098] According to the second embodiment, the first plate 221 and the second plate 222 can be held by the support portions 45, 46. This eliminates the need to firmly attach the first plate 221 and the second plate 222 to the inductor component 10A. As a result, the first plate 221 and the second plate 222 can be easily attached to and detached from the inductor component 10A, and the coupling coefficient can be easily adjusted by, for example, replacing the first plate 221 and the second plate 222.

[0099] The inductor component described above can also be expressed as follows.

[0100] (1) An inductor component according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a core material containing a magnetic substance; a first wiring group incorporated in the core material; and a second wiring group incorporated in the core material such that at least a portion of the second wiring group overlaps with the first wiring group when viewed along the thickness direction of the core material and is electrically insulated from the first wiring group, wherein the first wiring group comprises two first conductors extending in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and electrically insulated from each other, wherein both ends of the two first conductors are two sets of first parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other, and the second wiring group comprises three or more second conductors extending in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and electrically insulated from each other, wherein ends of three or more sets of two conductors selected in different combinations from the three or more second conductors are three or more sets of second parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other, and wherein each of the two sets of first parallel portions at least partially overlaps with and is parallel or approximately parallel to one of the three or more sets of second parallel portions when viewed along the thickness direction.

[0101] (2) In the inductor component of (1), the three or more second conductors may each extend by changing direction from a first direction intersecting the thickness direction to a second direction intersecting the thickness direction and the first direction, and may comprise a pair of conductors arranged symmetrically with respect to a line parallel to the second direction, and one of the two first conductors may have: a first portion extending parallel or approximately parallel to one of the pair of conductors and at least a portion overlapping with one of the pair of conductors as viewed along the thickness direction; a second portion extending parallel or approximately parallel to the other of the pair of conductors and at least a portion overlapping with the other of the pair of conductors as viewed along the thickness direction; and a third portion connecting an end portion of one of both end portions of the first portion located in a portion extending in the second direction and an end portion of one of both end portions of the second portion located in a portion extending in the second direction.

[0102] (3) In the inductor component of (2), when viewed along the thickness direction, a first distance along the second direction between one end of one of the pair of conductors located in a portion extending in the second direction and one end of one of the two first conductors located in a portion extending in the second direction may be greater than a second distance along the first direction between the other end of one of the pair of conductors located in a portion extending in the first direction and one end of one of the two first conductors located in a portion extending in the first direction.

[0103] (4) In the inductor component of any one of (1) to (3), some of the ends of the two first conductors and the three or more second conductors may have one-side extensions extending along the outer surface of the core material in one direction in the thickness direction, and one or more of the ends of the two first conductors and the three or more second conductors other than the some of the ends may have another-side extensions extending along the outer surface of the core material in the other direction in the thickness direction.

[0104] (5) In the inductor component of (4), all of the ends of the two first conductors may have the one extending portion.

[0105] (6) The inductor component of (4) or (5) may further include a lateral extension extending from at least one of the one extension and the other extension in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and along the outer surface of the core material.

[0106] (7) In the inductor component of (6), the lateral extension portion may extend in a direction that does not face a conductor other than the conductor on which the lateral extension portion is provided, among the two first conductors and the three or more second conductors.

[0107] (8) In the inductor component of any one of (1) to (7), the thickness of the first wiring group may be thinner than the thickness of the second wiring group.

[0108] (9) In the inductor component of any one of (1) to (8), the first wiring group may entirely overlap the second wiring group when viewed along the thickness direction.

[0109] (10) In the inductor component of any one of (1) to (9), the core material may include a first plate stacked on one of the first wiring group and the second wiring group in the thickness direction, and a second plate stacked on the opposite side of the first plate from one of the first wiring group and the second wiring group in the thickness direction.

[0110] (11) In the inductor component of (10), one of the first wiring group and the second wiring group may have a support portion that sandwiches and supports at least one of the first plate and the second plate between the first wiring group and one of the second wiring group in the thickness direction.

[0111] Any of the various embodiments described above may be combined appropriately to achieve the effects of each of them.

[0112] While the present invention has been fully described in connection with preferred embodiments, with appropriate reference to the drawings, various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that such changes and modifications are included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.

[0113] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 inductor component 20 core material 221 first plate 222 second plate 30 first wiring group 30A first parallel portion 30B first parallel portion 31 first conductor 311 first portion 312 second portion 313 third portion 32 first conductor 40 second wiring group 40A second parallel portion 40B second parallel portion 40C second parallel portion 40D second parallel portion 41 second conductor (one of a pair of conductors) 42 second conductor (the other of the pair of conductors) 43 second conductor 44 second conductor 45 support portion 46 support portion 50 one extension portion 60 other extension portion 70 lateral extension portion

Claims

1. An inductor component comprising: a core material containing a magnetic substance; a first wiring group incorporated in the core material; and a second wiring group incorporated in the core material such that at least a portion of the second wiring group overlaps with the first wiring group when viewed along the thickness direction of the core material, the second wiring group comprising two first conductors extending in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and electrically insulated from each other, both ends of the two first conductors being two sets of first parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other, the second wiring group comprising three or more second conductors extending in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and electrically insulated from each other, the ends of three or more sets of two conductors selected in different combinations from the three or more second conductors being three or more sets of second parallel portions extending parallel or approximately parallel to each other, and each of the two sets of first parallel portions at least partially overlaps with and is parallel or approximately parallel to one of the three or more sets of second parallel portions when viewed along the thickness direction.

2. The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein the three or more second conductors each extend by changing direction from a first direction intersecting the thickness direction to a second direction intersecting both the thickness direction and the first direction, and comprise a pair of conductors arranged symmetrically with respect to a line parallel to the second direction, and one of the two first conductors has: a first portion that extends parallel or approximately parallel to one of the pair of conductors and at least partially overlaps one of the pair of conductors when viewed along the thickness direction; a second portion that extends parallel or approximately parallel to the other of the pair of conductors and at least partially overlaps the other of the pair of conductors when viewed along the thickness direction; and a third portion that connects one end of the first portion located at a portion extending in the second direction and one end of the second portion located at a portion extending in the second direction.

3. An inductor component as described in claim 2, wherein, when viewed along the thickness direction, a first distance along the second direction between one end of one of the pair of conductors located in a portion extending in the second direction and one end of one of the two first conductors located in a portion extending in the second direction is greater than a second distance along the first direction between the other end of one of the pair of conductors located in a portion extending in the first direction and one end of one of the two first conductors located in a portion extending in the first direction.

4. An inductor component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each end of the two first conductors and some of the ends of the three or more second conductors have one extension portion extending along the outer surface of the core material in one direction in the thickness direction, and one or more ends other than the some of the ends of the two first conductors and some of the ends of the three or more second conductors have another extension portion extending along the outer surface of the core material in the other direction in the thickness direction.

5. The inductor component according to claim 4, wherein all ends of the two first conductors have the one extending portion.

6. An inductor component according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a lateral extension portion extending from at least one of the one extension portion and the other extension portion in a direction intersecting the thickness direction and along the outer surface of the core material.

7. An inductor component as described in claim 6, wherein the lateral extension portion extends in a direction that does not face any of the two first conductors and the three or more second conductors other than the conductor on which the lateral extension portion is provided.

8. The inductor component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the thickness of the first wiring group is thinner than the thickness of the second wiring group.

9. The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein the first wiring group entirely overlaps the second wiring group when viewed along the thickness direction.

10. An inductor component as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the core material comprises: a first plate stacked on one of the first wiring group and the second wiring group in the thickness direction; and a second plate stacked on the opposite side of the first plate from one of the first wiring group and the second wiring group in the thickness direction.

11. An inductor component as described in claim 10, wherein one of the first wiring group and the second wiring group has a support portion that sandwiches and supports at least one of the first plate and the second plate between the first wiring group and one of the second wiring group in the thickness direction.

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