Coil Former Film Wrapping for Precise Air-Core Inductance Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inductive components face challenges in achieving precise adjustment of inductance values, particularly in resonance applications, due to variations in geometric dimensions and material properties, which are exacerbated by the absence of a magnetic core in air coils.

Innovation Solution

The use of an electrically insulating film wrapped around a non-magnetic or magnetic base body to selectively adjust the diameter of the coil former, allowing for precise tuning of inductance by varying the length and thickness of the film, and the number of turns of the winding wire.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional tuning methods (pushing core in/out or compressing winding) are used, then inductance adjustment is achieved, but manufacturing precision and reliability are compromised due to mechanical deformation and variability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinductance value precisionVSAvoidtuning mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-setting the coil former geometry with integrated positioning features (flanges, grooves, ribs) during manufacturing. The winding wire is pre-positioned using these features before final assembly, eliminating the need for complex post-manufacturing tuning mechanisms. This ensures consistent inductance values across production batches without requiring additional adjustment steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the tuning function from complex mechanical mechanisms and integrates it directly into the coil former structure itself. The positioning features (flanges, grooves, ribs) are built into the base body, removing the need for separate adjustment mechanisms. This simplifies the overall device while maintaining precise inductance control through geometric design alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If geometric dimensions are precisely controlled to achieve high inductance precision, then inductance accuracy improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to tighter tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinductance value precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced positioning features (flanges, grooves, ribs) only at critical locations where the winding wire makes contact with the coil former. The majority of the coil former body maintains standard manufacturing tolerances. This localized precision approach ensures accurate inductance values where needed while keeping overall manufacturing costs and complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes geometric parameters of the coil former (adding flanges, grooves, ribs) to create self-positioning features that guide the winding wire. These structural parameter changes replace the need for tight dimensional tolerances across the entire component, allowing standard manufacturing processes to achieve the required precision through intelligent geometric design rather than costly tight tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If material properties variations and temperature changes occur, then inductance value stability deteriorates, but using magnetic cores to compensate increases device complexity and loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinductance value stabilityVSAvoidmagnetic core losses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces magnetic core-based inductance adjustment with a purely geometric approach. By using precisely positioned winding wire geometry (controlled by flanges, grooves, and ribs on the coil former), the system achieves stable inductance values without magnetic cores. This eliminates magnetic core losses while maintaining reliability through geometric consistency that is less sensitive to material property variations and temperature changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Loss of energy

If air-core coil design is used to eliminate magnetic core losses, then energy loss decreases, but inductance precision and stability worsen due to geometric sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic core lossesVSAvoidinductance value precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the air-core coil geometry with integrated positioning features during manufacturing. The flanges, grooves, and ribs are formed on the coil former before winding, ensuring that the winding wire is automatically positioned with high precision. This preliminary geometric setup compensates for the inherent geometric sensitivity of air-core coils, achieving both low energy loss and high inductance precision without magnetic cores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by adding positioning features (flanges, grooves, ribs) only at specific critical locations on the air-core coil former where winding wire positioning is needed. These localized geometric enhancements provide the necessary precision for air-core operation without requiring the entire structure to meet tight tolerances, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high inductance precision and eliminating magnetic core losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables highly precise adjustment of inductance values in air coils, allowing for fine-tuning within specific physical limits, achieving up to 10% adjustment in 0.1% steps, thereby addressing the need for precise inductance settings in inductive components.

Implementation Method 1

The geometric dimensions strongly influence the inductance of electrical components, especially air-core coils. High-precision inductance values can only be manufactured within certain physical limits and require precise control of the geometry.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric dimension control: Geometry

Implementation Method 2

an inductive component comprising a coil body with a wire winding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3977491B1Inductive component and method for setting an inductance value for a group of inductive components of the same design
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA
  • EP3977491B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3977491B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3E

AI summary

A coil body (1) for an inductive component (7) has a main body (2), around some portions of which an electrically insulating film (3) is wound. An inductive component (7) comprises the coil body (1) and a winding wire (8) wound around said body, so that the film (3) lies between the main body (2) and the winding wire (8). In a method for adjusting an inductance, the length of the film (3) is selected according to a desired value for the inductance.