Deformable Inductor with Liquid Magnetic Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stretchable inductive devices face challenges in maintaining high inductance density and mechanical compatibility with soft substrates due to the stiffening effect of embedded magnetic particles, limiting their deformability and permeability.
Innovation Solution
The development of deformable inductive devices featuring a liquid magnetic core within an elastomer material, allowing for significant strain without permanent damage, using magnetic liquids like ferrofluids or magnetorheological fluids to maintain mechanical properties while enhancing inductance density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If rigid magnetic materials are used in inductor cores to increase inductance density, then inductance density is improved, but mechanical compatibility with soft substrates deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the magnetic core from rigid solid to liquid, fundamentally altering the mechanical parameters while maintaining magnetic properties. This allows the core to adapt to substrate deformation without permanent damage, resolving the contradiction between high inductance density and mechanical compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by embedding magnetic particles in a liquid carrier within an elastomer encapsulation. This composite approach combines the high permeability of magnetic materials with the mechanical flexibility of liquid and elastomer, achieving both high inductance density and soft substrate compatibility
2Quantity of substance
If rigid particulate material is embedded in elastomer to increase permeability, then effective permeability is improved, but mechanical properties deteriorate due to stiffening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid carrier (hydraulic principle) to suspend magnetic particles, allowing the composite to flow and deform like a liquid while containing the magnetic particles. This eliminates the stiffening effect of rigid particle networks while maintaining high effective permeability through particle concentration
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the matrix from solid elastomer to liquid carrier, the patent fundamentally alters the mechanical parameters from elastic solid behavior to liquid flow behavior, enabling large deformations without the stiffening constraint of embedded rigid particles
3Quantity of substance
If high concentration of rigid particulate is used to maximize permeability, then maximum permeability is improved, but stretchability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid carrier system allows high concentrations of magnetic particles to be suspended without forming rigid networks, enabling the material to flow and stretch freely while maintaining maximum permeability through particle concentration. The liquid matrix accommodates particle aggregation without mechanical constraint
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a three-phase composite (magnetic particles, liquid carrier, elastomer encapsulation) where each component addresses specific requirements: particles provide permeability, liquid provides flow and stretchability, and elastomer provides structural integrity. This composite enables both high permeability and stretchability simultaneously
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
These devices achieve high inductance density and deformability, with inductors capable of strains up to 100% without permanent damage, and improved magnetic coupling, suitable for applications like wireless power transfer and biomedical monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetic liquid may be a ferrofluid or magnetorheological fluid. Ferrofluids may be formed of a viscous carrier liquid, magnetic particles dispersed therein
Implementation Method 2
Magnetorheological fluids use bigger particles than ferrofluids (typically greater than 50 nm, and most commonly in the low microns) in a carrier fluid
Implementation Method 3
deformable inductive electrical components, such as inductors or transformers
Data Source
AI summary
A deformable inductive device includes an elastomer material having at least one deformable electrode and a liquid magnetic core formed in the elastomer material and containing a magnetic liquid. Depending on the device's configuration, the deformable element may be embedded in, attached to, or in close proximity with the liquid magnetic core. In some embodiments, the deformable inductive device may be configured as an inductor, solenoid, or transformer and the deformable electrode is at least partially embedded in the liquid magnetic core, for instance. In another embodiment, the deformable inductive device may be configured as part of a wireless power transfer system which includes a coil and a magnetic backplane having the liquid magnetic core with the coil being attached to or in close proximity to the magnetic backplane.