Electromechanical Inductor Kinetic Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic inductors and transformers in power systems are bulky, costly, and inefficient, limiting the size and performance of power systems, especially in mobile and autonomous devices, due to the constraints of passive components like inductors and capacitors, which face challenges in achieving high inductance density and quality factors at higher switching frequencies.
Innovation Solution
The use of electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to store energy, avoiding magnetic loss mechanisms and achieving ultra-high energy density and high quality factors through kinetic energy storage, enabling the development of resonating inductors and transformers that can be integrated with silicon power ICs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If switching frequency is increased to reduce passive element size, then the physical size of inductors and capacitors is reduced, but power losses increase and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical energy storage with mechanical energy storage in a hybrid inductor. The inductor includes both a traditional magnetic core and a mechanical resonator system that stores energy through kinetic motion of movable magnetic material. This merging of electrical and mechanical energy storage mechanisms allows the system to achieve ultra-high energy density while avoiding the frequency-dependent losses that plague purely electrical passive elements at high switching frequencies.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional magnetic core inductors are used to achieve high inductance density, then inductance per volume is improved, but quality factor decreases due to magnetic loss mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining magnetic core material with movable magnetic material (such as ferromagnetic powder or flexible magnetic sheets). This composite approach allows the system to leverage the high permeability of magnetic materials for achieving high inductance density while the mechanical motion component reduces magnetic losses by periodically resetting the magnetic flux, thereby maintaining high quality factor even at high switching frequencies.
3Device complexity
If fully-integrated single-chip power converters are realized, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but achieving sufficient inductance and capacitance in small form factor becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic mechanical elements (movable magnetic material, flexures, springs) into the inductor structure to create a microelectromechanical inductor. The mechanical resonator system dynamically adjusts the magnetic flux through periodic motion, enabling ultra-high energy density in a compact form factor. This dynamic approach allows sufficient inductance and capacitance to be achieved in small integrated structures that can be co-packaged with or integrated into silicon power ICs, facilitating fully-integrated single-chip power converter solutions.
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
This approach results in a significant reduction in size and mass of switch-mode dc:dc power supplies, achieving an order-of-magnitude size reduction and low loss in the 50 kHz-50 MHz range, with enhanced performance for ultra-miniaturized, single-chip power converters.
Implementation Method 1
storing energy from the input and then deliver the stored energy to the output... through kinetic energy storage
Implementation Method 2
The use of electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to store energy
Implementation Method 3
resonating inductors and transformers that can be integrated with silicon power ICs... near the coupled system resonance
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and systems for power electronic circuits are provided. Embodiments of the present invention enable high density inductive energy storage by using electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to passively store energy via both electromagnetic and mechanical mechanisms. A microelectromechanical inductor (MEMI) is provided utilizing a magnet and a conductor. In a specific embodiment, the MEMI includes a permanent magnet on a compliant layer centrally disposed within a spiral coil. In a further embodiment, a second coil is provided near the magnet to provide a resonating transducer.