Inductor Array With Asymmetric Coil Spacing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for compact, thin, and highly efficient power inductors for high current in miniaturized electronic products poses a challenge in reducing the mounting area while minimizing mutual inductance, as higher coupling coefficients can lead to voltage rise phenomena due to mutual inductance between coils, making it difficult to lower the coupling coefficient below a specific threshold within limited chip sizes.
Innovation Solution
The inductor array design includes a body with multiple coils spaced apart in the length direction, where the minimum distance between coils is differentiated based on the number of turns of coil patterns in specific areas between their centers, ensuring that all coupling coefficients are lowered to 0.05 or less by controlling the distance and turns of the coil patterns, thereby preventing voltage rise phenomena.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distance between coils is increased to lower the coupling coefficient, then the coupling coefficient is reduced to prevent voltage rise phenomena, but the mounting area increases which contradicts the miniaturization requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the spacing between adjacent coils rather than using uniform spacing. Specifically, the distance between the first and second coils is set to a first value, while the distance between the second and third coils is set to a second value that is greater than the first value. This localized variation in spacing allows the coupling coefficient to be controlled within limited area, preventing voltage rise phenomena while maintaining compact mounting area.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple coils are arranged closely to reduce mounting area, then the compactness is improved, but the mutual inductance increases causing voltage rise phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating non-uniform spacing between coils. The distance between the first and second coils is deliberately set smaller (first value) while the distance between the second and third coils is set larger (second value). This localized differentiation allows the mounting area to be minimized while still maintaining coupling coefficients at acceptable levels to prevent voltage rise phenomena in microcurrent regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies asymmetry by breaking the symmetry of uniform coil spacing. Instead of arranging all coils with equal distances, the design uses asymmetric spacing where adjacent coil distances differ. This asymmetric arrangement allows optimization of the coupling coefficient distribution across the coil array, preventing harmful mutual inductance effects while achieving compact dimensions.
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 design effectively reduces mutual inductance and coupling coefficients between coils to 0.05 or less, preventing voltage rise in microcurrent regions within a limited chip size, while maintaining efficient performance and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
mutual inductance by lowering a coupling coefficient between two coils... voltage rise phenomenon may occur in a microcurrent region due to mutual inductance between the two coils
Data Source
AI summary
An inductor array includes a body including at least three coils and external electrodes arranged on external surfaces of the body. The at least three coils are arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in one direction of the body, and here, the at least three coils have the same characteristic value. A minimum distance between mutually adjacent coils among the at least three coils is changed according to the number of turns of a coil pattern included in an area formed between the centers of cores of mutually adjacent coils.