Inductor Component Asymmetric Terminal Electrode Mounting Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to design an inductor component that can be mounted in smaller electronic devices without interfering with adjacent components, as smaller inductor components are prone to tilting and interference due to reduced terminal electrode areas.
Innovation Solution
The inductor component features a core with a column-shaped shaft and support, terminal electrodes on the support, and a cover member that covers the shaft, with specific electrode configurations and curvature designs to enhance stability and connection strength, including a bottom electrode section, side electrode sections, and an end electrode section with varying heights and curvatures to increase surface area and reduce interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the inductor component is reduced in size to meet demands for smaller electronic devices, then the inductor component can be mounted in more compact spaces, but the terminal electrode areas are reduced and the component becomes prone to tilting and interference with adjacent components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the terminal electrode in the width direction beyond the cover member's projection, creating an L-shaped configuration. This dimensional extension allows the electrode to provide adequate soldering area and mechanical stability without increasing the overall component volume, resolving the contradiction between compact size and mounting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal electrode is divided into multiple sections: a bottom electrode section on the bottom face, side electrode sections on side faces, and an end electrode section on the end face. This segmentation allows each section to perform specific functions - the bottom section provides primary electrical connection, while the extended side and end sections provide mechanical stability and prevent tilting, enabling the component to maintain reliability in a reduced size.
2Volume of moving object
If the terminal electrode area is reduced to decrease component size, then the component fits better in compact devices, but the fixing force to the circuit board is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal electrode extends in the width direction beyond the cover member's projection, creating an L-shaped configuration. This dimensional extension provides adequate soldering area and mechanical stability without increasing the overall component volume, resolving the contradiction between compact size and mounting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the electrical connection function and mechanical anchoring function into a single integrated terminal electrode structure. The electrode extends from the bottom face through side faces to the end face, simultaneously providing electrical connection to the circuit board and mechanical stability to prevent tilting, thus maintaining fixing force while reducing component size.
3Volume of moving object
If the inductor component is made smaller, then space utilization improves, but the gap to adjacent components decreases and interference risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal electrode has an asymmetric L-shaped configuration that extends in the width direction beyond the cover member's projection. This asymmetric design allows the component to maintain a compact overall size while the extended electrode creates additional clearance space, reducing the risk of interference with adjacent components mounted on the circuit board.
Data Source
AI summary
An inductor component includes a core including a substantially column-shaped shaft and a support formed on an end portion of the shaft, a terminal electrode formed on the support, and a cover member that covers at least an upper face of the shaft. A width dimension of the inductor component including the core and the terminal electrode is greater than a width dimension of the cover member.