Inductor Component Bottom Cover Boundary Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inductor components face mechanical strength issues at the boundaries between the shaft and supports, and the reduction in size leads to reduced mechanical strength and potential degradation of characteristics, especially when covered with a cover member.

Innovation Solution

An inductor component design with a core, terminal electrodes, and a bottom cover member made of magnetic material that directly covers the boundary portion, increasing mechanical strength while minimizing the reduction in Q factor and maximizing L value acquisition efficiency, and a top cover member to prevent wire exposure and facilitate handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the shaft is made thinner to reduce external size, then the inductor component size is reduced, but the mechanical strength at boundaries between shaft and supports deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinductor component sizeVSAvoidmechanical strength at boundaries

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is divided into a bottom cover member and a side cover member that are positioned separately. The bottom cover member covers the boundary between shaft and support, while the side cover member covers the wire. This segmentation allows each cover portion to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, solving the contradiction between size reduction and mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom cover member acts as an intermediary element that directly covers and reinforces the boundary portion between the shaft and support. This intermediary structure provides mechanical strength to the boundary without requiring the shaft itself to be thicker, thus maintaining size reduction while improving boundary strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the shaft is entirely covered with the cover member, then protection is improved, but degradation of characteristics occurs due to cover member interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of wire and boundariesVSAvoidcharacteristic degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the inductor are covered differently: the bottom cover member covers only the boundary portion between shaft and support, while the side cover member covers only the wire. This local quality approach ensures that coverage is provided where needed for protection and strength, while avoiding coverage that would cause characteristic degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of entirely covering the shaft with a cover member, the invention uses partial coverage with separate bottom and side cover members. This partial action provides necessary protection and strength while minimizing interference with the electromagnetic characteristics of the inductor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Strength

If the boundary portion is directly covered by the bottom cover member, then mechanical strength is increased, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strength of boundary portionVSAvoidcover member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom cover member and side cover member are positioned to work together as an integrated covering system. The bottom cover member covers the boundary while the side cover member covers the wire, and together they provide comprehensive protection without requiring a single complex cover structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The design enhances mechanical strength, reduces the risk of breakage, and maintains high inductance with minimized degradation of characteristics, ensuring strong fixation to the circuit board and efficient inductance acquisition.

Implementation Method 1

the bottom cover member is made of a magnetic material. With this structure, since the bottom cover member is made of a magnetic material, a closed magnetic circuit is provided at the bottom

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic circuit: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS11587713B2Inductor component

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

An inductor component includes a core including a substantially column-shaped shaft and a pair of supports provided at both ends of the shaft; terminal electrodes provided on the supports; a wire wound around the shaft and including end portions connected to the terminal electrodes; and a bottom cover member that covers a boundary portion between the shaft and one of the supports at a bottom of the shaft. The wire is exposed at a side of the shaft.