BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to inductors, and in particular, to inductors for storing energy in high power applications.

[0002] Previous patent applications (U.S. Pat. App. 61/782457 filed 2013-03-14 and entitled "Low loss inductor windings using offset gap, offset windings", and U.S. Pat. App. 14/206511 filed 2014-03-12 and entitled "Low Loss Inductor With Offset Gap and Windings", all contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference) described a novel method of winding conducting foil around a magnetic core assembly. That assembly employed a common implementation where the magnetic core has a dimensionally controlled non-magnetic gap between one end of the center core finger (or center leg) and an adjacent magnetic component. A development of such an assembly is to have the magnetic core suspended such that each end of the core has a dimensionally controlled non-magnetic gap between it and surrounding magnetic material. This application describes the mechanical support of such a dual non-magnetic gap core.

SUMMARY

[0003] In accordance with the presently claimed invention, a low loss power inductor core and method for making same are provided. The magnetic core includes an outer portion formed as a closed loop from multiple magnetic core pieces, and inner portion disposed within the closed loop. Non-magnetic spacers at opposing ends of the inner core portion position and secure the inner core portion between mutually opposed inner sides of the closed loop.

[0004] In accordance with one embodiment of the presently claimed invention, a low loss power inductor core includes: an outer magnetic core portion including a plurality of magnetic core pieces disposed to form a closed loop; an inner magnetic core portion including mutually opposed first and second ends separated by an 1-shaped magnetic core piece and disposed within the closed loop; a first non-magnetic spacer disposed between the first end and a first inner side of the closed loop; and a second non-magnetic spacer disposed between the second end and a second inner side of the closed loop.

[0005] In accordance with another embodiment of the presently claimed invention, a low loss power inductor core includes: forming a closed loop with a plurality of magnetic core pieces as an outer magnetic core portion; positioning an 1-shaped magnetic core piece including mutually opposed first and second ends within the closed loop as an inner magnetic core portion; positioning a first non-magnetic spacer between the first end and a first inner side of the closed loop; and positioning a second non-magnetic spacer between the second end and a second inner side of the closed loop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figures 1A-1D depict inductor cores in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the presently claimed invention.

[0007] Figure 2 depicts an alternative view of the core of Figure IB.

[0008] Figure 3 depicts an exemplary foil of copper and insulator for winding about the core.

[0009] Figures 4A-4B depict spacers for use in assembling inductor cores in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the presently claimed invention.

[0010] Figures 5A-5D depict alternative spacers for use in assembling inductor cores in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the presently claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The following detailed description is of example embodiments of the presently claimed invention with references to the accompanying drawings. Such description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting with respect to the scope of the present invention. Such embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the subject invention, and it will be understood that other embodiments may be practiced with some variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject invention.

[0012] Figure 1 (a) shows the cross section of an assembly composed of two 'U' shaped pieces (111, 112) made of magnetic materials that connect together while leaving an air- filled volume in the center (113). In the air-filled volume in the center of the assembly (113) it is desired to place a further core (114) made of magnetic material such that it is suspended in the center and forming non-magnetic gaps (115, 116) that are a carefully controlled distance from the other two pieces of magnetic material. The precisely controlled non-magnetic gaps (115, 116) are important for optimum performance of the magnetic assembly.

[0013] Figure 1 (b) shows the cross section of an alternative construction assembly composed of a 'U' shaped piece (101) and T shaped piece (102) made of magnetic materials that connect together while leaving an air- filled volume in the center (103). In the air-filled volume in the center of the assembly (103) it is desired to place a further core (104) made of magnetic material such that it is suspended in the center and forming non-magnetic gaps (105, 106) that are a carefully controlled distance from the other two pieces of magnetic material. The precisely controlled non-magnetic gaps (105, 106) are important for optimum performance of the magnetic assembly.

[0014] Figure 1 (c) shows the cross section of an alternative construction assembly composed of shaped pieces (121, 122, 123, 124) made of magnetic materials that connect together while leaving an air-filled volume in the center (130). In the air-filled volume in the center of the assembly (130) it is desired to place a further core (124) made of magnetic material such that it is suspended in the center and forming non-magnetic gaps (125, 126) that are a carefully controlled distance from the other pieces of magnetic material (121, 122). The precisely controlled non-magnetic gaps (125, 126) are important for optimum performance of the magnetic assembly.

[0015] Figure 1 (d) shows the cross section of an alternative construction assembly composed of two 'L' shaped pieces (131, 132) made of magnetic materials that connect together while leaving an air-filled volume in the center (133). In the air-filled volume in the center of the assembly (133) it is desired to place a further core (134) made of magnetic material such that it is suspended in the center and forming non-magnetic gaps (135, 136) that are a carefully controlled distance from the other two pieces of magnetic material. The precisely controlled nonmagnetic gaps (135, 136) are important for optimum performance of the magnetic assembly.

[0016] An alternative view of Figure 1 (b) is shown in Figure 2. The same 'U' shaped piece (101) is shown (201) along with the T shaped piece (102) shown (202). The core (104) is shown (204).

[0017] The next step in constructing the inductor is to wind a length of insulated copper around the core. In power electronics this is often copper foil, as shown in Figure 3. Here a sheet of copper (304) is wrapped (302) along with an insulating sheet (303) around the core (301) of the inductor including the non-magnetic gap.

[0018] In order to mechanically support the core (204), the air gaps (105, 106) are filled with spacer pieces (206, 207). The spacer pieces (206, 207) must ideally exhibit low loss for any magnetic field, provide physical support to maintain the core's location, and have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is similar enough to the surrounding magnetic material such that mechanical stress within the assembly is minimized. In addition the spacer and glue should exhibit high thermal conductivity to aid heat dissipation from the core (204). Examples of materials for such spacers (206, 207) include, without limitation, carbon fiber composites, beryllium oxide ceramics and beryllium oxide-filled epoxies.

[0019] Figure 4 shows different implementations of such a spacer (206, 207). Figure 4 (a) shows the preferred implementation, a formed piece (401) that is the same width and length as the core (204), and thickness as the desired non-magnetic gap (105, 106). It has enclosed slots (404) into which glue may be inserted prior to fitment together of the magnetic assembly shown in Figure 2 to permanently attach the components (201, 202, 204). In addition, the formed piece (401) has slots (402, 403) cutting into either side of the formed piece (301). These allow the formed piece (401) flexibility to expand along its length by an amount that matches the thermal expansion of the magnetic materials to which it is attached (201, 204, or 202, 204).

[0020] Figure 4 (b) shows an alternative implementation (410) without dedicated enclosed slots (such as 404) for containment of glue. Instead, slots (411, 412) provide expansion flexibility and containment for glue.

[0021] Figure 5 (a) shows an enhancement of the spacer (401, 520) where each end (521, 522) is formed so that a small section is thicker, and sized so that it overhangs the magnetic cores as shown in Figure 5 (b). Ends (506, 507, 521, 522) of spacers (520) aid maintenance of core position relative to the other magnetic pieces (501, 502).

[0022] An additional enhancement to the design of the preferred implementation (401) is shown in Figure 5 (c), also shown with spacer ends (521, 522, 531, 532) in this example. Figure 5 (c) shows the preferred implementation (401, 520) from the side with the addition of a ripple in the material (535, 536, 537) that causes the spacer to not be flat when it connects to the core (504) face and the U-shaped piece (501). This difference in height is introduced in the design of the spacer in order to cause size equalization of the two non-magnetic gaps (105, 106, 115, 1 16), and flexibility in thermal expansion of the spacer. Using the implementation of Figure 5 (c) an alternative implementation would omit use of epoxy as a fixing aid as the spacer design and windings (303, 304) are sufficient to maintain core (114, 104, 204, 504) position.

[0023] Referring to Figure 5 (b) as an example, assembly of inductors described here may be achieved by placing the core (504) into the body (501), then placing the top piece (502) in position. Alternatively, the body (501) and top piece (502) may be assembled, and then the core slid into position. For this second assembly method, Figure 5 (d) shows a further design enhancement to the spacers used. The enhancement uses the embodiment of Figure 5 (c) but can be applied to the other implementations with end caps such as (521, 522, 531, 532, 561, 562). The enhancement is to form the end cap at one end of the spacer to be shorter than described in previous examples. In Figure 5 (d) the end cap (562) is shorter, flush with the surface of the spacer opposite to the core. This enables the core assembly to be slid into position without interference. The other end cap (561) retains the extra height (569) of the original end cap design, and this will provide an end stop to ensure that the core cannot be slid beyond its correct location. In Figure 5 (d) the lower portions of both end caps (561, 562) act to grip the core (567), aiding easy assembly.

[0024] Various other modifications and alterations in the structure and method of operation of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the present invention and that structures and methods within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.