DC bias current enhancement of multilayer chip inductors by using a nonmagnetic air gap

• Published in: Journal of the Korean Physical Society Vol. 61; no. 10; pp. 1691 - 1695
• Main Authors: Kim, Jinu, Lee, Joonsik, Kim, Ki Hyeon, Nam, Baekil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Physical Society 01.11.2012; 한국물리학회
• Subjects: Mathematical and Computational Physics; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Theoretical; 물리학; Magnetic core; Permeability; DC characteristics; Magnetic inductor
• ISSN: 0374-4884; 1976-8524
• DOI: 10.3938/jkps.61.1691

To enhance the DC characteristics of multilayer chip (MLC) inductors, we optimized the effective permeability of the magnetic core material. However, the effective permeability value is not easily tuned by optimizing the magnetic materials. The effective permeability of the core material in a MLC inductor can be controlled by inserting a nonmagnetic air gap between the coil layers without changing the magnetic core material. A typical MLC inductor with a 10-turn planar coil with dimensions of 2.0 mm × 1.2 mm × 1.0 mm ( w × l × t ) including an air gap layer which placed at the center of planar coil was designed and simulated for various thicknesses. The DC characteristics (I DC at ΔL 30% ) were enhanced from 300 mA to 700 mA with the insertion of an air gap and with increasing air-gap thickness.