Inductor devices – Winding formed of plural coils
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-11-20
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Inductor devices
Winding formed of plural coils
C336S08400R, C336S198000, C336S170000, C336S200000, C336S232000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320490
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to planar transformers used in soft switching and resonant power converters, and more particularly, to an integrated planar transformer and inductor assembly for use in soft switching and resonant power converters.
FIG. 1
illustrates a typical conventional planar transformer
10
used in soft switching and resonant power converters in which the inductive element of the resonant circuit is connected in parallel with a transformer. In such circuits, it is convenient to use the magnetizing inductance of the transformer
10
as the inductive element of the resonant circuit. Such conventional planar transformers
10
typically have a core
11
with a central gap
12
that surrounds planar interleaved primary and secondary windings
13
,
14
or layers. The gap thickness is set to yield the necessary value of the magnetizing inductance for proper circuit operation. The interleaved primary and secondary rings
13
,
14
are separated by insulating (dielectric) layers
15
.
In such conventional planar transformers, the magnetizing (inductor) current in the secondary winding
14
crowds to the inside of the winding (current crowding
16
), mostly within one skin depth of the innermost path in the planar structure of the planar transformer
10
. This greatly increases the loss caused by the inductor current, due to the limited cross section carrying current.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for an improved integrated planar transformer and inductor assembly for use in soft switching and resonant power converters that overcomes the limitations of conventional planar transformers by reducing the additional loss caused by the inductor current.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To accomplish the above and other objectives, the present invention provides for an integrated transformer and inductor assembly for use in soft switching or resonant power converters, and the like. The present invention has a planar structure and comprises a planar transformer and a parallel inductor. The parallel inductor is provided by a concentric inductor (reactive) winding located adjacent the center of the transformer core.
In the present invention, the concentric inductor (reactive) winding carries inductor current, while load current flows in the planar windings. Loss due to magnetizing current is substantially reduced in the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3611232 (1971-10-01), Sakamoto et al.
patent: 4549130 (1985-10-01), Dobberstein
patent: 4689592 (1987-08-01), Walker
patent: 5319342 (1994-06-01), Kuroki
patent: 5659461 (1997-08-01), Inou et al.
patent: 5731740 (1998-03-01), Van De Westerlo
Donovan Lincoln
Float Kenneth W.
Nguyen Tuyen
Space Systems Loral, Inc.
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