This section provides overview, applications, and principles of power inductors. Also, please take a look at the list of 45 power inductor manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A power inductor is a coil element used in power circuits among inductors. It is also called a power choke.
There are three basic types of structures: windings formed by multilayer technology, windings on a bar-shaped core, and windings on a drum-shaped core.
Inductors, including power inductors, have a property that allows DC currents to pass through but prevents AC currents from passing through. This property is used to eliminate high-frequency noise in circuits for voltage conversion.
Impedance of inductor [Ω] ZL=jωL ( L: inductance [H] ω: angular frequency [rad/s] )
The explanation can be easily obtained from the formula ( ZL=0 if f=0 (direct current) ).
Controlling the voltage of a DC power supply is very important for any electronic device. Since electronic devices have a range of supply voltages over which regular operation can be guaranteed, the ability to supply the proper voltage to each component will affect stable circuit operation and the life of the equipment.
A DC-AC converter is a circuit that converts voltage, and the supply of stable voltage depends on the performance of the power inductor.
There are two types of converter circuits: a step-down type that lowers the voltage and a step-up type that raises the voltage. Both types include switching elements, diodes, and power inductors as components.
When an alternating current flows through an inductor, electromagnetic induction generates an induced electromotive force proportional to the time rate of change of the current.
Induced electromotive force [V] e = -L*(dI/dt) ( L: inductance [H] I: current [A] t: time [sec] )
Since the direction of induced electromotive force is the direction that counteracts the original magnetic flux change (Lenz's Law), it is marked with a minus sign to indicate this explicitly. Because the induced electromotive force is in the direction that cancels the current change, alternating current is less likely to flow.
The proportionality constant related to the induced electromotive force is called inductance (unit: Henry [H]). It is expressed as the ability to convert electrical energy into magnetic energy.
To increase the inductance, the cross-sectional area of the coil can be increased, the number of turns can be increased, or a core can be inserted to increase the magnetic permeability. For use in converters, the inductance is determined by the switching frequency.
Compared to inductors for other applications, power inductors are characterized by larger external dimensions and higher inductance and are designed to have characteristics more suitable for a stable supply of DC voltage.
Noise can enter the DC power supply line, where ideally, a stable DC should flow due to various factors. As electronic devices throughout the system become lower voltage, higher current, and faster, power inductors are required to have more demanding characteristics than ever before. Faster switching speeds and smaller component sizes are recent trends.
Since the allowable DC superimposed current and acceptable temperature rise current are specified for power inductors, attention must be paid to the permissible current and inductance in design and mounting.
Manufacturers produce a wide variety of inductors for a wide range of applications. It is challenging to avoid tradeoffs. For example, a component with a larger inductance has lower DC loss and, thus, higher efficiency, but the external dimensions of the element are larger and generate more heat. However, this is where the designer's skill comes into play. Therefore, carefully examine the factors emphasized in the system to be designed, check the data sheets, etc., and select the optimum device.
Ideally, the DC power supply voltage of each circuit group in the system should be maintained at a constant value at all times, but this is rarely possible. However, selecting a device with excellent characteristics is essential to prevent problems before they occur.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Ranking as of January 2023 in United States
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | CoilMaster | 25% |
2 | Chilisin | 25% |
3 | NEOSID | 25% |
4 | W?rth Elektronik | 25% |
Ranking as of January 2023 Globally
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | CoilMaster | 25% |
2 | Chilisin | 25% |
3 | NEOSID | 25% |
4 | W?rth Elektronik | 25% |
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the power inductor page as of January 2023. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
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