Microsystem Technologies

, Volume 15, Issue 8, pp 1233–1243 | Cite as

Design methodology and fabrication process of a microinductor for the next generation of DC–DC power converters

Technical Paper

Abstract

Magnetic materials used in cored microinductors to supersede ferrite in the 0.5-10 MHz frequency range are investigated in this article. The performance of electrodeposited nickel–iron, cobalt–iron–copper alloys and the commercial alloy Vitrovac 6025 have been assessed through their inclusion within a custom-made solenoid microinductor. Although the present inductor achieves 77% power efficiency at 500 KHz for 24.7 W/cm³ power density, an optimized process predicts a power efficiency of 97% for 30.83 W/cm³ power density. The main issues regarding microinductor design and performance are discussed.

Keywords

Optimal Topology Relative Permeability Switching Frequency Skin Depth Parasitic Capacitance 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Notes

Acknowledgments

Thanks are extended to Prof Cywinski for the VSM data performed at the University of Leeds, and to Raytheon Systems Limited for performing the resistivity measurements. This work was made possible through the funding of the Scottish Consortium in Integrated Micro Photonic Systems (SCIMPS) funded by the Scottish Funding Council under the Strategic Research Development Grant scheme.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.MIcroSystems Engineering Centre (MISEC), School of Engineering and Physical SciencesHeriot-Watt UniversityEdinburghUK

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