US 11,756,725 B2
Boosted coupled inductors and associated systems and methods
Di Yao, San Jose, CA (US); Alexandr Ikriannikov, San Jose, CA (US); Andrea Pizzutelli, Redwood City, CA (US); and Thurein Soe Paing, Lafayette, CO (US)
Assigned to Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on May 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/321,476.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/040,783, filed on Jun. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0398743 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. H02M 3/04 (2006.01); H01F 27/34 (2006.01); H01F 27/24 (2006.01); H01F 27/28 (2006.01)
CPC H01F 27/346 (2013.01) [H01F 27/24 (2013.01); H01F 27/28 (2013.01); H02M 3/04 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A switching power converter, comprising:
a first switching stage;
a second switching stage;
a coupled inductor, including:
a first phase winding,
a second phase winding, and
a magnetic core,
the first phase winding being wound at least partially around a first portion of the magnetic core, the first phase winding being electrically coupled to the first switching stage, and
the second phase winding being wound at least partially around a second portion of the magnetic core, the second phase winding being electrically coupled to the second switching stage; and
a boost winding forming at least one turn such that mutual magnetic flux associated with each of the first and second phase windings flows through the at least one turn;
wherein:
the first portion of the magnetic core comprises a first leg of the magnetic core,
the second portion of the magnetic core comprises a second leg of the magnetic core,
the boost winding is wound around each of the first and second legs,
the magnetic core further includes first and second rails separated from each other in a first direction,
each leg of the first and second legs is disposed between the first and second rails in the first direction, and
the first and second legs are separated from each other in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction.