US 12,255,004 B2
Multi-phase integrated coupled inductor structure
Feiyang Zhu, Blacksburg, VA (US); Qiang Li, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Fred C. Lee, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed by VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed on Mar. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/199,953.
Prior Publication US 2022/0293326 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. H01F 27/28 (2006.01); H01F 27/24 (2006.01); H01F 27/40 (2006.01); H01F 27/42 (2006.01)
CPC H01F 27/24 (2013.01) [H01F 27/2804 (2013.01); H01F 27/40 (2013.01); H01F 27/42 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-phase integrated coupled inductor system comprising:
a coupled set of inductors integrated in a magnetic core comprising two symmetrical core slots separated by a central portion of the magnetic core;
a first inductor of the coupled set of inductors comprising a first plurality of conductive vias having a uniform size and shape that extend through the magnetic core in the two symmetrical core slots, wherein the first plurality of conductive vias are asymmetrically distributed in the two symmetrical core slots proximal to a first longitudinal end of the magnetic core with pairs of adjacent vias in the two symmetrical core slots aligned on opposite sides of the central portion of the magnetic core and the uniform size corresponds to a width of the two symmetrical core slots;
a second inductor of the coupled set of inductors comprising a second plurality of conductive vias having the uniform size and shape that extend through the magnetic core in the two symmetrical core slots, wherein the second plurality of conductive vias are asymmetrically distributed in the two symmetrical core slots proximal to a second longitudinal end of the magnetic core relative to the first plurality of conductive vias with pairs of adjacent vias in the two symmetrical core slots aligned on opposite sides of the central portion of the magnetic core, wherein the first inductor is located at the first longitudinal end of the magnetic core and is separated a longitudinal distance from the second inductor located at the second longitudinal end of the magnetic core relative to the first inductor; and
at least one control circuit that controls a first at least one switch for the first inductor according to a first phase, and controls a second at least one switch for the second inductor according to a second phase.