Coupled inductors enabling increased switching stage pitch
A coupled inductor includes a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, N connecting magnetic elements, and N windings, where N is an integer greater than one. Each of the N connecting magnetic elements connects to both of the first and second end magnetic elements. Each of the N windings is wound around a respective one of the N connecting magnetic elements such that the N windings are wound in alternating opposing directions. Possible applications of the coupled inductor include, but are not limited to, switching power converter applications.
1. A switching power converter, comprising:
a coupled inductor, including:
first and second end magnetic elements,
N connecting magnetic elements each connected to both of the first and second end magnetic elements, N being an integer greater than one, and
N windings, each of the N windings wound around a respective one of the N connecting magnetic elements such that the N windings are wound in alternating opposing directions;
N switching stages, each of the N switching stages configured to switch an end of a respective one of the N windings between at least first and second power rails at a frequency of at least 100 kilohertz, the N switching stages being disposed on alternating opposing sides of the coupled inductor; and
a third power rail, each of the N windings being electrically coupled to the third power rail at alternating opposing sides of the coupled inductor.
2. The switching power converter of claim 1 , each of the N switching stages comprising a switching device and a diode.
3. The switching power converter of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling switching of the N switching stages.
4. The switching power converter of claim 1 , each of the N switching stages comprising a first and a second switching device.
5. The switching power converter of claim 1 , the first and second power rails comprising an input power rail and a reference power rail, respectively.
6. The switching power converter of claim 1 , the first and second power rails comprising an output power rail and a reference power rail, respectively.
7. The switching power converter of claim 1 , the first and second power rails comprising an input power rail and an output power rail, respectively.
8. A switching power converter, comprising:
a coupled inductor, including:
a first end magnetic element,
a second end magnetic element,
N connecting magnetic elements, each of the N connecting magnetic elements connecting the first and second end magnetic elements in a first direction, each of the N connecting magnetic elements being separated from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, N being an integer greater than one, and
N windings, each of the N windings wound around a respective one of the N connecting magnetic elements; and
N switching stages disposed on alternating opposing sides of the coupled inductor, each of the N switching stages being offset from each other in the second direction and at least two of the N switching stages being offset from each other in the first direction, each of the N switching stages switching a first end of a respective one of the N windings between at least two different power rails at a frequency of at least 100 kilohertz.
9. The switching power converter of claim 8 , wherein:
the first end of each of the N windings forms a respective first solder tab;
a second end of each of the N windings forms a respective second solder tab; and
each of the first and second solder tabs extends along at least seventy five percent of a depth of the coupled inductor.
10. The switching power converter of claim 9 , N being an integer greater than two.
11. The switching power converter of claim 1 , the third power rail being selected from the group consisting of an output power rail, an input power rail, and a reference power rail.