Single litz wire transformers
View Patent ↗Transformers having a plurality of windings from a single Litz wire, as well as systems including such transformers and methods of providing such transformers are disclosed. A transformer includes a core and a single Litz wire having a plurality of individual strands of conductive material. The plurality of individual strands of conductive material are separated into a plurality of groups, each one of the plurality of groups being a winding of the transformer such that the transformer comprises a plurality of windings.
1. A transformer comprising:
a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal;
a core; and
a single Litz wire comprising a plurality of individual strands of conductive material,
wherein a first group of one or more strands from the plurality of individual strands is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal to create a first winding of the transformer and a second group of one or more strands from the plurality of individual strands is coupled between the third terminal and the fourth terminal to create a second winding of the transformer.
2. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the single Litz wire is wrapped around at least a portion of the core.
3. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the first group and the second group each comprise an equal number of individual strands relative to one another.
4. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the first group and the second group each comprise an unequal number of individual strands relative to one another.
5. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein a number of the individual strands within each one of the first group and the second group is based on one or more of an amplitude and a frequency of a current that is passed through the individual strands.
6. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a cross sectional shape and a cross sectional size of the single Litz wire is based on an amplitude of a current that is passed through the single Litz wire.
7. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the transformer exhibits a decreased leakage inductance relative to an alternative transformer comprising a single wire for each winding of the alternative transformer.
8. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the transformer exhibits less electromagnetic interference relative to an alternative transformer comprising a single wire for each winding of the alternative transformer.
9. The transformer of claim 1 , wherein a coupling between each one of the plurality of windings is increased relative to an alternative transformer comprising a single wire for each winding of the alternative transformer.
10. A transformer comprising:
a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal;
a toroidal core; and
a single Litz wire wrapped around at least a portion of the toroidal core, the single Litz wire comprising a plurality of individual strands of conductive material,
wherein a first group of one or more strands from the plurality of individual strands is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal to create a first winding of the transformer and a second group of one or more strands from the plurality of individual strands is coupled between the third terminal and the fourth terminal to create a second winding of the transformer.
11. The transformer of claim 10 , wherein the first group and the second group each comprise an equal number of individual strands relative to one another.
12. The transformer of claim 10 , wherein the first group and the second group each comprise an unequal number of individual strands relative to one another.
13. The transformer of claim 10 , wherein a number of the individual strands within each one of first group and the second group is based on one or more of an amplitude and a frequency of a current that is passed through the individual strands.
14. The transformer of claim 10 , wherein the toroidal core is formed from a single mass of material.
15. The transformer of claim 10 , wherein the toroidal core is formed from a plurality of layers of material.
16. The transformer of claim 10 , wherein the toroidal core is formed from silicon steel.
17. A system comprising:
a transformer, wherein the transformer comprises:
a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal;
a core; and
a single Litz wire wrapped around at least a portion of the toroidal core, the single Litz wire comprising a plurality of individual strands of conductive material,
wherein a first group of one or more strands from the plurality of individual strands is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal to create a first winding of the transformer and a second group of one or more strands from the plurality of individual strands is coupled between the third terminal and the fourth terminal to create a second winding of the transformer.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first group comprises a first number of individual strands of the single Litz wire and the second group comprises a second number of individual strands of the single Litz wire.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first number is equal to the second number.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first number is not equal to the second number.