Coupled-inductor module and voltage regulating module comprising the same
A coupled-inductor module includes: a magnetic core including a first magnetic column, a second magnetic column, a third magnetic column extending in a first direction and two covers extending in a second direction, the first magnetic column disposed between the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column, the two covers respectively connected to the ends of the first magnetic column, the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column; and windings including a first winding and a second winding respectively wound around the first magnetic column, the first winding and the second winding being spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The magnetic core is provided with at least one air gap, and the windings and the air gap are not overlapped with each other.
1. A coupled-inductor module comprising:
a magnetic core, comprising a first magnetic column, a second magnetic column, and a third magnetic column extending in a first direction and two covers extending in a second direction, wherein the first magnetic column is disposed between the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column, the two covers are respectively connected to two ends of the first magnetic column, two ends of the second magnetic column and two ends of the third magnetic column; and
windings, including a first winding and a second winding respectively wound around the first magnetic column, the first winding and the second winding being spaced apart from each other in the first direction,
wherein the magnetic core is provided with at least one air gap, and the windings and the air gap are not overlapped with each other, and
wherein the magnetic core is formed from two E-shaped cores, wherein the air gap is disposed only on the first magnetic column, or two air gaps are respectively disposed on the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column, or three air gaps are respectively disposed on the first magnetic column, the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column.
2. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one air gap comprises two air gaps respectively disposed on the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column.
3. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one air gap comprises one air gap disposed on the first magnetic column, and the first winding and the second winding are respectively located on two sides of the air gap.
4. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein two ends of the first winding and two ends of the second winding respectively form surface mounting pads, and each of the surface mounting pads is located in a same plane that is parallel to a plane formed by the first direction and the second direction.
5. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the windings is formed of a flat wire which is wound around the first magnetic column, and a width direction of the flat wire is parallel to the first direction.
6. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein the projection of the coupled-inductor module in a plane formed by the first direction and the second direction has a centrosymmetric shape, and the windings and the air gap are both distributed in a centro symmetric manner.
7. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the coupled-inductor module in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction is less than 6 mm.
8. A coupled-inductor module comprising:
a magnetic core, comprising a first magnetic column, a second magnetic column, and a third magnetic column extending in a first direction and two covers extending in a second direction, wherein the first magnetic column is disposed between the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column, and the two covers are respectively connected to two ends of the first magnetic column, two ends of the second magnetic column and two ends of the third magnetic column; and
windings, including a first winding and a second winding respectively wound around the first magnetic column, the first winding and the second winding being spaced apart from each other in the first direction,
wherein the magnetic core is provided with at least one air gap, and the windings and the air gap are not overlapped with each other, and
wherein in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, a height of the first magnetic column is smaller than a height of the second magnetic column, the third magnetic column or the cover.
9. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 8 , wherein bottom surfaces of the first magnetic column, the second magnetic column, the third magnetic column and the cover are disposed in a same plane.
10. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 9 , wherein the first winding and the second winding are formed of flat wires, the upper surfaces of the first winding, the second winding, the second magnetic column, the third magnetic column and the cover are disposed in a same plane.
11. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein a lead of the windings forms an external pad with a protrusion, and the external pad is in a zigzag shape.
12. The coupled-inductor module according to claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic column forms a stopper to prevent the winding from moving.
13. A voltage regulating module, comprising:
a coupled-inductor module, comprising: a magnetic core, comprising a first magnetic column, a second magnetic column, and a third magnetic column extending in a first direction and two covers extending in a second direction, wherein the first magnetic column is disposed between the second magnetic column and the third magnetic column, the two covers are respectively connected to two ends of the first magnetic column, two ends of the second magnetic column and two ends of the third magnetic column; and windings, including a first winding and a second winding respectively wound around the first magnetic column, the first winding and the second winding being spaced apart from each other in the first direction, wherein the magnetic core is provided with at least one air gap, and the windings and the air gap are not overlapped with each other, and wherein the first winding having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second winding having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the second terminal of the first winding and the fourth terminal of the second winding are electrically connected to each other;
a first switch unit connected to the first terminal of the first winding; and
a second switch unit connected to the third terminal of the second winding, and
wherein a bending angle of the second terminal with respect to an U-shaped body of the first winding and/or a bending angle of the fourth terminal with respect of an U-shaped body of the second winding are less than 90 degrees.
14. The voltage regulating module according to claim 13 , wherein,
the first terminal is formed under the second magnetic column,
the third terminal is formed under the third magnetic column, and
the second terminal and the fourth terminal are formed under the first magnetic column.
15. The voltage regulating module according to claim 13 , wherein in the case where a first current flows into the first winding from the first terminal and a second current flows into the second winding from the third terminal, magnetic fluxes respectively generated in the first magnetic column by the first current in the first winding and by the second current in the second winding have opposite directions.
16. The voltage regulating module according to claim 13 , wherein the first switch unit and the second switch unit are located under a bottom surface of the coupled-inductor module.