When an inductor component is adopted as an inductor for a DC-DC converter, high efficiency is achieved at a light load, and a large current is also handled. An inductor component includes a body containing metal magnetic powder containing an iron element, and an inductor provided in the body and having both ends exposed from the body. In a DC superposition characteristic curve of the inductor, a first steady region and a second steady region exist as a steady region, and a transition region exists between the first steady region and the second steady region.

A coil component includes a body, a coil conductor embedded in the body, and outer electrodes disposed on the outside of the body. The body includes a first magnetic layer containing a substantially spherical metallic magnetic material and second and third layers containing a substantially flat metallic magnetic material. At least the wound section of the coil conductor is between the second and third magnetic layers in the direction along the axis of the coil conductor. In the direction perpendicular to the axis, the second and third magnetic layers have a width equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the wound section of the coil component. The substantially flat metallic magnetic material is oriented so that the flat plane thereof is perpendicular to the axis of the coil conductor. The first magnetic layer extends between the second and third magnetic layers and the outer electrodes.

An inductive core including a body including a ferromagnetic material and a magnet, the magnet forming a first path for circulating of magnetic flux lines produced by the magnet, and the ferromagnetic material at least partially forming a second path for circulating the magnetic flux lines, wherein the ferromagnetic material extends continuously between the poles of the magnet along the poles of the magnet and makes contact with at least a part of an exterior lateral wall of the magnet extending between its poles.

A coil electronic component includes a body including a coil portion disposed therein, and including a plurality of magnetic particles, and external electrodes connected to the coil portion. The body includes an internal region and a protective layer disposed on a surface of the internal region. A first particle of the plurality of magnetic particles included in the protective layer includes an oxide film disposed on a surface of the first particle, and a second particle, having a size greater than a size of the first particle, of the plurality of magnetic particles includes a coating layer disposed on a surface of the second particle and having a composition different from a composition of the oxide film.

A semiconductor package includes a VLSI semiconductor die and one or more output circuits connected to supply power to the die mounted to a package substrate. The output circuit(s), which include a transformer and rectification circuitry, provide current multiplication at an essentially fixed conversion ratio, K, in the semiconductor package, receiving AC power at a relatively high voltage and delivering DC power at a relatively low voltage to the die. The output circuits may be connected in series or parallel as needed. A driver circuit may be provided outside the semiconductor package for receiving power from a source and driving the transformer in the output circuit(s), preferably with sinusoidal currents. The driver circuit may drive a plurality of output circuits. The semiconductor package may require far fewer interface connections for supplying power to the die.

Inductor designs and methods are provided. An inductor can include a first core and a second core. The first core can be larger than the second core and the second core can be seated within the inner diameter of the first core. A first and a second wire can be provided that each wrap around the first core and the second core. The first core can have less windings than the second core.

A coupled inductor for low electromagnetic interference includes a plurality of windings and a composite magnetic core including a coupling magnetic structure formed of a first magnetic material and a leakage magnetic structure formed of a second magnetic material having a distributed gap. The coupling magnetic structure magnetically couples together the plurality of windings, and the leakage magnetic structure provides leakage magnetic flux paths for the plurality of windings.

A reactor is provided with a coil and a magnetic core. The magnetic core includes a first core and a second core formed into a θ shape by being combined in an X direction. The first core includes a first end core part, at least a part of a middle core part, at least parts of both side core parts including a first side core part and a second side core part. The second core includes a second end core part, a remaining part of the middle core part and remaining parts of the first and second side core parts. A relative magnetic permeability of the second core is higher than that of the first core. Each of the first and second side core parts of the first core has a tip surface. A surface of the second core has facing surfaces facing the tip surfaces.

A test and measurement instrument for determining magnetic core losses of a device under test during in circuit operation. The test and measurement instrument receives a primary current signal from a primary winding of a device under test and receives a primary voltage signal measured across a magnetic core of the device under test. Based on the primary electric current signal and the primary voltage signal, the test and measurement instrument determines a magnetic loss of the device under test. In some examples, the test and measurement instrument can use primary and secondary voltage and current inputs to determine the magnetic loss of the device under test. The magnetic loss of the device under test can be displayed on a display of the test and measurement instrument. The magnetic loss can include a total magnetic loss, a hysteresis loss, a copper loss, and/or other losses.

According to one configuration, an inductor device comprises core material and at least a first electrically conductive path. The core material is fabricated from magnetically permeable material. The first electrically conductive path extends axially through the core material from a proximal end of the inductor device to a distal end of the inductor device. The core material is operable to confine first magnetic flux generated from first current flowing through the first electrically conductive path. The inductor device further includes a gap in the core material. The gap (gas or solid material) has a different magnetic permeability than the core material. Inclusion of the gap in the core material provides a way to tune an inductance of the inductor device and increase a magnetic saturation level of the inductor device. The core material includes any number of electrically conductive paths and corresponding gaps.