Modern X-ray generators are required to deliver a peak power between 30 kW and 120 kW. This requirement places demanding constraints on the design of the power inverters used to supply such X-ray generators, at the same time that there exist industry incentives to reduce the size of X-ray generators. An trend towards increased frequencies of switching operation in the power stage of modern X-ray generators makes it possible to use air-core inductors, rather than magnetic-core inductors. This application discusses an air-core inductor assembly having an integral current sensor. According to this application, a current sensor can be more accurately provided, which does not drift in position over time, and in a way which reduces the overall bill of materials.

Embodiments of the invention include a microelectronic device and methods of forming a microelectronic device. In an embodiment the microelectronic device includes a semiconductor die and an inductor that is electrically coupled to the semiconductor die. The inductor may include one or more conductive coils that extend away from a surface of the semiconductor die. In an embodiment each conductive coils may include a plurality of traces. For example, a first trace and a third trace may be formed over a first dielectric layer and a second trace may be formed over a second dielectric layer and over a core. A first via through the second dielectric layer may couple the first trace to the second trace, and a second via through the second dielectric layer may couple the second trace to the third trace.

A current transformer includes a pre-formed core forming a closed loop with a flexible axially wound secondary winding. A continuous length of wire is axially coiled around a flexible bobbin to form a secondary winding. The resulting secondary winding may be slid onto the closed loop of the pre-formed core. The flexibility of the axially wound secondary winding facilitates conformity to a non-linear shape of the pre-formed core.

Provided are a core for a current transformer and a manufacturing method for the same in which high permittivity is formed in order to optimize electric power acquisition efficiency by magnetic induction at a low current. The provided method of manufacturing a core through the steps of winding a metal ribbon, heat treating a core base, impregnating, cutting and polishing, wherein after the core base which is inserted into a mold is heat treated to implement a shape, the core base separated from the mold is heat treated to manufacture the core for the current transformer having high permittivity.

Embodiments of the invention include a microelectronic device and methods of forming a microelectronic device. In an embodiment the microelectronic device includes a semiconductor die and an inductor that is electrically coupled to the semiconductor die. The inductor may include one or more conductive coils that extend away from a surface of the semiconductor die. In an embodiment each conductive coils may include a plurality of traces. For example, a first trace and a third trace may be formed over a first dielectric layer and a second trace may be formed over a second dielectric layer and over a core. A first via through the second dielectric layer may couple the first trace to the second trace, and a second via through the second dielectric layer may couple the second trace to the third trace.

A current transformer includes a pre-formed core forming a closed loop with a flexible axially wound secondary winding. A continuous length of wire is axially coiled around a flexible bobbin to form a secondary winding. The resulting secondary winding may be slid onto the closed loop of the pre-formed core. The flexibility of the axially wound secondary winding facilitates conformity to a non-linear shape of the pre-formed core.

A current transformer (10) includes a magnetic core, a first primary-side winding, a second primary-side winding, and a first secondary-side winding. The magnetic core includes a first magnetic core structure, a second magnetic core structure, and a third magnetic core structure. The first magnetic core structure is connected to the second magnetic core structure to constitute a first closed magnetic circuit, the first magnetic core structure is connected to the third magnetic core structure to constitute a second closed magnetic circuit, and the first magnetic core structure is a magnetic core structure common to the first closed magnetic circuit and the second closed magnetic circuit.

Electrical power transmission for well constriction apparatus via a rotatable spool positioned at and affixed to a moveable well construction apparatus at a wellsite and an electrical power cable at least partially wound on the rotatable spool and connected to stationary equipment at an end of the electrical power cable distal from the rotatable spool.

A sensor for measuring current flow includes a power generation circuit, a current measurement circuit and a microcontroller. The power generation circuit includes a current transformer that harvests energy from a load applied to the conductor and uses the harvested energy to power the current measurement circuit and microcontroller. The current measurement circuit includes a Hall effect sensor that outputs a voltage signal in response to detecting a magnetic flux generated by the flow of current through the conductor. The microcontroller calculates a current measurement based on the voltage signal received from the current measurement system. The Hall effect sensor is able to generate the voltage signal used to measure current flow at the same time that the current transformer harvests energy from the current flowing through the conductor. A fault detection system is able to alert a user to problems with the current transformer and/or the Hall effect sensor.

A toroidal microinductor comprises a nanocomposite magnetic core employing superparamagnetic nanoparticles covalently cross-linked in an epoxy network. The core material eliminates energy loss mechanisms in existing inductor core materials, providing a path towards realizing low form factor devices. As an example, both a 2 H output and a 500 nH input microinductors comprising superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles were modeled for a high-performance buck converter. Both modeled inductors had 50 wire turns, less than 1 cm.sup.3 form factors, less than 1 AC resistance and quality factors, Q's, of 27 at 1 MHz. In addition, the output microinductor had an average output power of 7 W and power density of 3.9 kW/in.sup.3.