MULTI-CORE SEGMENT VARIABLE INDUCTOR WITH DIFFERENT CORE MATERIALS, AND CONTROL CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials, and a control circuit and a control method thereof. The variable inductor includes a center magnetic segment c, wherein a winding on the center magnetic segment c serves as an inductive winding, and a number of turns of the center magnetic segment is N.sub.ac; and peripheral magnetic segments, wherein a number of the peripheral magnetic segments is n; the peripheral magnetic segments are labeled as p.sub.1, p.sub.2, p.sub.3, . . . , to p.sub.n; a winding on each peripheral magnetic segment serves as a control winding, and the control windings on the peripheral magnetic segments are configured to independently operate; a number of turns of the control winding of each peripheral magnetic segment is correspondingly N.sub.dc_p1, N.sub.dc_p2, N.sub.dc_p3, . . . , N.sub.dc_pn; wherein an air gap exists between each peripheral magnetic segment and the center magnetic segment, and a length of the air gap is l.sub.g.

Claims

1. A multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials, comprising: a center magnetic segment c, disposed at a center of the variable inductor; wherein a winding on the center magnetic segment c serves as an inductive winding, and a number of turns of the center magnetic segment is N.sub.ac; and a plurality of peripheral magnetic segments, disposed on a periphery of the variable inductor; wherein a number of the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments is n, n being a positive integer; the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments are labeled as p.sub.1, p.sub.2, p.sub.3, . . . , to p.sub.n; a winding on each of the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments serves as a control winding, and the control windings on the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments are configured to independently operate; a number of turns of the control winding of each of the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments is correspondingly N.sub.dc_p1, N.sub.dc_p2, N.sub.dc_p3, . . . , N.sub.dc_pn; wherein an air gap exists between both ends of each of the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments and the center magnetic segment, and a length of the air gap is l.sub.g.

2. A control circuit of the variable inductor according to claim 1, comprising: n current control circuits, n detection circuits, and a microcontroller; wherein each of the n current control circuits is connected to the control winding of a corresponding peripheral magnetic segment; each of the n current control circuits is configured to independently control a size of a current passing through the control winding of a corresponding peripheral magnetic segment; wherein each of the n detection circuits is configured to independently detect the current passing through the control winding of a corresponding peripheral magnetic segment; wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive data collected by each of the n detection circuits and control the size of the current output by each of the n current control circuits.

3. A control method applied to the control circuit according to claim 2, comprising: Step 1: calling, by the microcontroller, a control program; Step 2: collecting, by each of the n detection circuits, the current on the control winding of a corresponding peripheral magnetic segment, and transmitting the current to the microcontroller; Step 3: controlling, by the microcontroller, one of the n current control circuits corresponding to one of the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments that is required to be saturated to output a corresponding current; and Step 4: outputting, by the one of the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments, the corresponding current, for causing the one of the plurality of peripheral magnetic segments to enter a saturation state.

4. A method for calculating a number of inductance values that is obtainable by the variable inductor according to claim 1, comprising: $N_{\mathrm{ind}}^{\left(n\right)}=\underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{.Math.}}C\left(n,m\right)=\underset{m=0}{\overset{n}{.Math.}}\frac{n!}{m!\left(n-m\right)!}$ wherein N.sub.ind.sup.(n) is the number of inductance values that is obtainable by the variable inductor.

5. A method for calculating an equivalent inductance value of the variable inductor according to claim 1, comprising: $L_{\mathrm{eq}}=\frac{N_{ac}^2}{R_c\left({}_c\right)+\left\{\left[R_{p1}\left({}_{p1}\right)+R_g\right].Math.\left[R_{pn}\left({}_{pn}\right)+R_g\right]\right\}}$ wherein L.sub.eq is the equivalent inductance value of the variable inductor; R.sub.p1 is a magnetoresistance of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.1, R.sub.pn is a magnetoresistance of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.n, R.sub.c is a magnetoresistance of the center magnetic segment, and R.sub.g is an air-gap magnetoresistance; .sub.p1 is a magnetic permeability of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.1, .sub.pn is a magnetic permeability of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.n, .sub.c is a magnetic permeability of the center magnetic segment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to make the objects, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely in the following in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and it is clear that the embodiments described are some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and not all of the embodiments. For those skilled in the art, other accompanying drawings may be obtained from these accompanying drawings without creative labor.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials, and a control circuit thereof according to the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an equivalent magnetoresistance circuit of a multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials according to the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of core magnetization curves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and features in the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely in the following in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present disclosure and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative labor fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials, and a control circuit thereof according to the present disclosure. The structure of the multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials includes n peripheral magnetic segments, viewed clockwise as p.sub.1, p.sub.2, p.sub.3, . . . , to p.sub.n; a center magnetic segment c; an air gap between two ends of each peripheral magnetic segment and the center magnetic segment; n independent control windings on the n peripheral magnetic segments, clockwise viewed as a first control winding, a second control winding, a third control winding, . . . , to an nth control winding; and an inductive winding on the center magnetic segment; where the core materials of the center magnetic segment and the individual peripheral magnetic segments are variable according to specific requirements of the inductor. The specific composition structure is as follows: [0034] The winding of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.1 is the first control winding, and the number of turns of the first control winding is N.sub.dc_p1; [0035] The winding of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.2 is the second control winding, and the number of turns of the second control winding is N.sub.dc_p2; [0036] The winding of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.3 is the third control winding, and the number of turns of the third control winding is N.sub.dc_p3; [0037] The winding of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.n is the nth control winding, and the number of turns of the nth control winding is N.sub.dc_pn; [0038] The winding of the center magnetic segment c is the inductive winding, and the number of turns of the inductive winding is N.sub.ac; [0039] The air gap l.sub.g is opened between the two ends of each peripheral magnetic segment and the center magnetic segment.

[0040] A control circuit of the multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials, includes: [0041] a microcontroller, a current control circuit 1, a current control circuit 2, a current control circuit 3, . . . , to a current control circuit n, a detection circuit 1, a detection circuit 2, and a detection circuit 3, . . . , to a detection circuit n.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an equivalent magnetoresistance circuit of a multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials according to the present disclosure. The working principle of the inductance change of the variable inductor is analyzed in conjunction with the magnetization curve of the magnetic core of FIG. 3: [0043] Step 1: the microcontroller calls a control program; [0044] Step 2: each of the n detection circuits collects the current on the control winding on a corresponding peripheral magnetic segment, and transmits the current to the microcontroller; [0045] Step 3: the microcontroller controls the current control circuit corresponding to the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.x that is required to be saturated to output a corresponding current; [0046] Step 4: the current control circuit outputs the current, causing the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.x to enter a saturation state.

[0047] According to the formula for calculating the inductance:

[00003]$L=\frac{N^{2}A}{l}=\frac{N^2}{R}$ [0048] where L is the inductance value, is the magnetic permeability, A is the cross-sectional area of the magnetic core, 1 is the magnetic circuit length, and R is the magnetoresistance.

[0049] Combined with the schematic diagram of the equivalent magnetoresistance circuit, the total peripheral magnetoresistance formula for the multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials is as follows:

[00004]$R_p^{tot}=\left[R_{p1}\left({}_{p1}\right)+R_g\right].Math.\left[R_{pn}\left({}_{pn}\right)+R_g\right]$ [0050] where R.sub.p.sup.tot is the total peripheral magnetoresistance, R.sub.p1 is the magnetoresistance of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.1, R.sub.pn is the magnetoresistance of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.n, R.sub.g is the air-gap magnetoresistance, .sub.p1 is the magnetic permeability of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.1, and .sub.pn is the magnetic permeability of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.n.

[0051] According to the formula for calculating the inductance, an equivalent inductance formula for the multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials can be obtained:

[00005]$L_{eq}=\frac{N_{ac}^2}{R_c\left({}_c\right)+R_p^{\mathrm{tot}}}$ [0052] wherein, L.sub.eq is the equivalent inductance value of the variable inductor, R.sub.c is the magnetoresistance of the center magnetic segment, R.sub.p.sup.tot is the total peripheral magnetoresistance, and N.sub.ac is the number of turns of the inductive winding on the center magnetic segment.

[0053] When the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.x enters the saturation state, the magnetic permeability of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.x .sub.px.fwdarw.0, so the magnetoresistance of the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.x R.sub.px.fwdarw.. According to the formula for the total peripheral magnetoresistance, in this case, all the magnetoresistance of the branch where the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.x is located cannot have an effect on the total peripheral magnetoresistance, which is equivalent to that the branch where the peripheral magnetic segment p.sub.x of the equivalent magnetoresistance circuit is located is disconnected.

[0054] The present disclosure discloses a multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials, and a control circuit and a control method thereof. Existing variable inductors are unable to take into account both control accuracy and a wide inductance variation range. As a comparison, the present disclosure proposes a multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials, including: a center magnetic segment, multiple peripheral magnetic segments, and independent windings on the magnetic segments. The winding on the center magnetic segment is directly connected to the circuit as an inductive winding, and the winding on each peripheral magnetic segment serves as a control winding to control the inductance value variation. The inductance value depends on the number of the peripheral magnetic segments with different core materials. The degree of magnetic saturation of a certain peripheral magnetic segment is changed by changing the size of the current in the corresponding control winding, and a suitable core material is selected as the center magnetic segment to ensure that the peripheral magnetic segment is saturated while the center magnetic segment is operating in a non-saturated state. Further, a control circuit and control method for the multi-core segment variable inductor with different core materials are disclosed.

[0055] In the description of the present disclosure, it needs to be clarified that the terms center, up, down, left right, vertical, horizontal, inside, outside, etc. are based on those shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and for simplifying the description, but are not intended to indicate or imply that the components or modules referred to must be constructed and operated with a particular orientation, and therefore are not to be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the terms first, second, third are intended for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as implying or indicating relative importance.

[0056] Unless otherwise expressly provided and limited, the terms connection and mounting are to be understood in a broad sense, e.g., as a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or a connection in one piece; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; a direct connection or a connection through an intermediary medium; a connectivity within two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood on a case-by-case basis.

[0057] The above embodiments are only intended to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure, not to limit them; the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure enables those skilled in the art to use or realize the present disclosure, and he or she can still make modifications to the technical solutions documented in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent replacements of some of the technical features therein. Such replacements or modifications do not take the essence of the corresponding technical solutions away from the spirit of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure.