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    5. Features and How to Select Inductors for Power Lines
    Inductor for Power Lines

    Types of Inductors (Product Features) and How to Select and Use ThemFeatures and How to Select Inductors for Power Lines

    Introducing the feature of Murata inductors for power lines and applications.

    The typical applications of inductors used in power circuits are for "power inductors" and "chokes", and are used in all electronic equipment.

    Table 1: Application and Role of Inductors for Power Circuits
    Applications Purpose
    Power Inductor Accumulates and discharges electrical energy as magnetic energy, and consists of part of the voltage conversion circuit. Low DC resistance, low AC resistance, effective DC superimposing characteristics
    Choke Inductors Cuts high frequency AC current components High inductance, low DC resistance

    Murata's lineup of inductors for power supply circuits includes products with two different structures, wire wound and multilayer.
    These products can be used for various applications utilizing the features of each product.

    Murata's Technology

    1. Manufacturing Technology

    Wire Wound Method Multilayer Method
    Structure
    Structure Wire Wound Method
    Structure Multilayer Method
    Features
    • Lineup of various sizes
    • Can be used for high inductance values in mH order
    • Demonstrates advantages in small low profile areas

    2. Wire Wound Inductor Technology

    The combination of Murata's magnetic material technology and wire wound technology (applicable to various wire diameters) realized a lineup of various variations.

    • Wire wound technology and terminal processing technology can be used for thin wires to thick wires
    • Magnetic circuit design technology, ferrite material technology and processing technology which enables the manufacturing of ferrite cores excellent in DC superimposing characteristics
    • Magnetic resin material technology and processing technology which contributes to improvement in the inductance acquisition efficiency
    Wire Wound Inductor Product Cross Section Image

    3. Multilayer Inductor Technology

    The combination of Murata's magnetic material technology and multilayer technology realized large current characteristics even in small size areas.

    • Internal circuit forming technology and ferrite core material technology which enables low AC resistance in the high frequency range
    • Internal power forming technology with high aspect ratios which enable low DC resistance

      Note: Aspect ratio (T/W) : Ratio of thickness (T) to the width (W) of the inductor conductor

    Multilayer Inductor Chip Cross Section Image

    Difference in Characteristics by each Structure

    1. Features of Wound Structure

    The wire wound inductor consists of a copper wire spirally wound around the ferrite core. Most of Murata's wire wound inductors for power circuits, are coated with various resins over the copper wire wound around the ferrite core. The purpose of the coating resin is to improve the strength of the product.
    The merits of using a wire wound product are demonstrated when used in large current areas and high inductance areas. The applicable markets vary from mobile phones to TV and digital cameras.

    Image of Wound Structure

    Applicable Murata products

    For power inductors

    For chokes (LQH series)

    For chokes (LQW series)

    2. Feature of Film Structure

    The multilayer inductor consists of a sintered alternately layered ceramic material and coil conductor. Compared with the wound structure, small sizes/low profiles are possible.
    Along with the progression of the high frequency of switching frequencies, the required inductance of the multilayer inductor for power inductors where mobile phones are the main market tends to be deteriorating, and cases where the multilayer inductor can be applied are expected to increase further.

    Image of Film Structure

    Applicable Murata products

    For power inductors

    For chokes

    3. Summary

    Wire Wound Method Multilayer Method
    Structure
    Structure Wire Wound Method
    Structure Multilayer Method
    Features
    • Lineup of various sizes
    • Can be used for high inductance values, and is ideal for power supply booster circuits
    • Ideal for small size/low profile areas
    • Magnetic shielded structure
    Applications Mobile phones, digital cameras, TV, HDD, game machines Mobile phones, digital cameras

    Effective use of Inductors

    The product group of Murata's inductors for power circuits consists of the wire wound type and the multilayer type. For the applications of power inductors, Murata has prepared the "Murata Power Inductor Selection Tool" which can calculate and display the performance of inductors based on actual use conditions.
    The application of power inductors greatly contributes to the loss of inductors in the conversion efficiency of a set.

    The loss of inductors can also be estimated in the frequency and current values actually used, by using the "Murata Power Inductor Selection Tool". The inductors mounted in sets which increase the conversion efficiency of a power supply to the maximum can easily be selected.

    Back to "Types of Inductors (Product Features) and How to Select and Use Them"

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    1. Electronic Components
    2. Inductors
    3. Inductor for Power Lines
    1. HOME
    2. Electronic Components
    3. Inductors
    4. Inductor for Power Lines
    5. Features and How to Select Inductors for Power Lines
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