Low profile inductive component

Abstract

A low profile inductive component in accordance with the disclosure set forth here comprises a low profile body having spread apart soldering pads for electrically and mechanically attaching the structure to a printed circuit board and defining an aperture between the pads. A magnetic core is disposed in the aperture. A wire is wound around the core having a first and second end connected to the pads. One end of the core is disposed in the aperture of the low profile body and its other end, which is larger than the aperture, is spaced from the body by spacers extending from the body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to electronic components, and more particularly concerns low profile surface mountable inductive components.BACKGROUND[0002]The electronics industry is continually called upon to make products smaller and more powerful. Applications such as mobile phones, portable computers, computer accessories, hand-held electronics, etc., create a large demand for smaller electrical components. These applications further drive technology to research new areas and ideas with respect to miniaturizing electronics. Often times, applications specifically require “low profile” components due to constraints in height and width. Unfortunately, the technology is often limited due to the inability to make certain components smaller, faster, or more powerful. Nowhere can this be seen more than in the struggle to manufacture smaller electrical circuits.[0003]Originally, components were mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) by inserting the leads...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A low profile inductive component in accordance with the invention comprises a low profile body having spread apart soldering pads for electrically and mechanically attaching the body to a printed circuit board. The body defines an aperture between the pads. A core is disposed in the aperture. A wire is wound around the core and has first and second ends connected to the soldering pads. The core has integral flange ends, with the upper flange being smaller than a lower flange. The body has spacers on its lower surface which bear against the lower flange to retain the core such that it does not fully pass through the aperture of the body. This structure allows for the upper flange to be disposed in the aperture of the body with the lower flange abutting the spacer so as to position the flange above the plane of the solder pads.

[0011]An advantage to using this component is that the wire wound around the core is not exposed and the inductive component takes on a slim wafer shape, making it ideal for low profile applications. A further advantage is that the component retains a traditional shape and has no awkward protruding members, thereby making it suitable for vacuum placement surface mount applications, for densely populated PCBs, and / or applications requiring components that use a minimal amount of space.

Problems solved by technology

Often times, applications specifically require “low profile” components due to constraints in height and width.

Unfortunately, the technology is often limited due to the inability to make certain components smaller, faster, or more powerful.

This technique left half of the PCB unpopulated because one side had to be reserved for solder pads and solder.

As a result of this advancement in technology, the current electronic circuits are mainly limited by the size of components used on the PCB.

Unfortunately, there are some electronic components that can simply not be produced any smaller than they currently are.

Usually this is because the desired parameters for the component cannot be achieved when using smaller parts.

Unfortunately, this structure creates an awkward sized component with exposed conductive wires capable of being damaged.

In addition, the need for pre-wound coils, upper and lower core attachments (the core set), and a header having projections is costly and takes up valuable space on the PCB.

Such a device does not answer the growing need for smaller components.

Unfortunately, suspending the coil above or alongside the PCB does not reduce the amount of space required for the circuit as a whole.

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