Embed Your Planar Magnetics To Maximize DC-DC Converter Performance (Part 1)

by Harold Eicher, Champs Technologies, East Setauket, NY, How2Power Today, Sep 24 2010

Focus:
Compared with wire-wound magnetic devices, planar magnetics offer advantages such as low profile, improved efficiency, and easier thermal management. In this article, the author argues that the time is now for many design engineers to switch from the discrete planar magnetic devices to embedded magnetics structures. With embedded planar magnetics, the copper windings for inductors or transformers are formed directly on the user's PCB and magnetic cores are then assembled over these windings. This approach enables a higher level of design optimization than the discrete planar approach. This article demonstrates how embedded planar magnetics can be applied to achieve enhanced performance in a digitally controlled dc-dc converter design. The magnetics design described here was originally developed as part of Microchip Technology's reference design for a dc-dc converter based on the dsPIC33F digital signal controller. In part 1 of this article, procedures are described for designing the main transformer and these procedures are applied to the design example up to the point of determining core losses and dc copper losses.

What you’ll learn:

• How to design embedded planar magnetic devices for power supply designs

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