Inductor component and DC/DC converter using the same

A DC/DC converter comprising first and second circuits connected in parallel between an input terminal and an output terminal,

• wherein the first circuit includes a first switching transistor and a first inductor which are connected in series,
• wherein the second circuit includes a second switching transistor and a second inductor which are connected in series,
• wherein the first and second inductors are constituted by an inductor component, the inductor component comprising:
• a magnetic core having a plurality of magnetic thin ribbons extending in first and second directions perpendicular to each other and laminated in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions;
• a first coil conductor inserted into first and second through holes penetrating the magnetic core in the third direction;
• and
• a second coil conductor inserted into third and fourth through holes penetrating the magnetic core in the third direction,
• wherein the first and second through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to a first center line passing, in the first direction, a center position of the magnetic core in the second direction,
• wherein the third and fourth through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to the first center line,
• wherein the first and third through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to a second center line passing, in the second direction, a center position of the magnetic core in the first direction,
• wherein the second and fourth through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to the second center line,
• wherein each of the plurality of magnetic thin ribbons is divided into a plurality of small pieces by net-shaped cracks,
• wherein a periphery of each of the first to fourth through holes is surrounded by the plurality of small pieces without being circumferentially divided by a slit having a size larger than the crack, and
• wherein the first and second inductors are constituted respectively by the first and second coil conductors of the inductor component.

A DC/DC converter comprising:

• a first switching transistor connected between an input terminal and an intermediate terminal;
• and
• first and second circuits connected in parallel between the intermediate terminal and an output terminal,
• wherein the first circuit includes a capacitor and a first inductor which are connected in series,
• wherein the second circuit includes a second switching transistor and a second inductor which are connected in series,
• wherein the first and second inductors are constituted by an inductor component, the inductor component comprising:
• a magnetic core having a plurality of magnetic thin ribbons extending in first and second directions perpendicular to each other and laminated in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions;
• a first coil conductor inserted into first and second through holes penetrating the magnetic core in the third direction;
• and
• a second coil conductor inserted into third and fourth through holes penetrating the magnetic core in the third direction,
• wherein the first and second through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to a first center line passing, in the first direction, a center position of the magnetic core in the second direction,
• wherein the third and fourth through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to the first center line,
• wherein the first and third through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to a second center line passing, in the second direction, a center position of the magnetic core in the first direction,
• wherein the second and fourth through holes are disposed symmetric with respect to the second center line,
• wherein each of the plurality of magnetic thin ribbons is divided into a plurality of small pieces by net-shaped cracks,
• wherein a periphery of each of the first to fourth through holes is surrounded by the plurality of small pieces without being circumferentially divided by a slit having a size larger than the crack, and
• wherein the first and second inductors are constituted respectively by the first and second coil conductors of the inductor component.