# US 12,183,501 B2 · Inductor component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,183,501 B2 - Document ID: US12183501B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/497,669 - Filed: 2021-10-08 - Published: 2022-01-27 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-10 - Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yuta Shimoda; Tomohiro Kido - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12183501B2 ## CPC - H01F 27/30: Fastening or clamping coils, windings, or parts thereof together; Fastening or mounting coils or windings on core, casing, or other support - H01F 17/0013: {with stacked layers} - H01F 27/2852: {Construction of conductive connections, of leads} - H01F 27/292: {Surface mounted devices} - H01F 27/323: {Insulation between winding turns, between winding layers} - H01F 41/043: {by thick film techniques} - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES ## Abstract An inductor component comprising an element body including a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other, and a bottom surface connected between the first end surface and the second end surface; a coil disposed in the element body and including a coil conductor layer wound in a planar shape on a vertical plane for the first end surface, the second end surface, and the bottom surface; and a first external electrode and a second external electrode embedded in the element body so as to be exposed from at least the bottom surface and electrically connected to the coil. The first external electrode has an end edge extending in a direction orthogonal to the vertical plane, and the end edge is formed into an uneven shape. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inductor component comprising: an element body including a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other, and a bottom surface connected between the first end surface and the second end surface; a coil disposed in the element body and including a coil conductor layer wound in a planar shape on a vertical plane for the first end surface, the second end surface, and the bottom surface; and a first external electrode and a second external electrode embedded in the element body so as to be exposed from at least the bottom surface and electrically connected to the coil, the first external electrode having a first portion extending along the bottom surface and a second portion extending along the first end surface, and a thickness of the first portion being smaller than a thickness of the second portion, wherein a side of the second portion of the first external electrode which is to be connected to the coil conductor layer is flat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein the first external electrode is exposed from the first end surface over the bottom surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The inductor component according to claim 2, wherein the second portion of the first external electrode has a second end edge exposed on the first end surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The inductor component according to claim 2, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode has a recess with a depth of 20 μm or more. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The inductor component according to claim 2, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode has a recess with a depth equal to or greater than half of a size of the first external electrode in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The inductor component according to claim 2, wherein the first external electrode includes multiple external electrode conductor layers formed on the vertical plane and each of multiple planes parallel to the vertical plane, and an interlayer external electrode conductor layer connecting two adjacent layers of the multiple external electrode conductor layers, and the interlayer external electrode conductor layers are smaller than the external electrode conductor layers so that an uneven shape of a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode is formed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The inductor component according to claim 2, wherein the first external electrode includes multiple external electrode conductor layers formed on the vertical plane and each of multiple planes parallel to the vertical plane, and two adjacent layers of the multiple external electrode conductor layers are separated by a separation groove so that an uneven shape of a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode is formed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The inductor component according to claim 2, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode extends in a direction orthogonal to the vertical plane, and the first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode being formed into an uneven shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The inductor component according to claim 3, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode has a recess with a depth of 20 μm or more. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The inductor component according to claim 3, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode has a recess with a depth equal to or greater than half of a size of the first external electrode in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The inductor component according to claim 3, wherein the first external electrode includes multiple external electrode conductor layers formed on the vertical plane and each of multiple planes parallel to the vertical plane, and an interlayer external electrode conductor layer connecting two adjacent layers of the multiple external electrode conductor layers, and the interlayer external electrode conductor layers are smaller than the external electrode conductor layers so that an uneven shape of a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode is formed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The inductor component according to claim 3, wherein the first external electrode includes multiple external electrode conductor layers formed on the vertical plane and each of multiple planes parallel to the vertical plane, and two adjacent layers of the multiple external electrode conductor layers are separated by a separation groove so that an uneven shape of a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode is formed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The inductor component according to claim 3, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode extends in a direction orthogonal to the vertical plane, and the first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode being formed into an uneven shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode has a recess with a depth of 20 μm or more. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode has a recess with a depth equal to or greater than half of a size of the first external electrode in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein the first external electrode includes multiple external electrode conductor layers formed on the vertical plane and each of multiple planes parallel to the vertical plane, and an interlayer external electrode conductor layer connecting two adjacent layers of the multiple external electrode conductor layers, and the interlayer external electrode conductor layers are smaller than the external electrode conductor layers so that an uneven shape of a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode is formed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein the first external electrode includes multiple external electrode conductor layers formed on the vertical plane and each of multiple planes parallel to the vertical plane, and two adjacent layers of the multiple external electrode conductor layers are separated by a separation groove so that an uneven shape of a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode is formed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The inductor component according to claim 1, wherein a first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode extends in a direction orthogonal to the vertical plane, and the first end edge of the first portion of the first external electrode being formed into an uneven shape. ### Claim 19 An inductor component comprising: an element body including a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other, and a bottom surface connected between the first end surface and the second end surface; a coil disposed in the element body and including a coil conductor layer wound in a planar shape on a vertical plane for the first end surface, the second end surface, and the bottom surface; and a first external electrode and a second external electrode embedded in the element body so as to be exposed from at least the bottom surface and electrically connected to the coil, the first external electrode having a first portion extending along the bottom surface and a second portion extending along the first end surface, and a thickness of the first portion being smaller than a thickness of the second portion, wherein the coil has a connection portion that is connected to the second portion of the first external electrode, and the connection portion extends from the second portion in a direction oblique to a direction of extension of the second portion, and wherein a side of the second portion of the first external electrode which is to be connected to the coil conductor layer is flat. ### Claim 20 An inductor component comprising: an element body including a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other, and a bottom surface connected between the first end surface and the second end surface; a coil disposed in the element body and including a coil conductor layer wound in a planar shape on a vertical plane for the first end surface, the second end surface, and the bottom surface; and a first external electrode and a second external electrode embedded in the element body so as to be exposed from at least the bottom surface and electrically connected to the coil, the first external electrode having a first portion extending along the bottom surface and a second portion extending along the first end surface, and a thickness of the first portion being smaller than a thickness of the second portion, wherein the first external electrode does not protrude from the bottom surface and the first end surface and a length of the first portion is not shorter than a length of the second portion, and wherein a side of the second portion of the first external electrode which is to be connected to the coil conductor layer is flat. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The inductor component according to claim 20, wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrated. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The inductor component according to claim 20, wherein the length of the first portion is the same as the length of the second portion. ### Claim 23 An inductor component comprising: an element body including a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other, and a bottom surface connected between the first end surface and the second end surface; a coil disposed in the element body and including a coil conductor layer wound in a planar shape on a vertical plane for the first end surface, the second end surface, and the bottom surface; and a first external electrode and a second external electrode embedded in the element body so as to be exposed from at least the bottom surface and electrically connected to the coil, the first external electrode having a first portion extending along the bottom surface and a second portion extending along the first end surface, and a thickness of the first portion being smaller than a thickness of the second portion, wherein a thickness of the first portion is less than 20 μm, and wherein a side of the second portion of the first external electrode which is to be connected to the coil conductor layer is flat.