# US 12,217,891 B2 · Vertical magnetic structure for integrated power conversion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,217,891 B2 - Document ID: US12217891B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/285,751 - Filed: 2019-10-15 - Published: 2022-01-06 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-15 - Assignees: University College Cork, National University of Ireland - Applicants: University College Cork—National University of Ireland - Inventors: Cian O'Mathuna; Daniel Smallwood; Zoran Pavlovic; Hugh Smiddy; Seamus O'Driscoll; Paul McCloskey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217891B2 ## CPC - H01F 17/0013: {with stacked layers} - H01F 27/2804: {Printed windings} - H01F 41/046: {structurally combined with ferromagnetic material} - H05K 1/113: {Via provided in pad; Pad over filled via} - H05K 1/165: {incorporating printed inductors} - H01F 27/2809: {on stacked layers} - H01F 2017/002: {Details of via holes for interconnecting the layers} - H01F 2017/0066: {with a magnetic layer} - H05K 2201/083: Magnetic materials - H05K 2201/09609: Via grid, i.e. two-dimensional array of vias or holes in a single plane - H05K 2201/09618: Via fence, i.e. one-dimensional array of vias - H05K 2201/09627: Special connections between adjacent vias, not for grounding vias - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract The present invention provides an inductor device comprising one or more interconnected columns of conductive material embedded in a supporting structure, wherein the one or more columns comprise an input terminal and an output terminal; and wherein each column is surrounded by a first magnetic layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transformer or coupled inductor device comprising: two interconnected vertical columns of conductive material extending from a substrate embedded in a supporting structure, the two interconnected columns comprising a first column and a second column spaced apart from the first column, each column comprising an inner column portion and an outer column portion concentric with the inner column portion, the outer column portion and the inner column portion each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first inner column portion and the first outer column portion each comprise an input terminal or an output terminal and the first end of the second inner column portion and the second outer column portion each comprise an input terminal or an output terminal, and wherein the second end of the first inner column portion is conductively coupled to the second end of the second inner column portion by an inner interconnecting track of conductive material, and wherein the second end of the first outer column portion is conductively coupled to the second end of the second outer column portion by an outer interconnecting track of conductive material; wherein the device further comprises a first magnetic layer surrounding each outer column portion and a second magnetic layer surrounding each inner column portion, wherein the first and second magnetic layers comprise a plurality of vertical laminations comprising alternating magnetic and dielectric layers and the second magnetic layer is provided between each inner column portion and outer column portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the degree of coupling between the inner column portion and the outer column portion is tuned by varying the thickness of the first and/or second magnetic layers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, where the supporting structure comprises a non-conductive and non-magnetic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the supporting structure comprises the first magnetic layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic layer and/or the second magnetic layer comprise magnetic particles suspended in a polymer matrix. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the first magnetic layer comprises a plurality of rings of magnetic material, each column surrounded by one ring, and further comprising an insulation layer between each of the rings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each column is solid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each column is hollow. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic layer and/or the second magnetic layer have magnetic anisotropy such that the hard-axis is oriented circumferentially to the columns. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An inductor device as claimed in claim 1 comprising: at least two interconnected columns of conductive material embedded in a supporting structure, wherein the columns are interconnected by tracks of conductive material, wherein the at least two columns comprise an input terminal and an output terminal; and wherein each column is surrounded by a first magnetic layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure comprises a non-semiconductive, non-glass, non-PCB material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure comprises the tracks of conductive material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure comprises a magnetic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure comprises a non-conductive and non-magnetic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure comprises a non-conductive and non-magnetic material and the tracks of conductive material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the at least two interconnected columns of conductive material embedded in the supporting structure are separated by an interstitial medium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The inductor device of claim 16, wherein the interstitial medium comprises a gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The inductor device of claim 16, wherein the interstitial medium comprises a magnetic material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The inductor device of claim 16, wherein the interstitial medium comprises a non-conductive and non-magnetic material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the first magnetic layer comprises a plurality of rings of magnetic material, each column surrounded by one ring, and further comprising an insulation layer between each of the rings. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein each column is solid. ### Claim 22 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein each column is hollow. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein each column comprises an inner column portion and an outer column portion concentric with the inner column portion, wherein the first magnetic layer surrounds each outer column portion and a second magnetic layer surrounds each inner column portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the first magnetic layer and/or the second magnetic layer comprise a plurality of vertical laminations comprising alternating magnetic and dielectric layers. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The inductor device of claim 20, wherein the coupling factor between the columns of conductive material is tuneable by adjusting the width of the insulation layer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure comprises the first magnetic layer; and wherein the first and/or second magnetic layer comprise magnetic particles suspended in a polymer matrix. ### Claim 27 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the first magnetic layer and/or the second magnetic layer have magnetic anisotropy such that the hard-axis is oriented circumferentially to the columns. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The inductor device of claim 27, wherein the magnetic anisotropy is a function of the aspect ratio of the columns of conductive material. ### Claim 29 (depends on 10) The inductor device of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a discrete, self-supporting device.