Planar magnetic element

A DC/DC converter, comprising:

• a switching element;
• and
• a planar magnetic element, wherein said planar magnetic element includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one patterned conductive layer formed on said semiconductor substrate;
• and a insulation layer formed on said at least one patterned conductive layer, wherein said at least one patterned layer is patterned in the shape of a planar coil having a plurality of turns and having a gap aspect ratio greater than one, said gap aspect ratio being the ratio of the thickness of said at least one patterned conductive layer to a width of a gap between any adjacent two of said plurality of turns.

A planar magnetic element comprising:

• a semiconductor substrate;
• at least one patterned conductive layer formed on said semiconductor substrate;
• and
• a insulation layer formed on said at least one patterned conductive layer,
• wherein said at least one patterned layer is patterned in the shape of a planar coil having a plurality of turns and having a gap aspect ratio of from one to five, said gap aspect ratio being the ratio of the thickness of said at least one patterned conductive layer to a width of a gap between any adjacent two of said plurality of turns.

A DC-DC converter, comprising:

• a switching element;
• and
• a planar magnetic element, wherein said planar magnetic element includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one patterned conductive layer formed on said semiconductor substrate;
• and a insulation layer formed on said at least one patterned conductive layer, wherein said at least one patterned layer is patterned in the shape of a planar coil having a plurality of turns and having a gap aspect ratio of from one to five, said gap aspect ratio being the ratio of the thickness of said at least one patterned conducive layer to a width of a gap between any adjacent two of said plurality of turns.