Inductor packaging for power converters

An automotive power converter comprising:

• a plurality of pairs of switches;
• a first inductor comprising a first conductive winding coupled to the plurality of pairs of switches, the first conductive winding having first and second portions;
• and
• a second inductor comprising a second conductive winding coupled to the plurality of pair of switches and the first conductive winding, the second conductive winding having first and second portions, the first and second inductors being configured such that the first portions of the first and second conductive windings are between the second portions of the first and second conductive windings and when current flows through the plurality of pairs of switches and the first and second inductors,
• substantially all flux generated by the current flowing through the first portion of the first conductive winding and located between the first and second conductive windings is oriented in a first direction,
• substantially all flux generated by the current flowing through the first portion of the second conductive winding and located between the first and second conductive windings is oriented in a second direction, the second direction being substantially opposite the first direction, and
• substantially all of the current flowing through the first portions of the first and second conductive windings flows in a third direction, the third direction being substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions,
• wherein the first and second conductive windings are wrapped about axes that are substantially parallel to the first and second directions,
• wherein the first conductive winding is wrapped about a first axis and the second conductive winding is wrapped around a second axis, the first and second axes being substantially parallel to the first and second directions, and wherein
• substantially all flux generated by the current along the first axis within the first conductive winding is oriented in substantially the second direction, and
• substantially all flux generated by the current along the second axis within the second conductive winding is oriented in substantially the first direction.

An automotive drive system comprising:

• an electric motor;
• a power converter coupled to the electric motor and configured to be coupled to a first voltage source and a second voltage source, the power converter comprising a plurality of switches and first and second inductive components;
• and
• a controller in operable communication with the power converter, the controller being configured to activate the plurality of switches to cause current to flow through the first and second inductive components,
• wherein the first and second inductive components are configured such that the first portion of the first inductive component is between the second portion of the first inductive component and the second inductive component and when current flows from the plurality of switches and through the first and second inductive components, wherein the first inductive component comprises a first conductive winding and the second inductive component comprises a second conductive winding, and wherein
• substantially all flux generated by the current flowing through the first portion of the first inductive component and located between the first inductive component and the second inductive component is oriented in a first direction, and
• substantially all flux generated by the current flowing through the second inductive component and located between the first inductive component and the second inductive component is oriented in a second direction, the second direction being substantially opposite the first direction,
• wherein the first conductive winding is wrapped about a first axis and the second conductive winding is wrapped around a second axis, the first and second axes being substantially parallel to the first and second directions, and wherein
• substantially all flux generated by the current along the first axis within the first conductive winding is oriented in substantially the second direction, and
• substantially all flux generated by the current along the second axis within the second conductive winding is oriented in substantially the first direction.