Coupled inductors with non-uniform winding terminal distributions

A coupled inductor, comprising:

• a ladder magnetic core having a length, a width, and a height, the ladder magnetic core including first and second rails extending in the lengthwise direction and joined in the widthwise direction by at least first, second, and third rungs;
• a first winding wound at least partially around the first rung;
• a second winding wound at least partially around the second rung, the second winding being rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the first winding when seen looking cross-sectionally in the height direction of the magnetic core;
• and
• a third winding wound at least partially around the third rung, the third winding being rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the second winding when seen looking cross-sectionally in the height direction of the magnetic core;
• opposing ends of the first winding forming first and second solder tabs, respectively;
• opposing ends of the second winding forming third and fourth solder tabs, respectively;
• opposing ends of the third winding form fifth and sixth solder tabs, respectively;
• the first, third, and fifth solder tabs being disposed at least partially on a bottom outer surface of the first rail;
• the second, fourth, and sixth solder tabs being disposed at least partially on a bottom outer surface of the second rail;
• the windings being arranged such that current flowing into the first, third, and fifth solder tabs flows in a common direction around each of the first, second, and third rungs, respectively, when seen looking cross-sectionally in the widthwise direction of the magnetic core;
• each of the first and second windings having a common geometric shape;
• the third solder tab being disposed, in the lengthwise direction between the first and fifth solder tabs;
• the fourth solder tab being disposed, in the lengthwise direction, between the second and sixth solder tabs;
• and
• each of the second, third, and sixth solder tabs being larger than each of the first, fourth, and fifth solder tabs.

A multi-phase switching power converter, comprising:

• a coupled inductor, including:
• a ladder magnetic core having a length, a width, and a height, the ladder magnetic core including first and second rails extending in the lengthwise direction and joined in the widthwise direction by at least first and second rungs,
• a first winding wound at least partially around the first rung, and
• a second winding wound at least partially around the second rung, the second winding being rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the first winding when seen looking cross-sectionally in the height direction of the magnetic core,
• opposing ends of the first winding forming first and second solder tabs, respectively,
• opposing ends of the second winding forming third and fourth solder tabs, respectively,
• the first and third solder tabs being disposed at least partially on a bottom outer surface of the first rail,
• the second and fourth solder tabs being disposed at least partially on a bottom outer surface of the second rail,
• the first and second windings being arranged such that current flowing into the first and third solder tabs flows in a common direction around each of the first and second rungs, respectively, when seen looking cross-sectionally in the widthwise direction of the magnetic core;
• and
• first and second switching circuits, the first switching circuit adapted to repeatedly switch the first solder tab between at least two different voltage levels, the second switching circuit adapted to repeatedly switch the third solder tab between at least two different voltage levels.