Inductor Design Methods With Low-Permeability RF Core Materials

This paper presents a design procedure for inductors based on low-permeability magnetic materials, for use in very high frequency power conversion. The proposed procedure offers an easy and fast way to compare different magnetic materials based on Steinmetz parameters and quickly select the best among them, to estimate the achievable inductor quality factor and size, and to design the inductor. Approximations used in the proposed methods are discussed. Geometry optimization of magnetic-core inductors is also investigated. The proposed design procedure and methods are verified by experiments.