All You Need to Know About Inductors in Electronic Design

The primary function of an inductor is to store energy in its magnetic field. When a current flows through an inductor, the magnetic field around the inductor expands, storing energy. When the current stops, the magnetic field collapses and releases the stored energy back into the circuit. This property of inductors makes them useful in a variety of applications, including power supplies and filters.

 

In power supplies, inductors are used to smooth out the output voltage and current. By storing and releasing energy, the inductor helps to regulate the voltage and current, preventing fluctuations and spikes that could damage the circuit or the connected devices. Inductors are particularly useful in DC-to-DC converters, where they help to step up or step down the voltage.

Inductors are also used in filters to remove unwanted frequencies from signals. In a low-pass filter, for example, an inductor is placed in series with the signal to block high-frequency signals and allow low-frequency signals to pass through. In a high-pass filter, the inductor is placed in parallel with the signal to block low-frequency signals and allow high-frequency signals to pass through.

Another important application of inductors is inoscillators. In an LC oscillator, an inductor and a capacitor are used to create a resonant circuit that produces a sinusoidal waveform. The inductor stores energy in its magnetic field, and the capacitor stores energy in its electric field. When the energy is released, it oscillates back and forth between the inductor and capacitor, creating a stable oscillation.

Inductors are also commonly used in transformers, which are used to step up or step down the voltage of an electrical signal. A transformer consists of two or more inductors that are connected by a common magnetic field. When an AC voltage is applied to one of the inductors, it creates a magnetic field that induces a voltage in the other inductors. By varying the number of turns in each inductor, the voltage can be stepped up or stepped down.

 

Inductors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and their properties can be adjusted by changing the number of turns, the diameter of the wire, and the core material. Ferrite cores, for example, are commonly used in high-frequency applications because they have a high magnetic permeability, which allows for a stronger magnetic field.

 

Inductors are an important component in electronic design that are used for a variety of functions, including energy storage, filtering, oscillation, and voltage transformation. Understanding how inductors work and how to incorporate them into electronic circuits is crucial for anyone working with electronics. By using inductorseffectively, designers can create circuits that are efficient, reliable, and perform the desired functions.