Power moulded flat-wire inductors for high switching frequencies and output currents

Würth Elektronik has introduced its new moulded flat-wire inductor with the designation WE-PMFI. The compact inductor measures just 2mm × 1.6mm × 1mm in its smallest package. It also impresses with extremely low resistance (RDC from 4.8mΩ), an operating voltage of up to 48V, as well as an extended temperature range from -55C to +150C, making it particularly suitable for DC-DC converter assemblies in compact applications that need high output currents and switching frequencies exceeding one megahertz.

Flat-wire technology provides advantages for inductors: they are mechanically more robust and optimised heat dissipation. The wire shape uses the winding area more efficiently, providing higher inductance values in the same package size as round wire. Flat-wire windings also provide a larger cross-sectional area, reducing resistance and I2R losses. Eddy current losses, particularly in high-frequency applications, are also lower in a flat-wire inductor compared to the round-wire version. These properties have allowed the company to develop a new generation of more compact, temperature-resistant components that are far more energy-efficient. They open up new design options for developers.

This small and highly efficient inductor is perfect for powering CPUs and RAM in portable electronic devices like smartphones and tablets. Measurements with comparable components on the market have shown that the device has 50% lower DC resistance, 40% higher rated current, and 30% higher saturation current.

The new moulded flat-wire inductor is now available in a wide range of inductance values from 100nH to 4.7µH. As with all the company's components, free laboratory samples of the new flat-wire inductor can also be ordered.