Coupled inductor structures utilizing magnetic films

Abstract

An inductor is disclosed, including a first wire, a non-conductive material, and a shell. The non-conductive material may cover the first wire, with a portion of each end of the first wire uncovered. The shell may include a top portion and a bottom portion and include at least one magnetized layer and at least one gap between the first portion and the second portion. The shell may also surround a portion of the non-conductive material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an inductor, including:
 a first wire; 
 a second wire, parallel to the first wire; 
 a non-conductive material covering the first wire and the second wire; and 
 a shell, including an upper portion and a lower portion, surrounding a portion of the non-conductive material, wherein the shell includes at least one magnetized layer, wherein the shell includes a particular gap between the upper portion and the lower portion at which the non-conductive material is not covered, and wherein the upper portion of the shell includes a first part and a second part with a different gap between the first part and the second part at which the non-conductive material is not covered. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particular gap and the different gap run parallel to each other for a length of the shell. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particular gap and the different gap run parallel to the first and second wires for a length of the shell. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the shell includes a first part and a second part with another gap between the first part and the second part of the lower portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the shell includes a plurality of magnetized layers, wherein each layer is separated by a layer of non-conductive material, and wherein magnetic properties of each magnetized layer are different from one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a strength of a magnetic field of a first magnetized layer of the plurality of magnetized layers is greater than a strength of a magnetic field of a second magnetized layer of the plurality of magnetized layers that is closer to the first and second wires than the first magnetized layer. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an inductor, including:
 a first wire; 
 a second wire, parallel to the first wire; 
 a non-conductive material covering the first wire and the second wire; and 
 a shell, including an upper portion and a lower portion, surrounding a portion of the non-conductive material, wherein the shell includes at least one magnetized layer, wherein a cross section of the upper portion of the shell includes a channel formed between the first wire and the second wire, wherein the shell includes a particular gap between the upper portion and the lower portion at which the non-conductive material is not covered, and wherein the lower portion of the shell includes a first part and a second part with a different gap between the first part and the second part at which the non-conductive material is not covered. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the particular gap and the different gap run parallel to each other for a length of the shell. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the particular gap and the different gap run parallel to the first and second wires for a length of the shell. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the lower portion of the shell includes a first part and a second part with another gap between the first part and the second part of the lower portion. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the another gap runs parallel to the different gap for a length of the shell. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the upper portion of the shell includes a plurality of magnetized layers, wherein each layer is separated by a layer of non-conductive material, and wherein magnetic properties of each magnetized layer are different from one another. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a strength of a magnetic field of a first magnetized layer of the plurality of magnetized layers is greater than a strength of a magnetic field of a second magnetized layer of the plurality of magnetized layers that is closer to the first and second wires than the first magnetized layer. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first inductor, including:
 a first wire; 
 a second wire, parallel to the first wire; 
 a first non-conductive material covering the first wire and the second wire; and 
 a first upper shell surrounding a portion of the first non-conductive material, wherein the first upper shell includes at least one magnetized layer, and wherein a cross section of the first upper shell includes a channel formed between the first wire and the second wire; and 
   a second inductor, including:
 a third wire; 
 a fourth wire, parallel to the third wire; 
 a second non-conductive material covering the third wire and the fourth wire; and 
 a second upper shell surrounding a portion of the second non-conductive material, wherein the second upper shell includes at least one magnetized layer; 
   wherein the second inductor is inverted and attached on a bottom of the first inductor to form an inductive device, wherein the first wire and the third wire are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a gap between the first upper shell and the second upper shell. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the gap runs parallel to the first and second wires for a length of the first and second upper shells. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first wire is conductively coupled to the third wire and the second wire is conductively coupled to the fourth wire. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the channel runs parallel to the first wire and the second wire. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein a cross section of the second upper shell includes a different channel formed between the third wire and the fourth wire. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first upper shell and the second upper shell each include a plurality of magnetized layers, wherein each layer is separated by a layer of non-conductive material, and wherein magnetic properties of each magnetized layer are different from one another.