Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    5th PCNS Conference Registration Now Open!

    YAGEO Introduces Automotive Supercapacitors for Stable BMS in EVs

    Capacitance Definition of Non-Linear Voltage Dependent Capacitors

    Littelfuse Releases Harsh Environment Robust Tactile Switches

    Bourns Releases Noise Suppression Common Mode SMD Inductors

    Passive Electronic Components Lead-times Update

    Bourns Releases New SMD Line Filter for Enhanced EMI Suppression

    TDK Expands 3-terminal Automotive SMD Chip Filters to 35V

    Quantic Eulex Presents Ceramic Gap RF Capacitors

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Coupled Inductors Circuit Model and Examples of its Applications

    Inductor Resonances and its Impact to EMI

    Highly Reliable Flex Rigid PCBs, Würth Elektronik Webinar

    Causes of Oscillations in Flyback Converters

    How to design a 60W Flyback Transformer

    Modeling and Simulation of Leakage Inductance

    Power Inductor Considerations for AI High Power Computing – Vishay Video

    Coupled Inductors in Multiphase Boost Converters

    VPG Demonstrates Precision Resistor in Cryogenic Conditions

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    5th PCNS Conference Registration Now Open!

    YAGEO Introduces Automotive Supercapacitors for Stable BMS in EVs

    Capacitance Definition of Non-Linear Voltage Dependent Capacitors

    Littelfuse Releases Harsh Environment Robust Tactile Switches

    Bourns Releases Noise Suppression Common Mode SMD Inductors

    Passive Electronic Components Lead-times Update

    Bourns Releases New SMD Line Filter for Enhanced EMI Suppression

    TDK Expands 3-terminal Automotive SMD Chip Filters to 35V

    Quantic Eulex Presents Ceramic Gap RF Capacitors

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Coupled Inductors Circuit Model and Examples of its Applications

    Inductor Resonances and its Impact to EMI

    Highly Reliable Flex Rigid PCBs, Würth Elektronik Webinar

    Causes of Oscillations in Flyback Converters

    How to design a 60W Flyback Transformer

    Modeling and Simulation of Leakage Inductance

    Power Inductor Considerations for AI High Power Computing – Vishay Video

    Coupled Inductors in Multiphase Boost Converters

    VPG Demonstrates Precision Resistor in Cryogenic Conditions

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result

To Be Planar or Not To Be

24.10.2023
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

This article based on Chema Molina, CEO of Frenetic newsletter discusses planar magnetics considerations as it may not be the best optimum solution designers are asking for.

The trend of planar magnetics as the holy grail of magnetics has lasted 30 years. The trend consists of people, usually not magnetic experts, asking for a planar solution to improve their power density. Or teams of engineers, only trying to solve their designs with Planar technologies without considering any other option.

RelatedPosts

How to design a 60W Flyback Transformer

How to Design LLC Transformer

Leakage Inductance Model; Frenetic Webinar Recording

That’s a mistake.

In most cases, the planar solution is not the best, I would say in only 10% of the cases, the planar is the best technical solution for DC/DC magnetics. Inductors are usually the main discussion, so I will focus on transformers and flybacks directly. In the Flyback topology, we have done both cases and to be honest, there was only one case I considered interesting.

When the magnetic is integrated into the PCB from the starting moment. When doing the simulation, you already consider a sizeable parasitic capacitance and use the PCB space considering the winding wires. But in terms of volume, 90% of the cases, you can get a smaller solution and easy to integrate with a concentric magnetic.

For transformers, it depends on the current levels and your mechanical goals. If you consider integrating the magnetic in the PCB, your current levels should be limited to your PCB manufacturer’s copper thickness capability.

For very high current designs, this is entirely different. We don´t use PCB; we use cooper layers and the connection to the power module needs some mechanical solution. Additionally, we use a case to improve the heat dissipation, increasing the weight. In this case, a planar solution is likely more compact.

However, once you are not integrated into the PCB, the height can be achieved using Litz or a combination of Litz and Cooper layers. We saw a good example here in this design completed by Antonio Escudero, in my opinion, one of the best engineers of Infineon.

Integrating Transformer + Inductor

One of the limitations of using a planar transformer is the complexity added in integrating the Leakage inductance as part of the operation. The main reasons are:

  • The leakage inductance is low and difficult to predict with more than a 70% accuracy
  • You can include some ferrite layers to increase the leakage like in the Total Component article.

There is a significant benefit of the planar designs in this regard: the repeatability, which is extremely good.

Related

Source: Frenetic

Recent Posts

5th PCNS Conference Registration Now Open!

5.6.2025
5

Capacitance Definition of Non-Linear Voltage Dependent Capacitors

5.6.2025
7

Bourns Releases Noise Suppression Common Mode SMD Inductors

4.6.2025
11

Passive Electronic Components Lead-times Update

4.6.2025
28

Coilcraft Unveils 165C High-Temperature Coupled Inductors

3.6.2025
10

Murata Expands its Automotive Common Mode Choke Coils to 150C and High Current Capability

29.5.2025
32

Bourns Releases New Current Transformer

29.5.2025
20

Bourns Releases New Shielded Power Inductors for DDR5

29.5.2025
34

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Releases 165C Automotive 0806 Size Power Inductors

21.5.2025
36

Coupled Inductors Circuit Model and Examples of its Applications

21.5.2025
100

Upcoming Events

Jun 24
17:00 - 18:00 CEST

Ultra-Compact and Efficient Switched-Capacitor Power Converters

View Calendar

Popular Posts

  • Buck Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boost Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Flyback Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What is a Dielectric Constant and DF of Plastic Materials?

    4 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 0
  • LLC Resonant Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ripple Current and its Effects on the Performance of Capacitors

    3 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 0
  • Dual Active Bridge (DAB) Topology Explained

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • SEPIC Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • How to Design an Inductor

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Flying Capacitors Explained

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter Subscription

 

Passive Components Blog

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • EPCI Membership & Advertisement
  • About

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Premium Suppliers

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version