In-board magnetics processes

This paper introduces a design and manufacturing process for integrating magnetic components, transformers and inductors, within a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB). As such, the magnetic core constitutes one or more of the layers of the PCB. This structure has a number of potentially advantageous features. The thickness of the resulting magnetic component can be rather small, comparable to that of standard laminated multilayer PCBs. If the traces used to form the turns of the magnetic devices are internal layers of the multilayer PCB, the surface real estate occupied by the magnetic device is fully available for other surface mountable components. Thus, this technology offers great advantage in packaging density. In addition, the planar type form factor provides for a large surface area to volume ratio, allowing for effective heat transfer from the magnetic device