Electronic components inductors,Invisible Guardians in Life
2026-05-18
What is an inductor?
The essence of inductance: it resists changes in current, stores and releases electromagnetic energy.
Physics class representative: Inductance is represented by the letter L, with the unit being Henry (H). A wire wound into a coil is the simplest inductance.
1、 Where is the inductor?
- Your phone has 15-30 inductors (phone function)
Fast charging: Inductance turns high voltage into low voltage while maintaining high current;
Screen brightness adjustment: Inductance stores energy to ensure stable backlight without flickering;
In the power supply of the camera focusing drive motor, the inductor is responsible for filtering;
5G signal: In RF circuits, inductors and capacitors are used to tune the frequency;
Wireless charging: The transmitting and receiving ends each have a large inductor (coil).
Screen brightness adjustment: Inductance stores energy to ensure stable backlight without flickering;
In the power supply of the camera focusing drive motor, the inductor is responsible for filtering;
5G signal: In RF circuits, inductors and capacitors are used to tune the frequency;
Wireless charging: The transmitting and receiving ends each have a large inductor (coil).
- Your computer has over 50 inductors
CPU power supply: Inductance reduces 12V to 1V, providing pure and stable energy to the processor;
Graphics card power supply: High end graphics cards have a power consumption of 300W+and no inductance, so the graphics card will directly burn out;
USB interface: Each USB port has an inductive filter to prevent mutual interference.
Graphics card power supply: High end graphics cards have a power consumption of 300W+and no inductance, so the graphics card will directly burn out;
USB interface: Each USB port has an inductive filter to prevent mutual interference.
- There are over 100 inductors in your car
Electric vehicle drive: the core component in the motor controller that determines the smoothness of acceleration;
LED headlights: Inductive constant current drive, making the light flicker free;
Car audio system: The filtering inductance of the audio amplifier determines the quality of the sound;
Autonomous driving radar: RF inductance tuned millimeter wave signal;
Charging pile: PFC inductor improves power factor and reduces grid pollution;
Tesla's secret: In the OBC (in car charger) of Model 3, there is a fist sized magnetic ring inductor, which determines the charging efficiency and whether the electromagnetic radiation exceeds the standard.
LED headlights: Inductive constant current drive, making the light flicker free;
Car audio system: The filtering inductance of the audio amplifier determines the quality of the sound;
Autonomous driving radar: RF inductance tuned millimeter wave signal;
Charging pile: PFC inductor improves power factor and reduces grid pollution;
Tesla's secret: In the OBC (in car charger) of Model 3, there is a fist sized magnetic ring inductor, which determines the charging efficiency and whether the electromagnetic radiation exceeds the standard.
- Your home is filled with inductors (household appliances) everywhere
Air conditioner/refrigerator, driven by variable frequency compressor, with inductance as the core;
LED lights, the inductance in the driving power supply determines whether there is flicker (the key to eye damage!);
Washing machine, frequency conversion motor control, inductance for smooth speed changes;
The TV, power module, backlight driver, and audio system all have inductors;
LED lights, the inductance in the driving power supply determines whether there is flicker (the key to eye damage!);
Washing machine, frequency conversion motor control, inductance for smooth speed changes;
The TV, power module, backlight driver, and audio system all have inductors;
Router WiFi, RF inductance determines signal strength and stability;
The induction cooker itself is a large inductor! Utilizing eddy current heating;
Microwave oven, high-voltage transformer (giant inductor) generates 2kV high voltage;
Electric toothbrush, wireless charging receiving coil=inductance;
Bluetooth earphones, with at least 3 inductors in the Bluetooth RF circuit.
The induction cooker itself is a large inductor! Utilizing eddy current heating;
Microwave oven, high-voltage transformer (giant inductor) generates 2kV high voltage;
Electric toothbrush, wireless charging receiving coil=inductance;
Bluetooth earphones, with at least 3 inductors in the Bluetooth RF circuit.
2、 How can inductors "invisibly" protect your life?
- Scenario 1: Without inductance, your light will turn into a "disco".
LED lights require constant current drive. If the inductance is removed:
The current fluctuates between high and low;
The light flashes at a frequency of 100 times per second;
Your eyes may feel tired, headache, and even vision loss;
Terrifying stripes appear when filming videos with a mobile phone.
The current fluctuates between high and low;
The light flashes at a frequency of 100 times per second;
Your eyes may feel tired, headache, and even vision loss;
Terrifying stripes appear when filming videos with a mobile phone.
- Scenario 2: Without inductance, your phone will "explode" due to overheating
During fast charging, the charger converts 220V AC to 5V DC. Inductance in this process:
Store energy to ensure smooth voltage conversion;
Filter out high-frequency noise and protect the battery;
Limit current surge to prevent uncontrolled heating;
If the inductance is removed:
The charging current fluctuates like a roller coaster;
Lithium dendrites are generated inside the battery, piercing the separator;
The result is: fire, explosion.
Store energy to ensure smooth voltage conversion;
Filter out high-frequency noise and protect the battery;
Limit current surge to prevent uncontrolled heating;
If the inductance is removed:
The charging current fluctuates like a roller coaster;
Lithium dendrites are generated inside the battery, piercing the separator;
The result is: fire, explosion.
- Scenario 3: Without inductors, hospitals will 'kill' people
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - one of the greatest inventions in human medicine;
Its core is a superconducting magnet that generates a strong magnetic field of 1.5 to 3 Tesla;
And the uniform field coil, gradient coil, and RF coil of this magnet are essentially giant inductors;
If the inductance design is not good:
Uneven magnetic field, blurry images, and skyrocketing misdiagnosis rate;
Eddy currents are generated during gradient field switching, causing burns to patients;
RF pulse distortion, no tumor visible.
Its core is a superconducting magnet that generates a strong magnetic field of 1.5 to 3 Tesla;
And the uniform field coil, gradient coil, and RF coil of this magnet are essentially giant inductors;
If the inductance design is not good:
Uneven magnetic field, blurry images, and skyrocketing misdiagnosis rate;
Eddy currents are generated during gradient field switching, causing burns to patients;
RF pulse distortion, no tumor visible.
4、Inductance and "Dual Carbon": Environmental Heroes You Don't Know
Inductance allows electric vehicles to run an additional 50 kilometers. In the OBC (on-board charger) and DC-DC converter of electric vehicles, inductance determines the energy conversion efficiency. Traditional ferrite inductors have a charging loss of 85% and a charging loss of 15%, while integrated inductors (such as DT series) have a charging loss of 93% and a charging loss of<7%. Gallium nitride+new magnetic materials have a charging loss of 97% and a charging loss of only 3%.
Inductance saves power in data centers: In a large data center, electricity costs account for 60% of operating costs. The inductance in the server power supply determines the PFC (power factor correction) effect: good inductance: power factor>0.99, sine wave of grid current, almost no harmonic pollution; Poor inductance: power factor<<0.7, grid current distortion, wasting 30% of electrical energy.
5、 The future of inductors: smaller, stronger, and smarter
Trend 1: Nanocrystalline inductors: Traditional ferrite inductors with limited saturation current;
New type - nanocrystalline magnetic material: saturation magnetic flux density is three times higher; Reduce losses by 50%; Reduce the volume to 1/3 of its original size;
Trend 2: Integration - Inductors "disappear" in chips: Intel and TSMC are developing on-chip inductors. Integrating inductors into silicon chips and coexisting with transistors.
The power supply module in the mobile phone processor will no longer have independent inductive components; The entire power management unit has been reduced to 1/10 of its original size; Mobile phone battery life increased by another 30%;
The power supply module in the mobile phone processor will no longer have independent inductive components; The entire power management unit has been reduced to 1/10 of its original size; Mobile phone battery life increased by another 30%;
Trend 3: Intelligent inductors - coils that can "think" MIT laboratory is developing adjustable inductors: controlling the magnetic permeability of the magnetic core through voltage; The inductance value can change in real-time; Replace 10 different specifications of inductors with one inductor.
6、 Conclusion Next time when you:
Brushing my phone, I marvel at how clear the screen is;
Driving an electric car, enjoying quiet acceleration;
Turn on the LED lights and feel the soft and non glaring light;
Conduct a physical examination and obtain an accurate imaging report;
Please remember: the inductor, this small black component hidden in the corner of the circuit board, is silently guarding everything.
It doesn't shine like a CPU, doesn't record beauty like a camera, and doesn't provide battery life like a battery.
But without it, none of this would exist.
It doesn't shine like a CPU, doesn't record beauty like a camera, and doesn't provide battery life like a battery.
But without it, none of this would exist.
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