TDK Corporation has introduced the TFM252012ALVA thin-film metal power inductors that can be connected directly to a 12 V car battery, while maintaining small dimensions with a footprint of just 2.5 mm × 2 mm and a height of 1.2 mm. Due to the magnetic metal core, these newly developed inductors offer a rated current of 1.6 A and an inductance of 4.7 μH. They are able to withstand severe temperature environments with an operating temperature range of -55°C to +150°C (including increase by self-heating) and are therefore especially suited for automotive power circuits.

 

To date, no thin-film metal inductors featuring a footprint smaller than 9 mm2 are on the market that can be used coupled to a 12 V car battery. The newly developed TFM252012ALVA inductor achieves a rated voltage of 40 V with a footprint smaller than 9 mm2, due to the material technologies and structural design unique to TDK, and thus can be used in power circuits with an input directly coupled from a 12 V car battery.

 

In today’s automobiles, electronic control units are increasingly being installed to electrify various control functions and to implement in-vehicle information communication, autonomous driving and other functions. The number of automotive ECUs necessary for implementing ADAS, and thereby the number of inductors for power circuits used in these units have been increased. However, because the number of parts has been increasing while mounting space is limited, there is a growing demand for small-size electronic parts featuring high performance and reliability. TDK is responding to such market needs with products like the new TFM2520ALVA inductor.

 

TDK will continue to contribute to the miniaturisation of modules for automotive power circuits by expanding the lineup of products with various dimensions and inductance values, and thus, supplying inductors suitable for many designs and applications.