Shaanxi Ferrtx Enterprise Co.,Ltd.
Home> Company News> 5 SMD Inductors Dilemmas: 110A Current or 2mm Thin?
Product Categories

5 SMD Inductors Dilemmas: 110A Current or 2mm Thin?

In power electronics design, engineers face an escalating conflict: demands for higher current density (e.g., 110A in EV drivetrains) versus relentless pressure for miniaturization (e.g., 2mm profiles in AI servers). These SMD inductors sit at the epicenter of five critical design trade-offs.

Dilemma 1: Current Density vs. Size Constraints

  • 110A High-Current Demand:
    ISU’s shielded SMD inductors achieve 110A saturation current via iron-powder cores and low DCR windings (as low as 0.4mΩ), critical for 800V EV inverters and 48V–12V DC/DC converters.

  • 2mm Ultra-Thin Reality:
    CDH2D09 series inductors compress heights to ≤3mm for wearables, yet 2mm designs (e.g., ISU’s 4×4×2mm) sacrifice 30% current capacity due to reduced copper volume.
    Trade-off: 110A requires ≥7×7×5mm volumes; 2mm profiles max at 25A.

Dilemma 2: Shielding Efficacy vs. Thermal Limits

  • EMI Suppression:
    TDK’s ERUC23 shielded inductors reduce ripple current by 40% in 48V–12V converters but increase thermal resistance by 15% vs. unshielded types.

  • Thermal Runaway Risk:
    Unshielded inductors (e.g., CDH38D09) dissipate heat faster but emit ≥25dB EMI noise at 2MHz, failing automotive EMC tests .
    Solution: ISU’s molded alloy shields balance thermal resistance (θJA=45°C/W) and 30dB noise suppression.

Dilemma 3: High-Frequency Losses vs. Efficiency

  • MHz-Switching Challenges:
    Inductors like ISU’s SPI series operate up to 5MHz but suffer core losses >220mW/cm³ at 3MHz, reducing efficiency by 12% in GaN PD chargers .

  • Low-Frequency Optimization:
    FP3415-351 (50kHz) maintains 98% efficiency in solar inverters but occupies 3× more PCB area .
    Breakthrough: TDK’s flat-wire windings cut AC resistance by 50% at 2MHz .

Dilemma 4: Material Innovation vs. Cost

  • Advanced Materials:
    Iron-powder cores (Eaton HCM1103) enable -55°C to +125°C operation but cost 2.5× more than ferrite equivalents .

  • Cost-Driven Compromises:
    Ferrite-core inductors dominate consumer apps but fracture under >7G vibration in industrial robots.
    Data Insight: 2025–2030 forecasts show alloy-core SMD inductors growing at 14% CAGR, driven by automotive demand.

Dilemma 5: Application-Specific Priorities

*High-Current Focus (110A)*:

  • EV Chargers: Requires AEC-Q200 compliance and 389V surge tolerance.

  • Server PSUs: Needs 97A saturation current (TDK ERUC23) for GPU power stages.

*Thin-Profile Focus (2mm)*:

  • Foldable Phones: 2mm height enables 10-layer PCB stacking in hinge zones.

  • Edge AI Devices: ≤3mm inductors with 5MHz range for on-device inferencing.

Table: SMD Inductor Selection Matrix by Application

Application Key Priority Recommended Spec Example Model
EV Traction Current (110A) AEC-Q200, ΔT<40°C @125°C ISU SPI-13×13×5
AI Servers Size (≤3mm) SRF >10MHz, θJA<50°C/W CDH2D09/S (2.55mm)
GaN Chargers Frequency (5MHz) Core loss <150mW/cm³ @3MHz TDK ERUC23 (Flat-wire)
Industrial IoT Durability Vibration resistance >10G Eaton HCM1103

Resolving the Dilemmas: Future Pathways

  1. Hybrid Shielding:
    ISU’s molded alloy + ferrite composite cuts EMI by 20dB while maintaining θJA=42°C/W.

  2. 3D Printed Windings:
    Additive manufacturing enables 110A in 4×4×3mm volumes (prototype Q4’2025).

  3. Thermal-Electric Synergy:
    Bi₂Te₃ coatings convert inductor waste heat into 5V/10mA auxiliary power.

The Engineer’s Choice

Selecting SMD inductors isn’t about “110A or 2mm” – it’s about optimizing for system priorities:

  • Power-intensive designs? Prioritize ISU’s 110A cores with alloy shields.

  • Space-constrained layouts? Leverage 2mm profiles with MHz-grade ferrites.

Test next-gen SMD inductors in your design:
Contact Ferrtx Engineering: sales@ferrtx.com

August 03, 2025
Share to:

Let's get in touch.

We will contact you immediately

Fill in more information so that we can get in touch with you faster

Privacy statement: Your privacy is very important to Us. Our company promises not to disclose your personal information to any external company with out your explicit permission.

Send