Engineers often disagree on whether the inductive bottom of DC/DC power supplies should be laid with copper. The first argument is that laying copper under the inductor produces eddy currents on the ground plane. As a result, the eddy current affects the power inductor’s inductance and increases the system loss, and the ground plane noise impacts other high-speed signals. The second argument is th...

Today’s highly developed power ICs require superior power inductors. Building a standard power supply with common footprints can help reduce design time and production costs. Determining the best match between an inductor and an IC is paramount to achieving the best performance in terms of PCB space, as well as thermal and cost efficiency. Let’s explore which parameters are most impor...