PCB-integrated coupled inductors for compact EV onboard
This technology is a specialized power conversion circuit designed to improve the efficiency of battery chargers, particularly for electric vehicles. It uses a clever arrangement of magnetically coupled inductors built directly into a printed circuit board (PCB) — the same type of board found in everyday electronics — rather than bulky discrete components. By coupling these inductors together, the converter can dynamically change its effective electrical characteristics during each power cycle, which reduces energy losses, lowers heat generation, and simplifies the filtering needed to suppress electrical noise. The result is a more compact, efficient, and manufacturable power converter than conventional designs.
What you could build
A compact, PCB-integrated bidirectional onboard charger module for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids; primary buyers would be EV OEMs, Tier 1 automotive suppliers, and EV charging infrastructure manufacturers seeking higher power density and lower bill-of-materials cost.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense and transportation electrification suppliers, naval shipboard power system integrators, and data center UPS manufacturers would have direct interest in high-efficiency compact power converters.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Yuchen Yang, Mingkai Mu, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li
- Granted
- February 26, 2019
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10217559
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.