Date: 16/12/2008

Online switching loss calculator for Vishay's inductors

Vishay launched free web-based tool that computes the switching losses for its IHLP inductors. The simple-to-use switching loss calculator is customizable to individual applications, allowing designers to select the correct part for an optimized board design, while speeding time to market. The switching loss calculator is available for buck, boost, and buck/boost dc-to-dc converter topologies.

To compute inductor losses in the past, designers had to complete the complicated Steinmetz Equation by hand, a time-consuming process that increases the chances for human error.

With Vishay's loss calculator, available at http://www.vishay.com/inductors/calculator-home-list/, designers simply enter the input and output voltage, frequency, output current, and ambient temperature for their application. With the selection of an inductance value, ranging from 0.1 µH to 10 µH, the calculator immediately provides results for copper, core, and total losses along with the estimated temperature rise of the inductor. The correct Vishay IHLP part number is also displayed for the designer's reference.

The calculator is useful for all IHLP inductor applications, including voltage regulator module (VRM) and dc-to-dc converter applications.