# Patent

## Title
Common-mode choke coil

## Abstract

A common-mode choke coil having: a core that extends in a predetermined direction; and first and second wires that are intertwined and wound together around the core.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-084878 filed on Apr. 15, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to common-mode choke coils, including, for example, a wire-wound common-mode choke coil.
BACKGROUND
As an invention related to a conventional common-mode choke coil, a common-mode noise filter described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-56934 is known. The common-mode filter has a first wire wound around a drum core and a second wire wound over the first wire.
However, the common-mode choke coil described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-56934 might not be able to effectively remove common-mode noise. FIG. 4 provides graphs showing the relationship between positions along the first wire and potential and the relationship between positions along the second wire and potential.
Since the common-mode choke coil has the second wire wound over the first wire, the second wire is longer than the first wire. In this case, when differential-mode signals are transmitted through the first and second wires, the potential at one end of the first wire and the potential at one end of the second wire are equal in absolute value, as shown in FIG. 4, but the potential at the other end of the first wire and the potential at the other end of the second wire are not necessarily equal in absolute value. As a result, the differential-mode signals are outputted as common-mode noise.
SUMMARY
A common-mode choke coil according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a core configured to extend in a predetermined direction, and first and second wires configured to be intertwined and to be wound together around the core.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a top view of a common-mode choke coil according to an embodiment.
FIG. 1B is a front view of the common-mode choke coil according to the embodiment.
FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the common-mode choke coil according to the embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a common-mode choke coil according to a comparative example.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structure view of the common-mode choke coil according to the comparative example.
FIG. 4 provides graphs showing the potentials of wires upon input of differential mode signals to the common-mode choke coil.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between frequency and Scd12.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between frequency and Sdd11.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Hereinafter, a common-mode choke coil according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Configuration of Common-Mode Choke Coil
The configuration of the common-mode choke coil 10 according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a top view of the common-mode choke coil 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 1B is a front view of the common-mode choke coil 10 according to the embodiment. FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the common-mode choke coil 10 according to the embodiment. In the following, the longitudinal direction of the common-mode choke coil 10 will be defined as the right-left direction, and directions perpendicular to the right-left direction will be defined as the top-bottom direction and the front-rear directions.
The common-mode choke coil 10 includes a core 12, wires 14 and 16, and external electrodes 18a, 18b, 20a, and 20b, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.
The core 12 is made of a magnetic material (e.g., NiCuZn ferrite), and is in the form of an H when viewed in a top view, a bottom view, a front view, and also a rear view. The core 12 includes a core member 12a and flanges 12b and 12c, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.
The core member 12a is in the form of a quadrangular prism extending in the right-left direction. However, the core member 12a may be in another form such as a column.
The flange 12b is in the form of a rectangular solid, and is connected to the left end of the core member 12a. The flange 12b, when viewed in a left-side view, juts out from the core member 12a both in the top-bottom direction and the front-rear direction.
The flange 12c is in the form of a rectangular solid, and is connected to the right end of the core member 12a. The flange 12c, when viewed in a right-side view, juts out from the core member 12a both in the top-bottom direction and the front-rear direction.
The external electrode 18a is provided in the form of a rectangle and positioned on the front side at the bottom of the flange 12b relative to the center in the front-rear direction. The external electrode 18a is formed by an electrode base made of Ag being plated with Ni and Sn.
The external electrode 18b is provided in the form of a rectangle and positioned on the front side at the bottom of the flange 12c relative to the center in the front-rear direction. The external electrode 18b is formed by an electrode base made of Ag being plated with Ni and Sn.
The external electrode 20a is provided in the form of a rectangle and positioned on the rear side at the bottom of the flange 12b relative to the center in the front-rear direction. The external electrode 20a is formed by an electrode base made of Ag being plated with Ni and Sn.
The external electrode 20b is provided in the form of a rectangle and positioned on the rear side at the bottom of the flange 12c relative to the center in the front-rear direction. The external electrode 20b is formed by an electrode base made of Ag being plated with Ni and Sn.
The wires 14 and 16 are intertwined and wound together around the core member 12a of the core 12. Moreover, the wires 14 and 16 are helically wound in the same direction.
Furthermore, both ends of the wire 14 are led out from the core member 12a. The left end of the wire 14 is connected to the external electrode 18a. The right end of the wire 14 is connected to the external electrode 18b. 
Furthermore, both ends of the wire 16 are led out from the core member 12a. The left end of the wire 16 is connected to the external electrode 20a. The right end of the wire 16 is connected to the external electrode 20b. 
In the common-mode choke coil 10 thus configured, the wires 14 and 16 overlap with each other when viewed in a right-side view. Accordingly, magnetic flux produced by the wire 14 passes through a space surrounded by the wire 16, and magnetic flux produced by the wire 16 passes through a space surrounded by the wire 14. Therefore, the wires 14 and 16 are magnetically coupled to each other, so that the common-mode choke coil is created by the wires 14 and 16. Moreover, for example, the external electrodes 18a and 20a are used as input terminals, and the external electrodes 18b and, 20b are used as output terminals. That is, differential-mode signals are inputted to the external electrodes 18a and 20a, and outputted from the external electrodes 18b and 20b. In the case where the differential-mode signals contain common-mode noise, the common-mode noise causes the wires 14 and 16 to produce magnetic flux in the same direction. Therefore, the magnetic flux is intensified, resulting in impedance against common-mode components, so that common-mode noise is prevented from passing through the wires 14 and 16.
Method for Producing Coil Components
Next, the method for producing the common-mode choke coil 10 will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, powder mainly composed of ferrite from which to make a core 12 is prepared. Then, the prepared ferrite powder is provided in a female die. The provided powder is compacted by a male die, thereby shaping a core member 12a and flanges 12b and 12c. Further, the core 12 is sintered. As a result, the core 12 is completed.
Next, external electrodes 18a, 18b, 20a, and 20b are formed on the bottoms of the flanges 12b and 12c of the core 12. More specifically, the bottoms of the flanges 12b and 12c are immersed in a container filled with an Ag paste so as to cause the Ag paste to adhere to the bottoms. Then, the adhered Ag paste is dried and sintered, thereby forming electrode bases on the bottoms of the flanges 12b and 12c. Further, Ni alloy-based metal films and Sn alloy-based metal films are formed on the electrode bases by electroplating or suchlike. As a result, the external electrodes 18a, 18b, 20a, and 20b are formed.
Next, wires 14 and 16 are wound around the core member 12a of the core 12. More specifically, the wires 14 and 16 are intertwined into one. Thereafter, the intertwined wires 14 and 16 are wound around the core member 12a. At this time, both ends of each of the wires 14 and 16 are led out from the core member 12a by a predetermined length.
Lastly, the led-out portions of the wires 14 and 16 are connected to the external electrodes 18a, 18b, 20a, and 20b by thermocompression bonding. Through the above process, the common-mode choke coil 10 is completed.
Effects
The common-mode choke coil 10 thus configured renders it possible to effectively remove common-mode noise. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a common-mode choke coil 110 according to a comparative example. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional structure view of the common-mode choke coil 110 according to the comparative example. FIG. 4 provides graphs showing the potentials of wires 114 and 116 upon input of differential-mode signals to the common-mode choke coil 110.
The common-mode choke coil 110 includes a core 112 and the wires 114 and 116. The wire 116 is wound around the core 112, and the wire 114 is wound over the wire 116.
In the common-mode choke coil 110 according to the comparative example, the length L1 of the wire 114 is longer than the length L2 of the wire 116. In this case, when differential-mode signals are transmitted through the wires 114 and 116, the potential at the left end of the wire 114 and the potential at the left end of the wire 116 are equal in absolute value, as shown in FIG. 4, but the potential at the right end of the wire 114 and the potential at the right end of the wire 116 are not necessarily equal in absolute value. As a result, the differential-mode signals are outputted as common-mode noise.
On the other hand, in the case of the common-mode choke coil 10, the wires 14 and 16 are intertwined and wound together around the core member 12a of the core 12. Accordingly, the wires 14 and 16 are approximately equal in winding radius. As a result, the wires 14 and 16 are also approximately equal in length. Therefore, when differential-mode signals are transmitted through the wires 14 and 16, the potential at the left end of the wire 14 and the potential at the left end of the wire 16 are equal in absolute value at each time point, and the potential at the right end of the wire 14 and the potential at the right end of the wire 16 are also equal in absolute value at each time point. Consequently, the differential-mode signals are inhibited from being outputted as common-mode noise. Thus, the common-mode choke coil 10 renders it possible to effectively remove common-mode noise.
To better clarify the effects achieved by the common-mode choke coil, the present inventors carried out experimentation as described below. Initially, a common-mode choke coil 110 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 was made as a first sample, and a common-mode choke coil 10 as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C was made as a second sample. Note that the details of the first and second samples are as follows:
Size: 4.5 mm×3.2 mm×2.6 mm
Number of turns: 46
Wire diameter: 0.04 mm
S-parameters of the first and second samples as above were measured. More specifically, Scd 12 and Sdd 11 were calculated for each of the first and second samples. Scd 12 is a parameter that indicates the value of the intensity ratio of a common-mode signal outputted from the external electrode 18a to a differential-mode signal inputted to the external electrode 18b. That is, Scd 12 indicates the proportion of the differential-mode signal converted into the common-mode signal. Sdd 11 is a parameter that indicates the value of the intensity ratio of a differential-mode signal outputted from the external electrode 18a to a differential-mode signal inputted to the external electrode 18a. That is, Sdd 11 indicates the amount of reflection of the differential-mode signal. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between frequency and Scd 12. The vertical axis represents Scd 12, and the horizontal axis represents the frequency. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between frequency and Sdd 11. The vertical axis represents Sdd 11, and the horizontal axis represents the frequency.
It can be appreciated that the value of Scd 12 was smaller for the second sample than for the first sample, as shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the proportion of the differential-mode signal converted into the common-mode signal was lower for the second sample than for the first sample. That is, it can be appreciated that common-mode noise was removed more effectively in the common-mode choke coil 10 than in the common-mode choke coil 110.
Furthermore, it can be appreciated that the value of Sdd 11 was smaller for the second sample than for the first sample, as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the amount of reflection of the differential-mode signal was lower for the second sample than for the first sample. The reason for this will be described below. As the value of Scd 12 decreases for the above reason, the value of Sdc 12 decreases as well for the same reason. Here, Sdc 12 is a parameter that indicates the value of the intensity ratio of a differential-mode signal outputted from the external electrode 18a to a common-mode signal inputted to the external electrode 18b. More specifically, the value of the intensity ratio of a differential-mode signal outputted from the external electrode 18a to a common-mode signal inputted to the external electrode 18b decreases. As a result, the intensity of the differential-mode signal outputted from the external electrode 18a decreases. Therefore, the value of the intensity ratio of the differential-mode signal outputted from the external electrode 18a to the differential-mode signal inputted to the external electrode 18b (i.e., Sdd 11) decreases as well. Thus, the amount of reflection of the differential-mode signal is lower for the second sample than for the first sample.
Other Embodiments
The present invention is not limited to the common-mode choke coil 10, and variations can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment above, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are possible to those who are skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being within the scope of the invention.

## Claims

1. A common-mode choke coil comprising:
a core configured to extend in a predetermined direction;
first and second wires intertwined and wound together around the core, wherein the first wire is only one wire and the second wire is only one wire;
first and second external electrodes provided at both ends of the core so as to be arranged in the predetermined direction; and
third and fourth external electrodes provided at the both ends of the core so as to be separated from the first and second external electrodes, respectively, in a first direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, wherein:
in a plan view from a second direction perpendicular to both the predetermined direction and the first direction, a first end portion of the first wire is untwisted from a first end portion of the second wire at a first corner of the core;
the first end portion of the first wire and the first end portion of the second wire are connected to the first external electrode and the third external electrode, respectively;
in the plan view from the second direction, a second end portion of the first wire is untwisted from a second portion of the second wire at a second corner of the core diagonal to the first corner;
the second end portion of the first wire and the second end portion of the second wire are connected to the second external electrode and the fourth external electrode, respectively; and
at least a part of the first wire of the intertwined and wound first and second wires makes contact with at least a part of the second wire of an adjacent segment of the intertwined and wound first and second wires.

2. The common-mode choke coil according to claim 1, wherein the first and second wires are intertwined and wound together around the core with a gap between at least a part of each of the intertwined and wound first and second wires.

3. The common-mode choke coil according to claim 1, wherein the first wire and the second wire are intertwined and wound together around the core along an entire length of the core between the first corner and the second corner.

4. The common-mode choke coil according to claim 1, wherein differential-mode signals are inputted to the first and third external electrodes and outputted from the second and fourth external electrodes, wherein, when the differential-mode signals contain common-mode noise, the common-mode noise causes the first and second wires to produce magnetic flux in a same direction, and wherein the magnetic flux is intensified resulting in impedance against common-mode components, so that common-mode noise is prevented from passing through the first and second wires.

5. The common-mode choke coil according to claim 1, wherein the contact with the adjacent segment repeats in regular intervals along a length of the intertwined and wound first and second wires.

6. A common-mode choke coil comprising:
a core configured to extend in a predetermined direction;
first and second wires intertwined and wound together around the core, wherein at least a part of the intertwined and wound first and second wires makes contact with an adjacent segment of the intertwined and wound first and second wires with a gap between the intertwined and wound first and second wires and the adjacent segment of the intertwined and wound first and second wires, and wherein the first wire is only one wire and the second wire is only one wire;
first and second external electrodes provided at both ends of the core so as to be arranged in the predetermined direction; and
third and fourth external electrodes provided at the both ends of the core so as to be separated from the first and second external electrodes, respectively, in a first direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, wherein:
in a plan view from a second direction perpendicular to both the predetermined direction and the first direction, a first end portion of the first wire is untwisted from a first end portion of the second wire at a first corner of the core;
the first end portion of the first wire and the first end portion of the second wire are connected to the first external electrode and the third external electrode, respectively;
in the plan view from the second direction, a second end portion of the first wire is untwisted from a second portion of the second wire at a second corner of the core diagonal to the first corner;
the second end portion of the first wire and the second end portion of the second wire are connected to the second external electrode and the fourth external electrode, respectively; and
at least a part of the first wire of the intertwined and wound first and second wires makes contact with at least a part of the second wire of an adjacent segment of the intertwined and wound first and second wires.

7. The common-mode choke coil according to claim 6, wherein the first wire and the second wire are intertwined and wound together around the core along an entire length of the core between the first corner and the second corner.

8. The common-mode choke coil according to claim 6, wherein differential-mode signals are inputted to the first and third external electrodes and outputted from the second and fourth external electrodes, wherein, when the differential-mode signals contain common-mode noise, the common-mode noise causes the first and second wires to produce magnetic flux in a same direction, and wherein the magnetic flux is intensified resulting in impedance against common-mode components, so that common-mode noise is prevented from passing through the first and second wires.

9. The common-mode choke coil according to claim 6, wherein the gap and the contact with the adjacent segment repeat in regular intervals along a length of the intertwined and wound first and second wires.