Abstract:
A system and method for delivering electrical power-on-demand to at least one load circuit wherein the system operates primarily with reactive power. The method includes inductively coupling power from a source in a primary circuit to one or more load circuits. The system is arranged to store magnetic energy in a core surrounded by planar coils positioned in parallel. The magnetic circuit is toroidal, symmetrical and circuitous. Magnetic energy is transferred between loads through the system. Back currents from the loads are able to be converted to magnetic field energy contributing to the total of stored energy available to the loads. Since the combined energy held in the system is primarily reactive, internal energy losses are small.

Description:
[0001]    The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/495,533, filed Jun. 30, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference. This application is being filed under 37 CFR 1.102(c)(1) for advancement of prosecution due to applicant&#39;s age. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to the efficient conversion of electrical power signals for delivery of power to one or more loads, for example, converting input voltage and/or current signals to output voltage and/or current signals. Most conventional power supplies use a transformer to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. For example, some conventional transformers include input coils inductively coupled to output coils using a permeable core. In operation, the input coil is energized with an alternating current; this time-varying current, through the input coil, generates an alternating magnetic field in the transformer core, and the time-varying magnetic field induces an alternating current in the output coils. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In some aspects of the presently described system, AC power is delivered to the system and transferred to a load in accordance with the load&#39;s unique power requirement demand. For instance, the system has the ability to deliver an AC current, AC voltage and power to a load. 
         [0004]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The system also has the ability to deliver a regulated DC current to a load when the system is coupled with a rectifier and regulator circuits. The present system has the ability to transform the voltages and/or current characteristics of a source to the needs of a load. The present system has the ability to function as a reactive energy pool providing power to one, or to multiple loads simultaneously. The value of the loads may be fixed or variable. The present system has the ability to transform power with extremely low loss and exhibits essentially zero loss to ohmic circuit heating. In one aspect of the system, inductive coils are etched into printed circuit boards. These current carriers may be etched in an overlapping arrangement on opposing sides of the boards so that current flow in adjacent top and bottom current carriers is in the same direction resulting in additive generation of flux fields. Symmetrical and coaxial placement of coils and a plurality of centralized permeable cores provides for high coil integration coefficients and lossless energy transfer between primary and secondary coils. Placement of the coils within a permeable magnetically conductive enclosure results in a closed magnetic circuit system that prevents extrinsic flux loss. In one aspect of the system, fabrication may be made using planar deposition and etching techniques. Planar deposition and etching techniques are well-known in the microcircuit field. In one aspect of the system, relatively large insulating plates supporting relatively large diameter conductors forming relatively large radius primary and secondary coils may be constructed to enable handling of large currents. The system may be used in any application where the delivery of voltages and/or currents to loads is required. Typical applications include the delivery of utility power to low voltage AC and DC machines. Other applications include those where utility voltages need to be boosted for higher voltage AC and DC circuits such as for the ionization of gases, molecular beam control circuits and similar devices. Other applications include the stepping up or down of electrical currents to meet the needs of pumps, motors, and similar machines. One important application is the use of the system with regulation and rectification circuits for the charging of batteries, for electric vehicles such as automobiles, trains and trolleys. Another important application is the use of the system in providing current at several fixed voltages simultaneously, through multiple secondary coils, for computer and server operation. Another important application is for the stepping up of power generator voltages for high voltage transmission, and the associated stepping down of such voltages for industrial and residential use. Because the system can accomplish these power transfers with little or no energy loss, the system is able to replace a large number of conventional apparatus in current use. 
         [0005]    In some aspects, a system includes a first conductive coil about a central core region and a second conductive coil about the central core region. The second conductive coil is offset from the first conductive coil in a first direction and magnetic-inductively coupled to the first conductive coil. The system includes a first core layer and a second core layer in the central core region. The first core layer is offset from the second core layer in the first direction. The system includes a core insulator layer in the central core region between the first core layer and the second core layer. 
         [0006]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The first conductive coil includes a first coil layer defining a first conductive spiral about the central core region. The first conductive spiral has a first inner terminus. The first conductive coil includes a second coil layer axially offset from the first coil layer in the first direction. The second coil layer defines a second conductive spiral about the central core region. The second conductive spiral has a second inner terminus coupled to the first inner terminus The system further includes a coil insulator layer between the first coil layer and the second coil layer. The first conductive coil includes a via through the coil insulator layer. The via conductively couples the first inner terminus and the second inner terminus. The second conductive coil includes a third coil layer defining a third conductive spiral about the central core region. The third conductive spiral has a third inner terminus. The second conducive coil includes a fourth coil layer axially offset from the third coil layer. The fourth coil layer defines a fourth conductive spiral about the central core region. The fourth conductive spiral has a fourth inner terminus coupled to the third inner terminus. The third conductive spiral and the fourth conductive spiral each have a first number of turns. The first conductive spiral and the second conductive spiral each having a second, different number of turns. The system further includes a coil insulator layer between the third spiral layer and the fourth spiral layer. The second conductive coil includes a via through the coil insulator layer. The via conductively couples the third inner terminus and the fourth inner terminus. The core insulator layer has a lower magnetic permeability than the first core layer and the second core layer. The core insulator layer includes a first portion in the central core region and a second portion outside the central core region between the first conductive coil and the second conductive coil. The first conductive coil spans a first longitudinal section of the central core region, and the second conductive coil spans a second longitudinal section of the central core region. At least a portion of the first core layer resides in the first longitudinal section, and at least a portion of the second core layer resides in the second longitudinal section. The first conductive coil is a primary conductive coil. The second conductive coil is a secondary conductive coil. The system includes additional primary conductive coils about the central core region in series with the first conductive coil. The system includes additional secondary conductive coils about the central core region and in series with the second conductive coil. Each of the additional secondary conductive coils is inductively coupled to at least one of the additional primary conductive coils. The system includes additional core layers in the central core region. Each of the additional core layers is offset from the other core layers in the first direction. The system further includes additional insulator layers interleaved with the additional core layers. Each of the additional core layers is longitudinally aligned with one of the coils. 
         [0007]    In some aspects, a magnetic field is generated in a central core region of an inductive-coupling device by passing an electrical input signal through primary conductive coils about the central core region. The primary conductive coils are spaced-apart from one another in a first direction along the central core region. A portion of the magnetic field is directed through core layers in the central core region. The core layers are spaced apart from one another in the first direction and separated by insulator layers interleaved with the core layers in the central core region. An electrical output signal is generated in secondary conductive coils about the central core region in response to the magnetic field. 
         [0008]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The electrical input signal includes an input time-varying voltage signal that generates a time-varying magnetic field in the central core region. The electrical output signal includes an output time-varying voltage signal having a different voltage amplitude than the input time-varying voltage signal. The voltage amplitude of the output voltage signal is regulated. The electrical output signal is rectified to generate a time-constant voltage signal. The electrical output signal is provided to a load. The magnetic field includes magnetic flux lines. Directing at least the portion of the magnetic field includes directing a first plurality of the magnetic flux lines through a first one of the core layers and directing a second plurality of the magnetic flux lines through a second one of the core layers. At least a portion of the magnetic field is directed through a magnetic conductor residing at an axial end of the central core region. 
         [0009]    In some aspects, a system includes primary coils and secondary coils about a core region. The primary coils and/or the secondary coils define a central axis through the core region. The primary coils are configured to receive an input voltage signal from a voltage source. The secondary coils are configured to generate an output voltage signal in response to the input voltage signal based on inductive coupling between the primary coils and the secondary coils. The system includes core layers and insulator layers in the core region. The core layers are spaced apart from one another along the central axis. Each insulator layer resides between a neighboring pair of core layers. 
         [0010]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The primary coils and the secondary coils are spaced apart from one another along the direction of central axis. Each of the secondary coils resides between a neighboring pair of the primary coils. Each of the spaced-apart insulator layers including a first portion in the core region and a second portion outside the core region between a primary coil and a secondary coil. The input voltage signal includes an input alternating current signal having an input peak-to-peak voltage amplitude. The output voltage signal includes an output alternating current signal having a different, output peak-to-peak voltage amplitude. The system includes a rectifier circuit coupled to the secondary coils and configured to convert the output alternating current signal to a direct current signal. The input voltage signal includes an input alternating current signal having an input frequency, and the output voltage signal includes an output alternating current signal having the input frequency. The input voltage signal includes an input alternating current signal, and the output voltage signal includes an output alternating current signal having a phase shift with respect to the input voltage signal. The phase shift is less than ninety degrees. The system includes a rectifier coupled to the secondary coils. The rectifier is configured to convert the output alternating current output signal to an output direct current signal. The system includes a voltage regulator coupled to the secondary coils. The voltage regulator is configured to regulate a voltage amplitude of the voltage output signal. The system includes a load coupled to the secondary coils. The load is configured to dissipate the voltage output signal. 
         [0011]    In some aspects, a computing system includes a digital processor configured to operate based on an output electrical power signal from a power supply. The power supply includes primary coils about a central core region. The primary coils are spaced apart from each other in a first direction. The primary coils are configured to receive an input electrical power signal. The power supply includes core layers in the central core region. The core layers are spaced apart from each other in the first direction and separated by insulator layers in the central core region. The power supply includes a secondary coils about the central core region. The secondary coils are configured to generate the output electrical power signal based on magnetic inductive coupling with the primary coils. 
         [0012]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The system includes a voltage source. The voltage source is configured to provide the input electrical power signal to the power supply. The system includes an integrated circuit that includes the digital processor, the power supply, and at least one conductor that electrically couples the power supply with the digital processor. The system includes a printed circuit board. The digital processor is mounted in a first location on the printed circuit board, and the power supply is mounted in a second location on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes at least one conductor that electrically couples the power supply with the digital processor. The system includes a housing about the power supply, and the digital processor residing outside of the housing. The system includes a server. The server including a server housing that houses the digital processor and the power supply. The system includes a personal computer device including the digital processor and the power supply. The system includes an on-board computing system of a vehicle. The on-board computing system includes the digital processor and the power supply. 
         [0013]    The details of one or more embodiments of these concepts are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of these concepts will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an example obverse surface of a printed circuit board according to the present description; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of an example reverse surface of the same printed circuit board shown in  FIG. 1  as viewed through the obverse surface; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an example vertical cross-section view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 , as interconnected with an external source; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-section view of an example system described herein having two of the printed circuit boards as shown in  FIG. 1  interconnected with an external source and an external load; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-section view of an example system described herein having two of the printed circuit boards as shown in  FIG. 1  interconnected with an external source and two external loads; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the example system of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a vertical cross-section view of an example system described herein having six of the printed circuit boards as shown in  FIG. 1  interconnected with two external sources and four external loads; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an example electrical schematic diagram of the system of  FIG. 4  showing a primary circuit and a secondary circuit within a housing; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an example electrical schematic diagram of the system of  FIG. 5  showing a primary circuit and two secondary circuits within a housing; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an example electrical schematic diagram of the system of  FIG. 7  showing two primary circuits and four secondary circuits within a housing; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is an example electrical schematic diagram of the system of  FIG. 7  wherein the two primary circuits are arranged in electrical series interconnection; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is an example electrical schematic diagram of the system of  FIG. 7  wherein the two primary circuits are in electrical series interconnection and two pairs of the secondary circuits are each interconnected in series electrical interconnection; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram representing an example of the system of  FIG. 5  in an application for providing power to circuits of electronic devices; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram representing an example of the system of  FIG. 5  in an application for providing power to microcircuit devices; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram representing a further example of three of the system of  FIG. 5  in an application for providing distributive power to plural solid state microcircuits; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a block diagram representing an example of the system of  FIG. 5  in an application for providing power integral to utility power distribution networks, 
           [0030]    Like reference symbols in the various figures indicate like elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  is a printed circuit card  10  according to the system of the present disclosure. The card  10  has an insulating planar board  11  which may be 0.06 inches thick, with an etched copper coil portion  12 ′ on a top surface of board  11  and an etched copper coil portion  12 ″ on the bottom surface of board  11  as seen in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  is a plan view as viewed from above the board.  FIG. 2  is also as viewed from above as if board  11  were transparent. The etched coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ may be in the form of planar spirals as shown, each having plural windings W 1 , W 2 , W 3  where three windings are shown here for example only and may be fewer or a greater number of windings. The etched coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ may be 4 ounce copper, approximately 0.0055 inches in thickness, laminated to board  11 , and the coils  12  may be positioned as mutually parallel, adjacently spaced apart, and coaxially aligned about axis  5  as is shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, other coil thicknesses and materials and mutual positioning may be used and are within the scope of the present disclosure. Each of the windings may be typically between 0.04 and 0.22 inches wide, however other widths may be used. Card  10  may be fabricated using etching printed circuit board techniques. The general techniques for printed circuit board fabrication are well known. As shown at the left in  FIG. 1 , an input electrode  14 ′ is electrically interconnected to the top coil portion  12 ′ and at the right side in  FIG. 2 , an output electrode  14 ″ is electrically interconnected to the bottom coil portion  12 ″. The two coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ are joined at their inner-most winding by one or more conductive via electrodes  22  which penetrate board  11  and establish electrical continuity between the two coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″. Via electrodes  22  may be plated through holes in board  11 . As shown, the coil portion  12 ′ is wound in a clockwise sense starting at input electrode  14 ′, and moving toward its inner-most winding W 3  as shown. Coil portion  12 ″ is also wound in a clockwise as seen viewed from above card  10 , but this time moving from its inner-most winding W 3 , outward toward its outer-most winding W 1  and terminating at output electrode  14 ″. Coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ may be very close in size, shape and conformation so that when oriented in a mutually concentric arrangement, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the corresponding windings W 1 , W 2  and W 3  of both coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ lie in close mutual registration, although not perfect registration since the windings do not prescribe true circles due to their spiral shape. The number of windings of each of coil portions may be the same, different and may have more or less turns. In  FIGS. 1 and 2  it is shown that at the present instant in time, current flow direction, indicated by arrows, in both coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ is in the clockwise sense as viewed from above card  10  so that magnetic flux generated by the two coil portions are additive. When current reverses, the current direction in both coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ also reverses. In  FIG. 3  the direction of current flow in the windings (current carriers) is shown by either an “X” indicating that flow is into the plane of the diagram, and by an “O” indicating that flow is out of the plane of the diagram and the sense of current flow is in accordance with that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In  FIG. 3 , the direction of electrical current entering card  10  from source S 1  and that leaving card  10  to ground is illustrated by linear arrows. Magnetic fields are generated around the windings due to current flow and current variations (AC currents) and may be represented by flux, a measure of field strength, whose paths are shown as curved arrows in  FIG. 3 . It is noted that the flux generated by each set of adjacent windings on the top and on the bottom of board  11  are additive. Faraday&#39;s law of induction and Gauss&#39;s law of electric fields express the relationships between the magnetic flux, the magnetic field, the electric field and the electromotive force. 
         [0032]    At the geometric center of coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ a circular permeable core  20  may be secured within a round hole  21  in board  11  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The material of core  20  is selected to have a relatively flat permeability characteristic over the range of field strength experienced, which may be from a fraction of a Tesla to about 2 Tesla (Weber per square meter). This allows the apparatus to be applied with predicable results to a wide range of applications. Core materials found to perform well in the present apparatus are “moly-permalloy powder” known as “MPP” as manufactured by Micrometals, Inc. of Anaheim Calif. With the current flow direction as shown, magnetic fields are generated as indicted by the magnetic flux lines shown which encircle the windings, and these fields magnetize the permeable core  20  as shown by the south “S” and north “N” pole indications. When current flow is reversed, the magnetic poles of core  20  also reverse. An AC input current produces a cyclically reversing pole sense at core  20 . In this disclosure, the coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ on any one printed circuit card  10 , are referred to by the term “coil  12 .” As shown in  FIG. 4 , using this terminology, each of printed circuit cards  10 A, and  10 B, have a coil  12 . 
         [0033]    Described now, and shown in  FIG. 4 , is a system  100  wherein two of the circuit cards  10  described above, and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , may be mounted within a housing  30  in a mutually spaced apart, mutually concentric arrangement about the central axis of symmetry  5 . The spacing between adjacent cores  20  on cards  10  may be about 0.002 inches, The material of housing  30  may be cold-rolled non-grain oriented silicon steel which has a value of magnetic permeability (μ) in the range of 8.75×10 −4  Henry per meter (H/m). 
         [0034]    The two cards  10  are labeled as  10 A in the top position, and  10 B in the bottom position in  FIG. 4  in this elemental version of the present system  100 . These two cards  10  are held rigidly in parallel positions by hardware  15  which is made of electrical non-conducting material such as nylon, as shown in  FIG. 6 . In operation, card  10 B may be interconnected with an AC source S 1  as is shown in  FIG. 4 , with, at the present instant in this diagram, current is flowing into the coil portion  12 ′ (on top of the card  10 B) and out of coil portion  12 ″ (on the bottom of the card  10 B), as depicted by arrows. As previously described, the direction of current flow shown produces a relative south “S” magnetic pole on the upper surface of core  20  of card  10 B and a relative north “N” magnetic pole on the lower surface. The magnetic fields produced by card  10 B induces current flow in the coils of the top card  10 A when the coil is engaged with load L 1  as shown. The magnetic pole orientations are identical for both cards  10 A and  10 B. The induced currents in card  10 A produces magnetic fields adding to the flux produced by card  10 B. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 4 , vector F 1  represents the net flux from both cards  10 A, and  10 B as well as any flux generated by currents reflected back to system  100  from load L 1  as will be discussed below. Vector F 1  is directed along axis  5  because of the induced magnetic poles of permeable cores  20  and the symmetrical arrangement of the coils  12 , and with a net direction as shown corresponding to the indicated current direction of flow. The axial net magnetic flux vector F 1  extends from the north N pole of card  10 B to the south S pole of card  10 A in parallel to axis  5 . Housing  30  acts as a magnetic flux conduit between the permeable cores  20  of cards  10 A and  10 B providing a flux path around the periphery of system  100 . Therefore, magnetic flux vector F 2  is directed through housing  30  from the north N pole of card  10 B to the south S pole of card  10 A as shown. The magnetic circuit including the permeable cores  20  and the housing  30  stores and moves magnetic energy during system operation as will be described. The magnetic circuit is formed very roughly as a toroidal shaped magnetic flux path with the cores  20  and the spaces adjacent to the cores  20  representing the flux path at the center of the toroid, and the housing  30  representing the exterior flux path of the toroid. The circuit of  FIG. 4  is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a further embodiment of system  100  shown in  FIG. 4  and described above, with the additional card  10 C added. This circuit is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Here, the primary circuit  10 B supports two secondary circuits represented by cards  10 A and  10 C mounted adjacent to opposite faces of card  10 B. It is noted that in  FIG. 6  the housing  30  is made up of two metallic sheets, one wrapped in a loop around the cards  10 A,  10 B and  10 C in a first direction, and a second one wrapped about the same cards in a second loop which is positioned transverse to the first. Together these two metallic sheets fully enclose the coils  12 .  FIG. 5  shows housing  30  in a schematic representation, which may be the same, similar to, or different from the housing  30  shown in  FIG. 6 . The load circuits L 1  and L 2  may not be identical and typically these loads may vary with time. Therefore, at any instant current demand at loads L 1  and L 2  will differ. The reactive components, that is, inductive and capacitive reactances of loads L 1  and L 2  will differ instantaneously as well. During operation of the system  100  shown in  FIG. 5 , an electrical current flows through coil  12  of card  10 B, as received from source S 1 , and electrical currents are induced in coils  12  of cards  10 A and  10 C as induced by the varying magnetic fields generated by card  10 B. As previously discussed, during operation, magnetic fields are generated by current flow in windings W 1 , W 2  and W 3  of each of the three coils  12 . Also, since a voltage difference exists across each of: source S 1 , load L 1  and load L 2  electric fields exist between adjacent coil portions  12 ′ and  12 ″ both within and between cards  10 . Therefore, a process of energy transfer within system  100  occurs between electrical energy in the form of electrical currents on one hand, and magnetic and electric field energy on the other hand. Additionally, extrinsic energy transfer also occurs between system  100  and its loads L 1  and L 2 . Although, loads L 1  and L 2  are isolated from system  100  with respect to magnetic and electric fields, these loads are energized by electrical currents flowing from system  100 . When the loads are complex, i.e., contain reactive elements, there is a two-way movement of energy between the system  100  and the loads L 1  and L 2 . Depending on the magnitude of reactive energy in the loads, and the rate at which energy fields collapse which is dependent upon their hysteresis characteristics, and the phase relationship between the zero crossing of currents, voltages and electric and magnetic fields within system  100  and loads L 1  and L 2 , energy may move bi-directionally. Energy transferred to system  100  in the form of electrical currents from loads L 1  or L 2  is immediately converted to magnetic flux through coils  12  and adds to the flux F 1  already present. Since flux F 1  is available to both coils  12  in the load circuits (cards  10 A and  10 C) it should be understood that some of the energy ultimately delivered to one of the loads L 1  or L 2  may be reflected energy from the other of the loads. Since cards  10 A and  10 C have similar physical and electrical properties there may be no appreciable bias with respect to energy transfer to one of the cards versus the other of the cards. 
         [0037]    In an alternative embodiment, the example system  100  shown in  FIG. 5  (and/or one or more of the other example systems shown and described herein) may be modified to include one or more control coils. A control coil may be implemented as a planar conductive spiral coil positioned between one or more pairs of current-carrying coils (e.g., primary and secondary coils) and/or other locations in the system  100 . In some examples, a control coil may made of copper or another conductive material on a printed circuit board. The one or more control coils may be electrically coupled (e.g., in parallel, in series, etc.) and/or inductively coupled to one or more of the current-carrying coils in the example system  100 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  shows that more elaborate arrangement which comprises two sets of cards  10  within a single housing  30 . This is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 10 . Here, two separate sources S 1  and S 2  each drive two loads circuits: L 1  and L 2 ; and L 3  and L 4  respectively. Any number of sources may be contained within a single housing  30  in the manner shown in  FIG. 7 . The arrangements shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  may be used as building blocks for assembling any combination of primary and secondary structures in the manner shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7  and energized in any manner whatsoever. For instance the assembly shown in  FIG. 5  may be energized as shown in the schematic diagrams of  FIG. 10 ,  11 , or  12  as just a few examples and it should be realized that many more configurations are possible. 
         [0039]    In system  100 , the instantaneous total magnetic energy available to the secondary circuits derives from the primary circuit(s), residual energy stored in the cores  20  and housing  30 , and within the spaces between the cores  20 , and finally magnetic energy reflected back to the system  100  from its loads. The system is capable of storing this energy and delivering it to its loads on demand. This results in limiting the amount of power drawn from its source(s). Also, because most of the energy stored in system  100  at any instant is held in a reactive state, the amount of energy lost to heat within system  100  is quite small. This is partially due to the limitation on input power due to magnetic energy sharing as described above, and partially due to the physical conformation of the conductors of coils  12 , i.e., relatively short current flow paths and maximum cross-sectional area. 
         [0040]    The cards  10  described above may be manufactured using printed circuit board fabrication techniques. This approach has the advantage of being able to make the coils of the three cards close copies of each other. The system  100  manufactured in this manner can be expected to handle currents in the range of a small fraction of an ampere up to several tens of amperes. Applications for such a system  100  include computer circuits and charger circuits as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0041]    System  100  may also be fabricated using microcircuit planar fabrication techniques capable of producing a large number of nearly identical devices simultaneously. The general processes for manufacturing microcircuits by deposition and etching techniques are well known. Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , the layers shown may be fabricated on a much smaller scale as thin films deposited by chemical or physical deposition techniques. Such layers may be of magnetically permeable materials, electrical insulators and electrical conductors. Spaces between conductor layers may be formed by depositing insulating materials such as SiO2, and conductors may be Au or Cu layers etched to a pattern using dry or wet chemical etching processes. Using this approach, coils  12  are able to be fabricated with very close physical and electrical tolerances. Such micro-sized versions of system  100  may be applied to a broad range of electronic circuits as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , and also in a distributive power delivery application where system  100  is sealed within a microchip package along with micro-chip loads, i.e., circuits such as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 16  shows an application where system  100 , may be applied in a utility power situations, as for instance in voltage step-up or step-down functions as exemplified by  FIG. 16 . For step-up and step-down functions, the ratio of primary to secondary coil turns is applied as in standard transformers. 
         [0043]    The method of operation of the above described system  100  results in delivering electrical power on demand with low loss to a load L 1  as in  FIG. 4 , or to dual independent loads as shown in  FIG. 5 , or to plural pairs of such loads as shown in  FIG. 7 . An exemplary method inductively couples a first input electrical energy, the input electrical current from source S 1  in  FIG. 4  for instance, within a primary planar electromagnetic energy converter, printed circuit card  10 B, for example, to a pair of secondary planar electromagnetic energy converters such as cards  10 A and  10 C for example. Output electrical energy from the secondary planar electromagnetic energy converters is therefore delivered, as shown in FIG.  5 , to the pair of independent loads L 1  and L 2 . In this method, electromagnetic energy is stored within a toroidal-shaped magnetic circuit. The toroidal shape comprises the axial core which supports magnetic flux represented by vector F 1  as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  7  for example, and the peripheral permeable enclosure  30 . This magnetic circuit is common to both the primary  10 B and to secondary  10 A and  10 C planar electromagnetic energy converters. We refer to the cards as “converters” stressing their function rather than their physical attributes. Portions of the stored electromagnetic energy is delivered, as output electrical energy, in the form of electrical current, to each of the independent loads L 1  and L 2  as independently demanded by each of these loads. These currents are able to provide some or, at times, all of each load&#39;s needs, thereby reducing the amount of energy that is drawn from the source S 1 . The stored electromagnetic energy of the magnetic circuit is held primarily within the axial core as represented by flux vector F 1  and which is centered on axis  5 . It should be realized that energy stored in the toroidal magnetic circuit is highly transient, moving into and out of the axial portion in nanoseconds. This magnetic energy is primarily directed to and stored in the linear, mutually parallel and spaced apart arrangement of the permeable cores  20  and also within the spaces between the cores  20 . The spaces enable magnetic energy storage without being limited by magnetic saturation effects. 
         [0044]    When the loads L 1  and L 2  operate on alternating currents and have reactive components, e.g., inductors and capacitors, the cycles of their stored energy fields are typically not in phase with the input current provided by source S 1 , so that magnetic and electric fields of these reactive components may release energy into the system  100  as back flowing transient currents. This energy may be stored as magnetic flux contributions to F 1  and/or F 2 . The flux represented by F 1  is axially aligned with the primary and secondary planar electromagnetic energy converters  10 A,  10 B, and NC along axis  5  in  FIG. 5 . In summary, system  100  is a reactor converting electric currents to magnetic fields and back to electric currents to drive one or more loads from a shared magnetic energy pool so that each of the loads is able to draw energy as needed (on demand) and wherein a very small amount of energy is converted to heat due to the fact that system  100  operates primarily with the reactive component of electrical power. 
         [0045]    A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.