Abstract:
An inductor configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board is provided. The inductor includes a drum core including a cylindrical body and first and second flanges extending from opposite ends of the cylindrical body, a coil wound around the cylindrical body, a plurality of pins on which opposite ends of the coil are wound, wherein each of the plurality of pins has one end fixed to the second flange and another end configured to be fixed to the printed circuit board, and at least one projection which protrudes from the second flange and is configured to support the inductor to stand vertically on the printed circuit board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0063455, filed on Jun. 3, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to an inductor and a display apparatus including the same, and more particularly, to an inductor and a display apparatus including the same, in which an inductor core is improved in shape to stand on a printed circuit board. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     A display apparatus may include a display panel for displaying an image. The display panel may display an image based on a broadcasting signal and/or video signals having various formats. If a liquid crystal panel that cannot emit light by itself is used as the display panel, a backlight unit may be needed to illuminate the display panel. Taking into account environmental contamination, response speed, energy conservation, etc., a light emitting diode (LED) may be employed as a light source of the backlight unit. Further, the display apparatus may include a driving circuit in order to drive the light source. 
     In the case where the LED is used as the light source, a high-efficiency switching type direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter has been generally employed as the driving circuit. A backlight unit of a small display apparatus equal to or smaller than  32 ″ may employ an inductor  1   a  to which a lead type drum core  2   a  is applied as shown in  FIG. 1 . The drum core  2   a  used in the inductor  1   a  may be fixed to a nonconductive base  4  by a bond or the like, and wound with a coil  3  to have desired electric characteristics. Both ends of the coil  3  may be wound around conductive pins  5  fixed to the base  4  and soldered, thereby completing the inductor  1   a . The base  4  serves to form a sturdy electrode by fixing a body of the drum core  2   a , and electrically insulating the drum core  2   a  from a wiring on a printed circuit board to which the inductor  1   a  is mounted. 
     Also, if the printed circuit board has a cross-section where the wiring is formed on only the rear of the printed circuit board, the inductor may be manufactured as shown in  FIG. 3  by directly inserting and fixing a plurality of pins  5  in and to the drum core  2   b  instead of using the base, thereby reducing costs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a drum core type inductor  1   b  without using a base is applicable to only the printed circuit board that has the wiring on either of a first surface  6   a  to which the inductor  1   b  is mounted or a second surface  6   b  opposite to the first surface  6   a.    
     The inductor  1   b  is manufactured by winding the coil around the drum core  2   b , winding both ends of the coil  3  around the conductive pins  5 , and soldering both ends of the coil  3  to the conductive pins  5 . In the case of the inductor  1   b  manufactured as above, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when the inductor  1   b  is mounted to the printed circuit board  6 , the inductor  1   b  is unbalanced and inclined by a finished portion  3   a  of the coil  3 , thereby possibly causing contact failure, quality degradation, life-shortening, etc. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more exemplary embodiments may be conceived with a drum core type inductor without using a base, and may provide an inductor and a display apparatus including the same, in which the inductor stands and remains horizontal on a printed circuit board so that mounting quality of an inductor may be improved. 
     According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided an inductor configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board, the inductor including a drum core including a cylindrical body and first and second flanges extending from opposite ends of the cylindrical body, a coil wound around the cylindrical body, a plurality of pins on which opposite ends of the coil are wound, wherein each of the plurality of pins has one end fixed to the second flange and another end configured to be fixed to the printed circuit board, and at least one projection which protrudes from the second flange and is configured to support the inductor to stand vertically on the printed circuit board. 
     A height of the projection may be greater than a height of a finished portions formed by winding the opposite ends of the coil around the pins. 
     The at least one projection may include at least three projections. 
     The projection may be integrated with the second flange. 
     The printed circuit board may include wiring on at least a first surface facing the inductor and a second surface opposite the first surface. 
     According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a display apparatus including a video processor configured to process a video signal, a display that includes a backlight unit configured to emit light, wherein the display is configured to display an image with the emitted light based on the processed video signal, a driving circuit configured to drive the backlight unit, wherein the driving circuit includes a printed circuit board and an inductor mounted on the printed circuit board. The inductor includes a drum core including a cylindrical body and first and second flanges extending from opposite ends of the cylindrical body, a coil wound around the cylindrical body, a plurality of pins on which opposite ends of the coil are wound, wherein each of the plurality of pins has one end fixed to the second flange and another end fixed to the printed circuit board, and a projection which protrudes from the second flange and support the inductor to stand vertically on the printed circuit board. 
     The backlight unit may include at least one light emitting diode (LED) configured to emits the light. 
     A projection height may be greater than a height of a finished portion formed by winding both ends of the coil around the pin. 
     The at least one projection may include at least three projections. 
     The at least one projection may be integrated with the second flange. 
     The printed circuit board may include wiring on at least a first surface facing the inductor and a second surface opposite the first surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects will be more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view schematically showing a drum core type inductor with a base; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view schematically showing a base of a drum core type inductor; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view schematically showing a drum core type inductor without a base; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view schematically showing that a drum core type inductor without a base being mounted on a printed circuit board; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view schematically showing an inductor according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view schematically showing a drum core of an inductor according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view schematically showing a drum core of an inductor according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view schematically showing an inductor mounted on a printed circuit board according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram schematically showing elements of a display apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness. 
     Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
     An inductor and a display apparatus including the inductor according to exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , an inductor  10  according to an exemplary embodiment includes a coil  30  through which electric current flows, a drum core  20  around which the coil  30  is wound, a plurality of pins  50  fixed to a lower surface of the drum core  20 , and a projection  24  formed protruding from the lower surface of the drum core  20 . 
     The coil  30  is provided as a wire having good conductivity to achieve inductance of the inductor  10 . The wire is coated with an insulating material, and used as being wound cylindrically or spirally. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the drum core  20  includes a cylindrical body  21  around which a coil is wound, a first flange  22  extended from a top of the body  21 , and a second flange  23  extended from a bottom of the body  21 . The second flange  23  is formed with a plurality of projections  24 . 
     The cylindrical body  21  is designed to have a diameter and a length corresponding to desired inductance, and is wound around with the coil. 
     Further, the drum core  20  may be made of ferrite. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the plurality of pins  50  are provided in the form of cylindrical bars, each of which has one side inserted in and fixed to a hole  25  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) formed in the second flange  23  and the other side inserted in and fixed to a hole  63  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) formed in the printed circuit board. With this, the drum core  20  is fixed without being separated from the printed circuit board. In this exemplary embodiment, two pins  50  are provided, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. 
     Further, the pins  50  are made of a conductor such as copper or the like. Both ends  31  and  32  of the coil  30  are fixed to the second flange  23 , wound around the cylindrical body  21 , and are wound around and fixed to the pins  50 . At this time, both ends  31  and  32  of the coil  30  may be soldered and electrically connected to the pins  50 . 
     Also, the pins  50  inserted in the printed circuit board may be soldered to the printed circuit board so as to be electrically connected and fixed to the wiring provided on the printed circuit board. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the drum core  20  according to an exemplary embodiment includes the cylindrical body  21  standing with respect to  FIG. 6 , and the first and second flanges  22  and  23  extended from the top and bottom ends of the body  21 . Here, the second flange  23  is a mounting surface facing the printed circuit board. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second flange  23  includes two holes  25  where the plurality of pins are inserted and fixed, and three projections  24  allowing the drum core  20  to stand while keeping horizontal on the printed circuit board. 
     The projections  24  are higher than a height of finished portions formed by winding both ends  31  and  32  of the coil  30  around the pins  50 . With this structure as shown in  FIG. 8 , the drum core  20  can be placed and fixed such that the drum core  20  can maintain a horizontal position on the printed circuit board  60  regardless of the finished portions of the coil  32 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, three projections  24  are provided, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, more than three projections may be provided, and the projection may have any shape as long as it can keep the drum core horizontal in relation to the printed circuit board. 
     Also, the projection  24  may be integrated with the second flange  23  in consideration of productivity and production costs, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, the projection  24  may be separately manufactured and then coupled to the second flange  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the inductor  10  according to an exemplary embodiment includes the projections  24  on the second flange  23  of the drum core  20 , and is thus spaced apart at a predetermined distance and electrically insulated from the printed circuit board  60  where the inductor  10  is mounted. Therefore, the inductor  10  according to an exemplary embodiment is applicable even if the wiring is provided on either or both of the top  61  and the bottom  62  of the printed circuit board  60 . 
     The inductor  10  may be used in the display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram schematically showing the elements of a display apparatus. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the display apparatus  100  may include a communicator  200  configured to receive a video signal or a user&#39;s command signal from the exterior, a video processor  300  configured to process the received video signal, a controller  400  configured to control operations of the display apparatus  100  in response to a command received through the communicator  200 , a storage  500  configured to store information and programs needed for operating the display apparatus  100 , and a display  600  configured to display an image based on the video signal processed by the video processor  300 . 
     The display  600  includes a display panel  610  such as a liquid crystal panel or the like to receive light, a backlight unit  620  to emit light to the display panel  610 , and a driving circuit  630  to drive the backlight unit  620 . 
     The backlight unit  620  is provided behind, at top/bottom sides and/or at left/right sides of the display panel  610 , and emits light to the display panel  610 . As a light source for emitting light, at least one light emitting diode (LED) may be included in the backlight unit  620 . Alternatively, various methods such as cold cathode fluorescent lamp, etc. may be used as long as it can emit light. 
     The driving circuit  630  includes a DC-DC converter that is a buck circuit or a boost circuit based on a high efficiency switching method. 
     The inductor  10  according to an exemplary embodiment may be used for storing energy of an input voltage in a filter of the driving circuit  630  that converts a level of the input voltage and outputs an output voltage. 
     For example, the buck circuit may include one inductor and two switches for controlling the inductor, and may connect the inductor with power, thereby alternating between an operation of storing energy in the inductor and an operation of discharging electricity regarding the inductor as load. Here, the inductor  10  according to an exemplary embodiment is used. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, there are provided an inductor and a display apparatus including the inductor, in which the inductor is mounted keeping horizontal on the printed circuit board, thereby having an effect on improving a mounting quality of the inductor. 
     When the inductor is mounted on the printed circuit board, the inductor may be prevented from inclination, thereby having effects on minimizing soldering failure and preventing contact failure. 
     The inductor may not movable but stationary on the printed circuit board, thereby maybe having an effect on preventing damage due to bending in a contact portion or fatigue stress. 
     The number of parts may be reduced when the inductor is manufactured, thereby may be having effects on increasing productivity and reducing production costs. 
     Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.