Patent ID: 6965290

Claim:
A non-linear inductor comprising: a first stack of first laminations, said first laminations each having a first leg with an edge and a plurality of other legs, said first legs forming a first leg portion of the first stack and said other legs forming other leg portions of the first stack, said first leg portion having an end formed by the edges of the first legs; and a second stack of second laminations each having the same predetermined shape, said second stack of second laminations being disposed adjacent said first stack of first laminations to form a flow path for magnetic flux, said first leg portion of the first stack and said second stack cooperating to create an air gap between the end of the first leg portion of the first stack and said second stack, said air gap having portions with different widths and being configured to produce a desired non-linear inductance characteristic for said non-linear inductor; a winding disposed around the first leg portion or one of the other leg portions of the first stack; wherein portions of the second stack adjoin the other leg portions of the first stack, respectively, and wherein the air gap defined by the first leg portion of the first stack and the second stack extends the entire depth of the second stack in the stacking direction of the second stack.