Patent ID: 8120457

Claim:
A variable inductor comprising: one or more magnetic cores providing magnetic flux paths; an inductor coil wound around one or more inductor sections of the one or more magnetic cores, wherein an inductor magnetic flux flows through one or more closed flux paths along the inductor sections of the magnetic core; and a control coil wound around one or more control sections of the one or more magnetic cores, wherein a control magnetic flux flows through one or more closed flux paths along the control sections of the magnetic core, wherein the inductor magnetic flux substantially does not flow through the control sections of the magnetic core, wherein the control magnetic flux substantially does not flow through the inductor sections of the magnetic core, wherein the closed flux paths associated with the inductor magnetic flux and the closed flux paths associated with the control magnetic flux share one or more common sections of the magnetic core that do not include the control sections and inductor sections, and wherein the inductance of said variable inductor is varied by varying said control magnetic flux.