Patent ID: 8035470

Claim:
A DC inductor comprising: a core structure comprising a plurality of magnetic gaps; a coil arranged on the core structure; and at least one permanent magnet positioned in the core structure, the magnetization of the at least one permanent magnet opposing the magnetization producible by the coil, wherein the core structure forms a main flux path and an auxiliary flux path, wherein the main flux path comprises a first magnetic gap among the plurality of magnetic gaps, the first magnetic gap carrying the main magnetic flux producible by the coil, and wherein the auxiliary flux path comprises a second magnetic gap among the plurality of magnetic gaps, the auxiliary flux path leading magnetic flux past the at least one permanent magnet and protecting the at least one permanent magnet from complete demagnetization; wherein the auxiliary flux path is comprised of a supporting member constituted by magnetic material, wherein the core structure comprises a winding window, and wherein the supporting member extends from the core structure inside the winding window of the core structure and holds the at least one permanent magnet.