Patent ID: 8514593

Claim:
A power converter, comprising: a power switch; a magnetic device coupled to said power switch and having a non-uniform gap, said magnetic device formed according to one of: said magnetic device comprising a first core section and a second core section having a leg that forms a gap with said first core section and an end of said leg having a reduced cross-sectional area to form said non-uniform gap, said magnetic device comprising a first core section and a second core section having a leg that forms a gap with said first core section and an end of said leg having a hole bored therein to form said non-uniform gap, said magnetic device comprising a first core section and a second core section having a leg that forms a gap with said first core section and a core piecepart positioned at an end of said leg to form said non-uniform gap, said magnetic device comprising a first core section and a second core section having a leg with a tapered region at an end thereof to form said non-uniform gap with said first core section, and said magnetic device comprising a first magnetic core having first and second core sections, said second core section of said first magnetic core having a leg that forms a first gap with said first core section of said first magnetic core, and a second magnetic core adjacent said first magnetic core and having first and second core sections, said second core section of said second magnetic core having a leg that forms a second gap with said first core section of said second magnetic core, said first and second gaps forming said non-uniform gap; and a controller, including: a detector configured to sense a condition representing an output power of said power converter; and a control circuit configured to control a switching frequency of said power switch as a function of said condition and control a duty cycle of said power switch to regulate an output characteristic of said power converter.