More Practical Applications of Inductors

Inductors are used in a wide range of electrical and electronic systems. Here are more practical examples of how they are applied in real-world circuits:

1️⃣ Inductors in Power Supplies (Buck/Boost Converters)

📌 Application: DC-DC voltage conversion in mobile chargers, power banks, and solar inverters.
📌 How It Works:

• In a buck converter (step-down), the inductor stores energy when the switch is ON and releases it when OFF, smoothing the current.
• In a boost converter (step-up), the inductor boosts voltage by storing energy and then releasing it to the load at a higher voltage.

✅ Example Circuit (Buck Converter)

    Vin (12V) --- [Switch (MOSFET)] --- [Inductor] --- [Diode] --- Vout (5V)
                                         |
                                         [Capacitor]
                                         |
                                         GND

Where:

• The MOSFET acts as a switch.
• The inductor stores and releases energy to regulate voltage.
• The capacitor smooths the output voltage.

2️⃣ Inductors in Wireless Charging

📌 Application: Used in smartphones, electric toothbrushes, and EV chargers.
📌 How It Works:

• Two coils (inductors) are used: one in the charging pad (transmitter) and one in the device (receiver).
• Magnetic induction transfers energy between the coils without physical contact.

✅ Example Circuit:

(AC Power) → [Oscillator] → [Transmitter Coil] )) (( [Receiver Coil] → [Rectifier] → (Battery)

• Oscillator generates an AC current.
• Transmitter Coil creates a magnetic field.
• Receiver Coil picks up the energy and converts it back to DC.

3️⃣ Inductors in Audio Systems (Crossovers)

📌 Application: Used in speaker systems to separate high and low frequencies.
📌 How It Works:

• Inductors block high frequencies while allowing low frequencies to pass.
• They work with capacitors to form crossovers, which direct sound to woofers (low frequencies) or tweeters (high frequencies).

✅ Example Circuit (Low-Pass Filter for a Woofer)

       Audio Signal ---> [Inductor] ---> Woofer (Low-Frequency Speaker)

• The inductor blocks high frequencies, so only bass sounds reach the woofer.

4️⃣ Inductors in Transformers

📌 Application: Used in power transmission, adapters, and electrical substations.
📌 How It Works:

• Transformers consist of two inductors (primary & secondary windings).
• By varying the number of windings, transformers can step up or step down voltage.

✅ Example: Step-Down Transformer (220V AC to 12V AC)

     220V AC ---> [Primary Coil (More Turns)] ---> Magnetic Core ---> [Secondary Coil (Fewer Turns)] ---> 12V AC

• The transformer reduces voltage while maintaining power efficiency.

5️⃣ Inductors in RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification)

📌 Application: Used in contactless payment cards, keyless entry systems, and inventory tracking.
📌 How It Works:

• An RFID reader generates a high-frequency magnetic field using an inductor.
• An RFID tag (with a small coil and chip) picks up the energy, powering the chip to send data.

✅ Example System:

[RFID Reader Coil] )) (( [RFID Tag Coil] → [Chip Sends Data] → [Reader Receives Signal]

• The inductor in the reader wirelessly powers the tag, allowing it to send information.

6️⃣ Inductors in Sensors (Inductive Proximity Sensors)

📌 Application: Used in metal detectors, car parking sensors, and automation.
📌 How It Works:

• When a metal object enters the magnetic field of an inductor, the field changes.
• This change is detected and used to trigger an action (e.g., opening a door).

✅ Example Circuit (Proximity Sensor)

 [Oscillator] → [Inductor Coil] → [Metal Object Detected] → [Signal Output]

• The inductor generates a magnetic field that changes when metal is near.

💡 Summary of Applications