Introduction

In this technical review, we will be examining the performance of TDK Corporation's VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor against statistical benchmarks derived from similar components with a 4.7μH nominal value. This surface mount, drum core, wirewound inductor is an integral component in various electronic circuits, and assessing its performance is of great interest to qualified engineers evaluating their designs.

To ensure an accurate assessment, the inductor's performance will be evaluated and compared to the given statistical benchmark data in key areas such as Inductance, Series Resistance, Dissipation Factor, and Quality Factor. These areas are critical in determining critical performance characteristics.

Let's dive into the technical analysis of the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor.

Pros

• Wide range of test frequencies
• Decent quality factor in certain test frequencies

Cons

• Series resistance performance is relatively low
• Quality factor is not consistent across the various test frequencies
• Inductance values deviate from the nominal value of 4.7μH

Impedance

The impedance of the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor is consistently higher than the statistical benchmark's minimum and average values across all test frequencies at both 1 Volt and 10 Volt measurements. This higher impedance indicates that the inductor is effectively resisting the flow of alternating current across the range of tested frequencies.

When measured at 1 Volt, the inductor exhibits an impedance of 59.2 mΩ at 5 Hz, substantially higher than the benchmark's 15.22 mΩ minimum and 197 mΩ average. At 1 kHz, the impedance increases to 64.31 mΩ, still higher than the benchmark's 32.97 mΩ minimum and 262.9 mΩ average. The trend of higher impedance continues across all measured frequencies, with the most significant difference observed at 1 MHz: the component shows an impedance of 23.24 Ω compared to the benchmark's 2.44 Ω minimum and 28.31 Ω average values.

Moving on to the 10 Volt measurements, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor continues to surpass the benchmark in terms of impedance. At a frequency of 5 Hz, its impedance measures at 674 mΩ, notably higher than the benchmark's 15.22 mΩ minimum and 197 mΩ average. The impedance difference becomes more prominent at 1 kHz, where the component reaches 668.8 mΩ as opposed to the 32.97 mΩ minimum and 262.9 mΩ average benchmark values. This contrast in impedance is consistent across all frequencies, and the disparity is most pronounced at 1 MHz, where the inductor's impedance is measured at 25.03 Ω, significantly outperforming the benchmark's 2.44 Ω minimum and 28.31 Ω average values.

In conclusion, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor demonstrates excellent impedance characteristics across all test frequencies, making it ideal for applications requiring a component with effective AC resistance. The consistent pattern of higher impedance values in comparison to the benchmark illustrates the quality and superior performance of this inductor against its counterparts, thus confirming its suitability for use in high-demand applications.

Inductance

In this section, we will analyze the inductance performance of TDK Corporation's VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 inductor and compare it to the statistical benchmark data provided. This inductor has a nominal inductance of 4.7μH with a tolerance of ±30%.

At 1 Volt and various test frequencies, the inductor shows significant differences in inductance values compared to the benchmark data. Specifically, it demonstrates higher inductance values at frequencies of 5Hz, 10Hz, 50Hz, and 100Hz, while showing comparable inductance values at higher frequencies ranging from 500Hz to 1MHz.

For example, at a test frequency of 10Hz, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 exhibits an inductance of 14.06μH, which is notably higher than the benchmark average of 11.59μH. A similar trend prevails at 50Hz, with a measured inductance of 7.781μH compared to the benchmark's average of 7.348μH. Surprisingly, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 also outperforms the benchmark at low frequencies, such as 5Hz, with an inductance of 4.871μH versus the benchmark average of 15.29μH. It's important to clarify that, in this case, lower inductance is probably a disadvantage, indicating a less effective inductor at low frequencies.

At higher test voltages like 10 Volts, the inductor's performance continues to deviate from the benchmark, particularly showing higher inductance values at lower frequencies such as 10Hz, 50Hz, and 100Hz (73.17μH, 12.22μH, and 4.543μH, respectively). However, at higher test frequencies like 1MHz, the inductor's inductance values are more in line with the benchmark measurements.

Overall, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 inductor exhibits distinct inductance performance, particularly at low frequencies, when compared to the statistical benchmark data. While its values are more closely aligned with the benchmark at higher frequencies, this inductor presents a unique option for electronics engineers, especially those focusing on low-frequency applications within the given part number's specifications. However, it is essential to consider the possible decreased effectiveness of the inductor at very low frequencies such as 5Hz before deciding on its application.

Series Resistance

Upon examining the component's measurements in relation to the statistical benchmark, it is observed that the Series Resistance for the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 inductor falls below average. For instance, at a test voltage of 1 Volt and low test frequencies (5-500 Hz), the inductor's Series Resistance ranges from 59m to 59.25m Ohms. In contrast, the benchmark minimum Series Resistance lies between 15.18m and 15.32m Ohms, while the average ranges from 201.1m to 261.8m Ohms. Likewise, at a test frequency of 1 MHz, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 inductor's Series Resistance measures at 521.5m Ohms, compared to the benchmark minimum of 308.6m Ohms and the average value of 1.041 Ohms.

Besides that, the component demonstrates consistent performance across various test frequencies as opposed to the benchmark data. This can be illustrated by a Series Resistance of 60.28m Ohms at 10kHz and 86.95m Ohms at 50 kHz, which compares favorably to the benchmark average values of 267.2m and 289.9m Ohms, respectively. Furthermore, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 inductor maintains a lower Series Resistance across all frequencies, even when tested at a higher voltage of 10 Volts. The Series Resistance ranges from 80.13m Ohms at 50 kHz to 1.083 Ohms at 1 MHz, which are lower than the benchmark maxima of 3.31 Ohms and 7.266 Ohms within the respective frequency ranges.

Consequently, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 inductor demonstrates lower Series Resistance values, making it an attractive option for applications that demand reduced energy losses and improved component efficiency. The reduced Series Resistance can yield benefits such as lower heat generation and higher performance in high current applications, offering an advantage in various real-world scenarios.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

The Quality Factor (Q) is an important parameter for various electronic components as it indicates the energy loss relative to the stored energy in reactive components like inductors and capacitors. A high Q value generally suggests a lower rate of energy loss, resulting in improved performance. In this review, we observed the Q factor's behavior over a range of frequencies and voltages for a specific component.

In the lower frequency range, the Q values moderately increased from 0.01 to 0.05 between 10 Hz and 100 Hz. Further significant increments were observed as the frequency rose from 100 Hz to 1 kHz, and then from 1 kHz to 5 kHz, with Q values of 0.40 and 2.00, respectively. Notably, a steady growth in Q values was observed at higher frequencies above 50 kHz, eventually reaching the peak value of 44.63 at 1 MHz. This means the component demonstrates better performance, in terms of lower energy loss, at higher frequencies.

At 10 Volts, data was unavailable for frequency points below 50 kHz. However, for the range of 50 kHz to 1 MHz, the observed Q values were generally lower than those measured at 1 Volt. For instance, Q reached the value of 16.04 at 50 kHz, increased to 22.30 at 100 kHz, and peaked at 23.05 at 1 MHz. This suggests the component's performance reduces under higher voltages, as evidenced by the comparatively lower Q values. It is important for electronic engineers to account for this behavior when considering this component's applicability in their circuits, especially when designing circuits operating at higher voltages.

In conclusion, the Quality Factor's study reveals how the component's energy loss and performance are dependent on factors like operating frequency and voltage. Engineers should keep these parameters in mind to ensure the component meets their specific application requirements and expectations while optimizing the overall performance of their circuits.

Comparative Analysis

In this comparative analysis, we will investigate the performance of TDK Corporation's VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2, a 4.7μH Drum Core Wirewound Inductor, against the provided statistical benchmarks for components of the same value. This in-depth comparison aims to help engineers determine whether this inductor is an optimal choice for their application.

Beginning with the LCR measurements at 1 Volt, comparing the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2's impedance values at various test frequencies reveals that this inductor mostly falls within the range of the average impedance. At certain frequencies such as 20kHz, 50kHz, and 75kHz, the inductor exhibits superior performance compared to the benchmark's maximum impedance, presenting a lower value. However, the 5kHz test frequency appears to show an exact match between the inductor's performance and the benchmark's minimum impedance.

Moving on to series resistance, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 demonstrates a largely consistent performance compared to the benchmark's average series resistance. In select instances, such as 50kHz, 75kHz and 100kHz test frequencies, the inductor showcases even better performance. Nonetheless, the series inductance seems to be slightly lower than the benchmark's average inductance values, indicating a less optimal performance at various test frequencies.

When observing the quality factor, this inductor seems to present lower values in the majority of test frequencies when compared to the benchmark data. Therefore, it may not be the ideal choice in cases where a high-quality factor is a crucial requirement.

Next, analyzing the LCR measurements at 10 Volts, the VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 exhibits somewhat similar results. The inductor's impedance values tend to be generally higher than the benchmark's minimum and maximum, indicating poorer performance. However, series resistance is often close to or slightly better than the benchmark's average. Series inductance is below the benchmark's average, just like in the 1 Volt test.

Considering these findings, the TDK Corporation VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor offers mixed performance when compared to the statistical benchmark of inductors of the same value. The component's series resistance values mostly align with or surpass the benchmark averages, while the impedance values and quality factor are mostly inferior to the benchmark. As a result, engineers should carefully weigh their specific application requirements and the importance of each evaluated parameter before settling on this inductor as an optimal choice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the TDK Corporation's VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor, a Drum Core Wirewound inductor with a nominal value of 4.7µH, demonstrates decent performance when compared to the statistical benchmark data. The performance of this inductor varies when using one volt and ten volts LCR measurements. It becomes essential for engineers to consider their design requirements and the specific application before choosing this inductor for their products.

At 1V measurements, the inductor shows higher Quality Factor values for frequencies above 50 kHz and consistently maintains near-average impedance values across the frequency range. The series inductance follows a similar trend as the Quality Factor, remaining satisfactory as compared to the benchmark data. However, the inductor's series resistance is consistently lower across the frequency range as compared to the average values present in the benchmark data.

At 10V LCR measurements, the inductor's performance is less encouraging. The Quality Factor is consistently lower than the benchmark data but maintains consistent series inductance values. The series resistance seems to average out as the frequency increases, but additional analysis would be recommended to determine the inductor's true performance in a 10V situation.

Based on the LCR measurements at both 1V and 10V, the TDK VLCF4028T-4R7N1R5-2 Inductor could potentially perform well in certain design applications. However, engineers seeking a higher overall quality may consider further analysis or alternative inductors depending on their specific needs and requirements.