Inductors are passive electrical components that oppose sudden changes in current and are also known as coils or chokes. They are widely used in electrical power and electronic devices for various purposes, including:
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Energy storage: Inductors store energy in an electromagnetic field and then release it back into the circuit, which helps to slow down current surges or spikes.
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Filtering: Inductors are used in electrical circuits to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) by attenuating high-frequency noise in order to meet electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) emission and immunity requirements. They are also used in electronic filters to separate signals of different frequencies.
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Power conversion: Inductors are used as energy storage devices in many switched-mode power supplies to produce DC current. The inductor supplies energy to the circuit to keep current flow during "off" switching periods, thus enabling topographies where output voltage exceeds input voltage.
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Tuned circuits: Inductors are used in combination with capacitors to make tuned circuits, which are used to tune radio and TV receivers and for transmitting or receiving radio or microwave frequency signals.
Overall, inductors are used extensively in analog circuits and signal processing, ranging from the use of large inductors in power supplies to the small inductance of the ferrite bead or torus installed around a cable to prevent radio frequency interference from being transmitted down the wire.
