Inductor with bypass switch

Abstract

Some apparatus and associated methods relate to conductivity modulation apparatus for active operations with an inductive element in a packaged circuit module formed with a bypass switch for configuration in parallel with an inductor. In an illustrative example, the bypass switch may be a controllable bidirectional switch formed of, for example, two anti-series connected MOSFETs. In some embodiments, the packaged module may include a main switch and/or a freewheeling rectifier (e.g., synchronous rectifier) operable as a buck-derived switched mode power supply. The bypass switch may, in operation, selectively circulate inductor current through the bypass switch, for example, to control the timing and/or quantity of energy transfer from the inductor to a load. In some implementations, the bypass switch may be operated, for example, to dynamically modulate conductivity across the terminals of an inductor in a buck-derived switched mode power supply to enhance circuit performance in numerous operational modes.