Improving the Efficiency of a 10 MHz Voltage Regulator Using a PCB-Embedded Inductor

This study presents the design and experimental evaluation of a 10 MHz voltage regulator module (VRM) that incorporates a solenoid inductor embedded within a printed circuit board (PCB). To verify the performance of the inductor, a test PCB was fabricated and characterized using a vector network analyzer (VNA), with measurement data processed through 2x-thru de-embedding technique. A 10 MHz VRM was then implemented to assess the impact of the embedded inductor on system efficiency. Comparative measurements were conducted between two VRMs—one employing a surface-mounted (SMT) inductor and the other a PCB-embedded inductor. The SMT-based system achieved a peak efficiency of 65.24% at a load current of 800 mA, whereas the PCB-embedded inductor version reached 70.43% at 900 mA, reflecting an improvement of 5.19%. The VRM with an embedded inductor experienced less efficiency degradation under heavy load conditions, demonstrating superior energy delivery stability. These findings confirm the practical benefits of integrating solenoid inductors within a PCB for high-frequency, high-efficiency power conversion.