LG Innotek Wins at US Edison Awards with Ultra-Thin Magnetic Components

by Kim Pyeonghwa

Published 24 Apr.2023 08:50(KST)

Won Bronze in Commercial Technology Category This Year with 'Nexlim'

LG Innotek announced on the 24th that it won an award at the US 'Edison Awards 2023' for its magnetic (magnetic property) components, which are credited with ushering in a new era of ultra-slim, high-definition TVs.

The Edison Awards, established in 1987 to honor the innovative spirit of inventor Edison, is the most prestigious invention award in the United States. It is often called the Oscar of innovation. Approximately 3,000 judges, including executives and scholars from various US industries, conduct a rigorous evaluation process over about seven months. Each year, gold, silver, and bronze winners are selected in 16 categories. It serves as the best reference for domestic innovative companies targeting overseas markets.

At this year’s Edison Awards ceremony held on the 20th (local time), LG Innotek received the bronze award in the 'Commercial Technology' category. This was thanks to the introduction of the world's thinnest ultra-thin magnetic component, 'Nexlim.'

Nexlim is installed in TV power modules and vehicle power and chargers to convert voltage. It is also used to eliminate unnecessary signals generated by current waves. By minimizing power loss caused by heat generation, it plays a crucial role in improving energy efficiency in electronic products and electric vehicles.

High-efficiency magnetic material 'Ferrite (X-2)' used as the base material for LG Innotek's magnetic component 'Nexlim' / [Photo by LG Innotek]

In the TV industry, the challenge arose to increase magnetic components to offer large-screen, high-definition products while reducing product thickness. This increased the need for ultra-thin magnetic component development. Anticipating this trend in the electronics industry, LG Innotek successfully commercialized the 9.9mm Nexlim magnetic component in 2020. Last year, the thickness of Nexlim was reduced to 7mm.

LG Innotek reduced the thickness by using a 'high-efficiency ferrite' magnetic material as the base material for Nexlim. Compared to general magnetic materials, the energy loss was reduced by up to 40%, and the power density was tripled by independently developing and applying the ferrite magnetic material (X-2) to Nexlim.

Baek Bae-seok, a research fellow at LG Innotek who developed Nexlim, explained, "By introducing AI-based simulations, we optimized the material composition ratio to maximize ultra-low loss and high-efficiency performance within six months." He added, "By integrating the inductor and transformer, components that convert power inside the magnetic component, into one, we were able to further reduce the thickness of the magnetic component."

Using the core magnetic component technology secured during the development of Nexlim, LG Innotek recently succeeded in developing the third-generation ferrite magnetic material (X-3). It can reduce energy loss by up to 30% more than X-2 applied to Nexlim, and it is expected to play a decisive role in downsizing vehicle components when applied to electric vehicles in the future.

Kang Min-seok, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of LG Innotek, said, "Winning this Edison Award once again proves our unparalleled technological capabilities accumulated in the magnetic and material components field." He added, "We will continue to invest in the advanced development of future innovative materials and take the lead in creating differentiated customer value."