680 nH, 3 A — AEC-Q200 qualified for under-hood DC-DC
The Murata DFE2MCAHR68MJ0L is a shielded wirewound inductor in the DFE2M series, built on a metal composite core that keeps saturation current above the thermal rating. At 680 nH ±20% with a 3 A continuous current rating and 3.1 A saturation floor, it can supply a buck converter's inductor current without the inductance collapsing before the peak demand hits. The 42 mOhm max DCR sets the copper loss budget — at 3 A that is 378 mW self-heating, which the -40 to +150 °C operating range absorbs without derating under the hood. The AEC-Q200 qualification (Grade 0 or 1 implied by the 150 °C ceiling) means this inductor passed the automotive stress tests — thermal shock, moisture resistance, mechanical shock, and vibration. For a 48 V to 3.3 V automotive DC-DC stage or a POL regulator feeding a camera module, the metal core also avoids the audible ringing that ferrite-based inductors produce under high ripple current.
0806 footprint, shielded — fits tight power stages
The 0806 (2016 metric) case measures 2.00 x 1.60 mm on the board with a 1.20 mm seated height. The shielded construction contains the magnetic flux within the core — adjacent traces in a dense layout see lower EMI coupling than an unshielded drum core would produce. Surface-mount reflow profile follows the standard lead-free solder curve; the metal core does not outgas or crack under typical 260 °C peak profiles. Tape-and-reel packaging supports high-volume pick-and-place. The ±20% tolerance is typical for power-grade inductors — the inductance at the DC bias point matters more than the open-circuit value, and the metal composite material holds the inductance flatter with DC current than ferrite alternatives.