Self-aligning Capacitor Electrode Assembly with Rounded Corners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitor manufacturing techniques face challenges in achieving precise capacitance specifications and high breakdown voltage due to electrode misalignment and charge concentration issues, particularly in miniaturized components.
Innovation Solution
The design of an electrode assembly with overlapping regions that are insensitive to misalignment, featuring a ratio of electrode length to offset distance less than 45, and incorporating rounded corners to reduce electric field and charge concentrations, thereby increasing breakdown voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional parallel electrode designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but electrode misalignment occurs resulting in imprecise capacitance values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by rounding the corners of the electrodes. This rounded corner design redistributes the electric field and charge concentrations, preventing sharp peaks at corner points. The curved geometry ensures that charge distributes more uniformly across the electrode surfaces, thereby achieving precise capacitance values even when minor misalignment occurs during manufacturing.
2Volume of moving object
If miniaturization is pursued, then component size decreases, but capacitance precision and breakdown voltage become harder to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
In miniaturized capacitors, the rounded corner design becomes even more critical. As dimensions shrink, the relative impact of corner charge concentrations increases. By implementing curved electrode edges, the patent prevents localized electric field breakdown in small-scale devices, maintaining reliable breakdown voltage characteristics despite the reduced overall size.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional electrode designs are used, then manufacturing is easier, but charge concentrations occur reducing breakdown voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded corner electrode design directly addresses charge concentration by eliminating sharp geometric features that act as field enhancement points. The curved surfaces naturally distribute electric field lines more evenly, preventing the formation of high-density charge regions. This geometric modification can be integrated into standard fabrication processes, maintaining ease of manufacture while eliminating the harmful charge concentration effect.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-aligning capacitor electrode assembly having an improved breakdown voltage is disclosed. The electrode assembly comprises a first electrode having a generally planar shape and a length in a first direction. The electrode assembly also comprises a second electrode having a generally planar shape and a length in a second direction. The second electrode overlaps the first electrode such that an overlapping region is formed. The overlapping region has an area that is insensitive to a relative misalignment in the first direction between the first electrode and the second electrode that is less than a first offset distance. A ratio of the length of the first electrode to the first offset distance is less than about 45.