Integrated Capacitor Electrode Merging for Aging Voltage Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated capacitors face challenges in applying voltage across individual capacitor elements, leading to potential dielectric breakdown and failure, especially during manufacturing processes like aging, which requires multiple voltage application points, increasing manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a method where first and second external electrode layers are electrically coupled through wiring, allowing voltage application across any one of these layers, with the option to isolate them post-application, reducing the need for multiple pins and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If voltage is applied across individual capacitor elements through multiple voltage application points, then aging and defect repair can be performed, but the number of external electrodes (pins) increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all positive electrode connections into a single common external electrode and all negative electrode connections into another common external electrode. This allows voltage to be applied across all capacitor elements simultaneously through just two voltage application points, eliminating the need for multiple individual voltage application points while maintaining the ability to perform aging and defect repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The common external electrodes serve multiple functions: they act as electrical terminals for individual capacitor elements, provide unified voltage application points for aging processes, and enable defect repair across all elements. This multi-functionality reduces the number of required external electrodes while maintaining full operational capability.
2Reliability
If multiple voltage application points are provided for aging processes, then capacitor elements can be repaired, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple voltage application points into two common external electrodes, significantly reducing the number of connection points required for aging processes. This simplification directly reduces manufacturing costs by decreasing the number of external electrodes, wiring connections, and associated assembly steps while maintaining the ability to perform aging and repair on all capacitor elements.
3Quantity of substance
If approximately 50 to 100 capacitor elements are integrated into one integrated capacitor, then capacity increases, but the number of voltage application points becomes unmanageably large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the voltage application requirements of 50 to 100 individual capacitor elements into just two common external electrodes. All positive terminals are connected to one common electrode and all negative terminals to another, allowing simultaneous voltage application across the entire array of capacitor elements through a manageable two-point interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The common external electrodes serve as universal connection points for all capacitor elements in the integrated array. These electrodes simultaneously provide electrical connection for individual element operation, voltage application for aging processes, and defect repair capability for the entire integrated capacitor, making the system scalable to large numbers of elements without increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated capacitor that includes a plurality of capacitor elements, each of which has one of first internal electrodes and one of second internal electrodes; an exterior body accommodating the plurality of capacitor elements; a plurality of first external electrode layers on an outer surface of the exterior body and electrically connected to the first internal electrodes; and a plurality of second external electrode layers on the outer surface of the exterior body and electrically connected to the second internal electrodes. One of the first external electrode layers has a projecting portion projecting outward or a recessed portion recessed inward from part of an outer edge of the first external electrode layer in a plan view in a thickness direction of the first external electrode layer.