Multilayer Capacitor Electrode Offset for Short Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multilayer electronic components face issues with shorting between external electrodes due to size and thickness reduction, leading to electrical continuity problems during mounting and incorporation, especially when height-direction orientation is not controlled.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer electronic component design with first and second external electrodes having specific positional relationships and margin areas to prevent electrical continuity, allowing for non-directional orientation on mounting boards, utilizing a component body with a multilayer structure and internal electrode layers connected to these electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the height of the component body is reduced to achieve size reduction and thickness reduction, then the component size and thickness are reduced, but the shortest distance between opposed parts of external electrodes becomes equal to or less than the height, causing shorting during mounting or incorporation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends external electrodes from one-dimensional surface mounting into the third dimension by having them protrude from side surfaces of the component body. This dimensional transition creates spatial separation between opposed electrodes, increasing the shortest distance from h to h+a+b, thereby preventing shorting while maintaining reduced component height.
Solution Approach 2:
The external electrodes are pre-positioned to protrude from side surfaces before mounting, establishing a predetermined safety margin (a+b) that prevents shorting in advance. This preliminary positioning ensures that even during soldering or incorporation processes, the electrodes maintain adequate separation distance without requiring orientation control.
2Length of moving object
If the height of the component body is reduced, then the component thickness is reduced, but the chances of solder bridges or migration products causing electrical continuity between opposed external electrodes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes a safety margin by positioning external electrodes to protrude from side surfaces, creating a predetermined minimum distance (h+a+b) before mounting occurs. This advance positioning prevents harmful effects like solder bridges and migration product conductivity by ensuring adequate separation is already in place, eliminating the need for orientation control during assembly.
3Ease of operation
If external electrodes are positioned at corners to enable non-directional mounting, then ease of operation is improved, but the shortest distance between opposed electrodes decreases, increasing shorting risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by transitioning electrode positioning from the top/bottom surface dimension to the side surface dimension. External electrodes protrude from lateral surfaces rather than being confined to corner positions on top/bottom faces, creating three-dimensional spatial separation that maintains adequate distance while preserving mounting flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures external electrodes to protrude from side surfaces with a predetermined offset distance, establishing a safety margin (a+b) before the component is mounted. This preliminary positioning ensures that regardless of mounting orientation, the shortest distance between opposed electrodes remains h+a+b, preventing shorting while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment of a multilayer electronic component, one main electrode part 12a of the first external electrode 12 present on one height-direction face of the capacitor body 11 of the multilayer capacitor is partially opposed to the other main electrode part 13a of the second external electrode 13 present on the other height-direction face, while one main electrode part 13a of the second external electrode 13 present on one height-direction face of the capacitor body 11 is partially opposed to the other main electrode part 12a of the first external electrode 12 present on the other height-direction face of the capacitor body 11, and margin areas MR1 to MR4 of roughly belt shape exist between each of the opposing areas OR and each of the edges on both height-direction faces of the capacitor body 11.