Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor External Electrode Slope Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multilayer ceramic capacitors face challenges in achieving high capacitance and miniaturization while maintaining reliability, particularly in moisture-resistance, due to the thinness of cover portions which increases the risk of moisture permeation and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a multilayer ceramic electronic component with a ceramic body having internal and external electrodes, where the external electrodes are multiply coated and designed with specific slope configurations to enhance moisture-resistance reliability, and the component is fabricated using a method that includes sintering ceramic green sheets and forming internal electrodes with conductive pastes to ensure effective electrical connections and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of laminations is increased to achieve high capacitance, then capacitance per unit volume is improved, but the volume of internal electrodes must be significantly decreased which complicates manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing multiple internal electrodes within the ceramic body in a laminated structure, where each internal electrode is surrounded by dielectric layers and other internal electrodes. This nested arrangement increases capacitance per unit volume by maximizing the use of available space through multiple laminations, while maintaining feasible manufacturing dimensions for each individual electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-layer to multi-layer construction by adding the dimension of laminations. Multiple dielectric layers and internal electrodes are stacked in the thickness direction, effectively increasing capacitance per unit volume without proportionally increasing the planar area, thus achieving high capacitance in a compact form factor.
2Volume of moving object
If miniaturization is pursued to reduce component size, then compactness is improved, but moisture-resistance reliability deteriorates due to thinner cover portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple layers of ceramic materials with different properties. The cover portions are formed using specific ceramic compositions that provide both mechanical strength and moisture barrier properties. This composite structure allows miniaturization while maintaining reliability, as the specialized ceramic materials compensate for the reduced thickness of cover portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin film technology in the form of multiple thin dielectric layers and electrode layers that are laminated together. These thin films, while reducing overall component size, are designed with appropriate thickness and material composition to maintain moisture barrier functionality. The multiply coated external electrodes also act as protective thin film structures.
3Reliability
If external electrodes are multiply coated to improve moisture-resistance, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrode layers and plating layers into a single integrated external electrode structure. Instead of treating each coating as a separate component, the design combines them into a unified electrode system that simplifies the overall manufacturing process. The electrode layers and plating layers are formed in an integrated sequence during the sintering process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming the electrode layers and plating layers on the ceramic green sheets before final sintering. This preliminary coating and lamination approach allows the external electrodes to be prepared in advance, and the multiply coated structure is established during the sintering process itself, reducing the need for subsequent complex coating operations.
4Quantity of substance
If internal electrode volume is significantly decreased to increase capacitance, then capacitance per unit volume is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically adjusting the dimensions, thickness, and spacing of internal electrodes along with corresponding dielectric layers. By optimizing these parameters in the laminated structure, the patent achieves high capacitance per unit volume while maintaining manufacturable dimensions. The parameters are coordinated across multiple layers to ensure feasible manufacturing precision requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly improves the moisture-resistance reliability and prevents disconnection of external electrodes, thereby enhancing the overall reliability of the multilayer ceramic capacitors by effectively sealing the component against external moisture and plating solutions.
Implementation Method 1
sintering ceramic green sheets
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body including a dielectric layer and a plurality of internal electrodes disposed to face each other with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween and external electrodes disposed on external surfaces of the ceramic body and electrically connected to the internal electrodes, respectively. The external electrode includes electrode layers electrically connected to the internal electrodes, and plating layers disposed on the electrode layers. At least one point, at which slopes of tangent lines of one of the electrode layers and the plating layers are opposite to each other, is disposed in a region within a range of ±0.2 BW around a point (0.5 BW) that is a halfway point of an overall width BW of the electrode layers disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the ceramic body.