Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Internal Side Shields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multilayer ceramic capacitors face challenges in achieving high voltage breakdown and resistance to arc-over while maintaining high capacitance, with existing solutions either being costly or limited by environmental factors such as humidity, and current designs often compromise on capacitance for voltage handling.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates internal electrode side shields with varying widths and gaps to increase the effective overlap area, providing enhanced capacitance and arc-over resistance, along with a polyimide coating to further boost voltage breakdown, allowing for miniaturization and improved performance in high voltage applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the series design with floating electrode is used to reduce internal voltage, then voltage withstanding capability is improved, but effective overlap area is significantly reduced lowering capacitance
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor is divided into multiple discrete layers with alternating conductive and dielectric materials, creating a multilayer structure that increases effective overlap area while maintaining voltage distribution through the layers
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a single-layer series configuration to a multilayer structure, adding the dimension of layer stacking to increase capacitance without compromising voltage withstanding capability through the distributed layer architecture
2Ease of manufacture
If exposed electrodes are used to simplify structure, then manufacturing is easier, but resistance to arc-over and corrosion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor combines conductive electrode materials with ceramic dielectric materials in a composite structure, where the ceramic provides both structural integrity and protection against arc-over and corrosion while maintaining electrical functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The ceramic dielectric material acts as an intermediary between the conductive electrodes and the external environment, providing electrical insulation and protective barriers that prevent direct exposure of electrodes to corrosive and arcing conditions
3Reliability
If organic coatings are applied to prevent surface flashover, then arc-over resistance is improved, but compatibility with circuit board assembly processes is reduced and out gassing concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The design uses the ceramic body itself as a permanent protective structure that is integral to the capacitor, eliminating the need for separate organic coating layers that would require application processes and could outgas
Solution Approach 2:
The ceramic dielectric material provides self-contained protection against arc-over and corrosion through its inherent material properties, without requiring external organic coatings or additional protective layers
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
The solution achieves higher capacitance and voltage breakdown capabilities, with significant increases in voltage handling and resistance to arc-over, particularly in smaller case sizes, and improved compatibility with electronic circuit environments.
Implementation Method 1
a polyimide coating to further boost voltage breakdown
Implementation Method 2
Each of the internal active electrodes having a first portion with a first width proximate the internal electrode side shields and a second portion with a second width greater than the first width to thereby increase overlap area and allow for higher capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer ceramic capacitor component includes a ceramic capacitor body having opposite ends and comprised of a plurality of electrode layers and dielectric layers, first and second external terminals attached to the ceramic capacitor body. The plurality of electrode layers include a plurality of alternating layers of active electrodes extending inwardly from alternating ends of the ceramic capacitor body. The capacitor may include a plurality of side shields disposed within the plurality of alternating layers of active electrodes to provide shielding with the alternating layers of active electrodes having a pattern to increase overlap area to provide higher capacitance without decreasing separation between the alternative layers of active electrodes. The capacitor may have a voltage breakdown of 3500 volts DC or more in air. The capacitor may have a coating. The capacitor provides improved resistance to arc-over, high voltage breakdown in air, and allows for small case size.