Ceramic Electronic Component Electrode Thickness Variation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ceramic electronic components, such as laminated ceramic capacitors, face challenges in achieving high positional precision for internal electrodes, which limits their performance.

Innovation Solution

The design includes internal electrodes with distinct thick and thin sections, where the thick sections are strategically positioned for extraction and opposed sections, enhancing positional precision and preventing misalignment, and the use of external electrodes connected to these internal electrodes for improved structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If internal electrodes are made with uniform thickness, then manufacturing is simpler, but positional precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositional precision of internal electrodesVSAvoidcomplexity of electrode structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The internal electrodes are designed with non-uniform thickness, featuring thick sections at extraction portions and thin sections at opposed portions. This local variation in thickness provides anchoring effects at critical locations, improving positional precision and preventing delamination without requiring complex manufacturing processes throughout the entire electrode structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The internal electrodes are segmented into distinct functional sections: extraction sections with thick thickness for positional stability, opposed sections with thin thickness for capacitance generation, and intermediate sections for transition. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function optimally while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If internal electrodes are made thinner, then capacitance generation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of delamination and cracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to delamination and crackingVSAvoidmechanical strength of internal electrodes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Thick sections are strategically placed at extraction portions where mechanical strength and anchoring are critical for preventing delamination and cracking. Thin sections are placed at opposed portions where capacitance generation is the primary function. This local differentiation allows the electrode to be thin where needed for capacitance while maintaining strength where needed for reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The thick sections at extraction portions act as pre-positioned cushioning elements that prevent delamination and cracking before they can occur during operation. These thick portions provide mechanical reinforcement at the most vulnerable locations, cushioning against stress concentrations that would otherwise lead to failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If extraction sections are made thicker, then positional precision is improved, but capacitance generation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositional precision of internal electrodesVSAvoidamount of dielectric material for capacitance

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Thick sections are localized to extraction portions where positional precision is required, while thin sections are localized to opposed portions where capacitance generation occurs. This spatial differentiation ensures that the thick sections provide anchoring without significantly reducing the overall capacitance, as the thin sections at opposed portions maximize the dielectric volume for capacitance generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode is segmented into extraction sections with thick thickness for positional stability and opposed sections with thin thickness for capacitance generation. This segmentation allows the thick sections to provide anchoring effects without occupying the space needed for capacitance-generating opposed sections, thus minimizing the trade-off between positional precision and capacitance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9111691B2Ceramic electronic component

Publication Date: 2015.08.18 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A ceramic electronic component includes a first internal electrode that includes a first opposed section and a first extraction section. The first opposed section is opposed to a second internal electrode with a ceramic layer interposed therebetween. The first extraction section is located closer to a first end surface than the first opposed section. The first extraction section includes a first thick section. The first thick section is thicker than a first central section of the first opposed section. The first opposed section includes a first base end section opposed to a second tip section of the second internal electrode closer to the first end surface, with the ceramic layer interposed therebetween, and the first base end section includes a first thin section. The first thin section is thinner than the first central section.