Curved Top-Plate Capacitor Structure for Higher Breakdown Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitors suffer from dielectric breakdown due to sharp corners on the top-plate, leading to high E-field concentrations and reduced dielectric breakdown voltage, while thicker insulators to mitigate this issue decrease capacitance, affecting functional performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a curved topology for the top-plate with raised edges and a thinner center to disperse the electric field, combined with varying dielectric materials to maintain capacitance and enhance dielectric breakdown performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat top-plate with sharp corners is used, then manufacturing is simple, but dielectric breakdown occurs due to high E-field concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The top-plate transitions from sharp corners to curved edges with a specified radius of curvature. This curvature distributes the electric field lines more evenly across the plate edges, eliminating the concentrated E-field peaks that cause dielectric breakdown. The curved geometry maintains manufacturing feasibility while significantly improving high voltage reliability.
2Reliability
If the insulator thickness is increased to prevent dielectric breakdown, then dielectric strength improves, but capacitance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator thickness is optimized locally: thicker regions are positioned specifically at the curved edges of the top-plate where E-field concentration occurs, while the central region maintains optimal thickness for capacitance. This localized differentiation allows the structure to withstand high voltages at critical points without unnecessarily reducing overall capacitance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the top-plate has uniform thickness, then manufacturing is easier, but E-field distribution is uneven causing breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The top-plate incorporates curved edges with a controlled radius of curvature instead of sharp corners. This geometric modification fundamentally changes the E-field distribution pattern, transforming concentrated field lines at sharp edges into evenly distributed field lines along the curved perimeter, thereby eliminating the harmful E-field concentration effect.
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 curved top-plate design reduces peak electric field magnitude, increasing dielectric breakdown voltage and maintaining capacitance, thus improving high voltage isolation and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the curved top-plate design reduces peak electric field magnitude, increasing dielectric breakdown voltage
Implementation Method 2
High voltage capacitance applications such as galvanic isolation, energy storage in electric circuits
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3b
AI summary
One example discloses a capacitance device, including: a substrate; a bottom-plate coupled to the substrate; an insulator coupled to the bottom-plate; and a top-plate coupled to the insulator; wherein the top-plate includes a flat portion and a curved portion.