Electric Ceramic Component Shielding Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ceramic components are prone to undesirable changes in electrical properties due to diffusion of charge carriers from external contacts into the active area, which can be caused by exposure to aggressive chemical substances during manufacturing and use.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of additional electrodes that are at the same electrical potential as the external contacts and electrically shield the connections leading to the inner active area, preventing charge carrier diffusion and protecting the ceramic component's electrical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If external contacts are provided on the ceramic component for electrical connections, then electrical functionality is enabled, but charge carriers can diffuse from external contacts into the active area causing undesired changes in electrical properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectivityVSAvoidelectrical property stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a passivating layer as an intermediary substance between the external contacts and the active area of the ceramic component. This layer acts as a barrier that prevents direct contact and charge carrier diffusion while still allowing the electrical connection to function, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling electrical connectivity and maintaining electrical property stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs measurement and control mechanisms to monitor the electrical properties of the ceramic component during manufacturing and operation. By detecting changes in electrical properties and adjusting processing parameters accordingly, the system can prevent undesired changes before they occur, maintaining reliability while preserving electrical functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of manufacture

If the ceramic component is exposed to aggressive chemical substances during manufacturing and use, then manufacturing processes can be completed, but diffusion of charge carriers into the electrically active region causes adverse changes in electrical properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process completionVSAvoidelectrical property stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a passivating layer to the ceramic component surfaces before the component is exposed to aggressive chemical substances during manufacturing processes such as soldering. This preliminary protective action prevents the chemical substances from causing charge carrier diffusion and electrical property degradation, allowing manufacturing to proceed without compromising future reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The passivating layer serves as a protective cushion that absorbs and neutralizes the harmful effects of aggressive chemical substances before they can reach the active area. This beforehand cushioning prevents adverse changes in electrical properties while still allowing the manufacturing processes to be completed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If additional electrodes are added to provide electrical shielding, then charge carrier diffusion is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical property stabilityVSAvoidelectrode structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the shielding function into the existing external contact structure by making the external contacts themselves electrically conductively connected to the passivating layer. This multi-functional approach provides both electrical connectivity and charge carrier diffusion prevention without adding separate shielding electrodes, thus preventing reliability degradation without increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution effectively prevents or significantly reduces unwanted changes in the electrical properties of ceramic components by creating a shielded pathway for external connections, thereby maintaining the integrity of the component's performance.

Implementation Method 1

An electrode (4, 5, 6, 6'') provided with electrical shielding is arranged in the base body (9) adjacent to the lead area (2, 2') and is electrically conductively connected to the external contact (1, 1'), but not to the active area (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP2673787B1Electric ceramic component with electric shielding
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 TDK ELECTRONICS AG
  • EP2673787B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2673787B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2673787B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

The electric ceramic component has a main part (9) made of a dielectric material, an active region (3) being disposed in said main part. At least one outer contact (1, 1') is arranged on the main part. A feed line region (2, 2') connects the outer contact to the active region. An electrode (4, 4', 5, 5', 6, 6') is arranged in the main part so as to adjoin the feed line region and is connected to the outer contact in an electrically conductive manner but not to the active region.