MLCC Electrode Coating with Island Regions for Moisture Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for smaller and higher capacitance multilayer ceramic capacitors has led to thinner electrodes, which compromise moisture resistance reliability due to moisture infiltration, resulting in reduced mountability and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A multilayer electronic component design that includes a body with internal electrodes and dielectric layers, external electrodes with plating layers covered by coating layers that expose island regions of the plating layer surface, enhancing moisture resistance and mountability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the electrode thickness is reduced to achieve smaller capacitor size and higher capacitance, then the capacitor size decreases and capacitance increases, but moisture resistance reliability deteriorates due to moisture infiltration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacitor sizeVSAvoidmoisture resistance reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a coating layer formed as a thin film on the external electrode to provide moisture barrier protection. This thin film coating prevents moisture infiltration while maintaining the reduced electrode thickness and small capacitor size, resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and moisture resistance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure combining the metal electrode layer with a coating layer material that provides moisture resistance. This composite approach allows the electrode to maintain electrical functionality while the coating layer provides the necessary moisture barrier, enabling both small size and high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If the electrode thickness is reduced to achieve smaller capacitor size, then the capacitor size decreases, but mountability deteriorates due to reduced adhesion strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacitor sizeVSAvoidadhesion strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The coating layer is applied as a thin film on the external electrode surface, providing enhanced adhesion strength for mountability while not significantly increasing the overall capacitor size. This thin film reinforcement allows the capacitor to maintain small dimensions while achieving improved mechanical bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite external electrode structure combining the base metal electrode with a coating layer that provides superior adhesion properties. This composite material approach enables the thin electrode to achieve both small size and adequate mechanical strength for reliable mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a complete coating layer is applied on the external electrode to improve moisture resistance, then moisture resistance reliability improves, but mountability deteriorates due to reduced solderability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture resistance reliabilityVSAvoidmountability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the coating layer selectively on specific regions of the external electrode rather than uniformly covering the entire surface. This localized coating approach provides moisture protection on the body-facing surface while leaving the soldering region partially exposed, thereby maintaining both moisture resistance reliability and solderability for proper mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The external electrode surface is segmented into different functional zones: a coated region for moisture protection and an uncoated or partially coated region for soldering. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, resolving the contradiction between moisture resistance and mountability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12334270B2Multilayer electronic component containing coating layers having an island region

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

A multilayer electronic component includes a body including a plurality of internal electrodes and a dielectric layer interposed between the plurality of internal electrodes; external electrodes disposed on the body, connected to the plurality of internal electrodes, and including electrode layers and plating layers respectively covering the electrode layers; and coating layers respectively covering the plating layer and including an island region exposing a portion of a surface of the plating layer.