Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Electrode Exposure for Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multilayer ceramic capacitors face challenges with increased layer count, leading to reliability issues such as mechanical degradation, moisture resistance problems, and ESR defects due to step portions and delamination, which compromise capacitance and crack prevention.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer ceramic capacitor design featuring internal and external electrodes with optimized connection portions and surfaces, enhancing mechanical strength, moisture resistance, and adhesive properties, while maintaining high capacitance and preventing cracks and delamination through specific geometric configurations and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of layers is increased to secure high capacitance, then capacitance is improved, but mechanical reliability deteriorates due to step portions and delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by extending internal electrodes to expose from multiple surfaces (top, bottom, and side surfaces) of the ceramic body. This multi-surface exposure configuration transforms the traditional two-dimensional electrode arrangement into a three-dimensional structure, allowing electrodes to connect to external electrodes on different faces of the component. This resolves the technical contradiction by providing adequate electrode connection area for high capacitance while distributing stress across multiple surfaces to prevent delamination and improve mechanical reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of layers is increased to achieve high capacitance, then capacitance is improved, but cracks occur during plasticizing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dimensionality change by configuring internal electrodes to extend and expose from multiple surfaces including top, bottom, and side surfaces of the ceramic body. This multi-dimensional electrode arrangement distributes mechanical stress during the plasticizing process across multiple connection points rather than concentrating stress at single locations. The extended electrode paths provide stress relief zones that prevent crack propagation, thereby maintaining crack resistance while achieving high capacitance through increased layer count.
3Quantity of substance
If internal electrode thickness is increased to improve capacitance, then capacitance is improved, but step portions increase causing delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the electrode connection function across multiple separate exposure points on different surfaces of the ceramic body. Instead of having a single thick electrode creating a large step portion, the internal electrodes are segmented to expose from top, bottom, and side surfaces at different locations. This segmentation reduces the step height at each individual connection point while maintaining total electrode area for high capacitance, thereby preventing delamination caused by excessive step portions.
4Volume of moving object
If component size is reduced to improve miniaturization, then size is improved, but moisture resistance reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by utilizing multiple surfaces of the compact ceramic body for electrode exposure and connection. This multi-surface configuration allows the component to maintain a small overall volume while providing adequate electrode connection area distributed across top, bottom, and side surfaces. The increased surface utilization improves moisture resistance reliability by providing multiple connection pathways that are less susceptible to moisture infiltration, thereby achieving both miniaturization and improved moisture resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a body including a dielectric layer, and first and second internal electrodes configured to be layered in a third direction with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween and having first and second connection portions, respectively, and including first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces; a first external electrode disposed on the fifth surface of the body; and a second external electrode disposed on the fifth surface of the body. The first internal electrode is exposed to the third surface and the fifth surface of the body through the first connection portion, and the second internal electrode is exposed to the fourth surface and the fifth surface of the body through the second connection portion.