MLCC Internal Electrode Narrowing to Prevent Cut Surface Inclination

Solution Overview

Problem

The cutting process for multilayer ceramic capacitors often results in inclined cut surfaces due to the stress applied to the cutting blade being too large, as the internal electrodes are harder than the ceramic sheets, causing the cutting edge to obliquely enter the multilayer sheet.

Innovation Solution

The design includes internal electrodes with narrow-width portions and cutout portions that reduce the stress on the cutting blade during the cutting process, ensuring the covered surfaces of the multilayer body are aligned and protected by side margin portions, with the positions of adjacent electrodes aligned within 1.0 μm in the Y-axis direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If internal electrodes are cut from multilayer sheet, then capacitance and size are improved, but cutting blade stress increases causing surface inclination

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacitanceVSAvoidcut surface inclination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The internal electrodes are designed with a narrow-width portion having a smaller width in the third axis direction than the lead-out portion. This local variation in electrode geometry reduces the cutting length required for conductor patterns corresponding to internal electrodes, thereby reducing stress on the cutting blade edge during cutting while maintaining the capacitance-enhancing side margin portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If internal electrodes are harder than ceramic sheets, then electrode integrity is improved, but cutting blade stress increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode integrityVSAvoidcutting blade stress

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The internal electrodes are designed with a narrow-width portion having a smaller width in the third axis direction than the lead-out portion. This local variation in electrode geometry reduces the cutting length required for conductor patterns corresponding to internal electrodes, thereby reducing stress on the cutting blade edge during cutting while maintaining the capacitance-enhancing side margin portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12500034B2Multilayer ceramic capacitor with internal electrodes having narrowed portion and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 TAIYO YUDEN KK

AI summary

A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body including a multilayer body and a pair of side margin portions, the multilayer body including ceramic layers stacked in a direction of a first axis, internal electrodes interposed between the ceramic layers, a pair of end surfaces perpendicular to a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, and a pair of side surfaces perpendicular to a third axis orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis, the pair of side margin portions covering the pair of side surfaces, and a pair of external electrodes covering the pair of end surfaces, respectively, wherein each of the internal electrodes includes a lead-out portion led out to either one of the pair of end surfaces of the multilayer body and a narrow-width portion having a width in a direction of the third axis smaller than that of the lead-out portion.