Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Electrode Segmentation for Crack Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multilayer ceramic capacitors face issues with cracks due to differences in thermal shrinkage between internal electrode and dielectric materials, and mechanical strain from electrostrictive effects, particularly in regions with uneven electrode distribution.
Innovation Solution
The capacitors are designed with internal electrodes arranged at uniform intervals across the element body, creating regions with different polarity configurations to distribute mechanical strain and reduce thermal shrinkage-induced stress, while maintaining desired capacitance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If internal electrodes are arranged only in the central portion of the element body, then desired capacitance is ensured, but cracks are likely to occur due to uneven stress distribution and thermal shrinkage differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different electrode arrangement patterns in different regions of the element body. Specifically, a first electrode arrangement pattern is used in a first region and a second electrode arrangement pattern is used in a second region, allowing each region to have optimized properties for its specific function while collectively solving the contradiction between capacitance and crack resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The element body is divided into multiple regions (first region and second region) with different electrode arrangements. This segmentation allows the patent to address different functional requirements in different areas, ensuring both sufficient capacitance through strategic electrode placement and reduced stress concentration through varied arrangement patterns
2Reliability
If internal electrodes are arranged alternately with different polarities, then capacitance is generated, but thermal shrinkage differences cause cracks in regions without electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
Different electrode arrangement patterns are applied in different regions to locally address thermal shrinkage issues. The first electrode arrangement pattern in the first region and the second electrode arrangement pattern in the second region are designed to mitigate thermal shrinkage stress in their respective areas while maintaining capacitance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of thermal shrinkage differences into a beneficial design feature by using alternating electrode patterns that create a more uniform stress distribution. The alternating arrangement of electrodes with different polarities helps to balance the thermal shrinkage forces across the element body
3Reliability
If electrodes are concentrated in the central region, then capacitance is achieved, but electrostrictive stress concentrates in the same region causing cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes electrostrictive stress by creating different electrode arrangement patterns in different regions. The first electrode arrangement pattern in the first region and the second electrode arrangement pattern in the second region ensure that stress is not concentrated in a single area, thereby preventing cracks while maintaining the necessary capacitance
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the element body into multiple regions with different electrode patterns, the patent successfully distributes the electrostrictive stress across different areas. This segmentation prevents stress concentration and the resulting cracks while ensuring that the overall capacitance requirement is met through the combined effect of all electrode regions
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 design effectively suppresses crack occurrence by distributing mechanical strain and reducing thermal shrinkage-induced stress, ensuring reliable performance and capacitance even with increased layer stacking.
Implementation Method 1
when a voltage is applied to the multilayer ceramic capacitor, mechanical strain occurs in the element body due to an electrostrictive effect
Implementation Method 2
there is a difference in thermal shrinkage caused in an element-body firing process between a material for forming the plurality of internal electrodes and a material for forming the dielectric
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes an element body, a first terminal electrode, a second terminal electrode, and a plurality of internal electrodes. The plurality of internal electrodes include a plurality of first internal electrodes, a plurality of second internal electrodes, a plurality of third internal electrodes, and a plurality of fourth internal electrodes. The element body includes a plurality of first and second regions. The first regions are located between the first internal electrodes opposed with each other. The second regions are located between the first internal electrodes opposed to each other through the third internal electrodes, and between the second internal electrodes opposed to each other through the fourth internal electrodes. The first regions and the second regions are alternately located in the first direction.