Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor with Multi-Surface Electrodes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multilayer ceramic capacitors can only be electrically connected to electrodes on one main surface of a substrate, necessitating the use of two capacitors in the thickness direction, which increases the substrate thickness and limits size reduction in electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

A multilayer ceramic capacitor design with external electrodes on multiple surfaces allows for electrical connection to components on both main surfaces of a substrate, reducing the need for multiple capacitors and minimizing substrate thickness, featuring a ceramic body with laminated dielectric and internal electrodes and external electrodes that are connected to internal electrodes across different capacitance portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional multilayer ceramic capacitor is embedded in a substrate, then it can be electrically connected to electrodes on one main surface of the substrate, but it cannot be electrically connected to electrodes on the other main surface, requiring two capacitors to be embedded in the thickness direction which increases substrate thickness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection capabilityVSAvoidsubstrate thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by extracting internal electrodes to multiple surfaces (first main surface, second main surface, first end surface, and second end surface) of the ceramic body, rather than仅限于 one surface. This allows the capacitor to establish electrical connections in multiple spatial dimensions, enabling connection to both main surfaces of the substrate without increasing thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the multilayer ceramic capacitor multi-functional by enabling it to serve as an electrical connection component for both main surfaces of the substrate simultaneously. The capacitor body with electrodes extracted to multiple surfaces can connect to different circuits on opposite surfaces, making a single capacitor replace what would traditionally require two separate capacitors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two multilayer ceramic capacitors are embedded in the thickness direction of the substrate to connect to both main surfaces, then electrical connection to both surfaces is achieved, but the substrate thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection capabilityVSAvoidsubstrate volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of two separate capacitors into a single multilayer ceramic capacitor. By configuring one capacitor with internal electrodes extracted to multiple surfaces, it combines the electrical connection capabilities that would otherwise require two distinct components, thereby reducing the total volume occupied in the substrate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes multi-dimensional electrode extraction (to first main surface, second main surface, first end surface, and second end surface) to achieve three-dimensional electrical connectivity. This allows a single capacitor to replace two capacitors arranged in the thickness direction, reducing substrate volume while maintaining connection versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a multilayer ceramic capacitor has external electrodes on multiple surfaces, then it can be connected to components on both main surfaces of the substrate, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the internal electrodes into multiple groups that are extracted to different surfaces of the ceramic body. This segmentation allows each surface to have its own set of external electrodes for independent connection, while the overall structure remains a single integrated capacitor component that can be manufactured using standard multilayer ceramic processing techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11158462B2Multilayer ceramic capacitor and multilayer ceramic capacitor mount structure

Publication Date: 2021.10.26 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body including a laminated dielectric layers and laminated internal electrodes, and four external electrodes. The ceramic body includes a first capacitance portion and a second capacitance portion aligned with each other in a lamination direction. The four external electrodes are electrically connected to the internal electrodes in the first capacitance portion that are extracted to a first end surface, the internal electrodes in the first capacitance portion that are extracted to a second end surface, the internal electrodes in the second capacitance portion that are extracted to the first end surface, and the internal electrodes in the second capacitance portion that are extracted to the second end surface, respectively. A dimension in the lamination direction of the ceramic body is smaller than a dimension in a width direction of the ceramic body.