Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor Recesses for Electrode Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing multi-layer ceramic capacitors face challenges in ensuring uniform side margins for internal electrodes, which affects insulation properties and connection strength of external electrodes, making it difficult to miniaturize and increase capacity while maintaining reliability.
Innovation Solution
The design includes recesses on the body of the capacitor where internal electrodes are exposed, allowing external electrodes to connect over a larger area, including the recesses, and side margins are formed in a subsequent step to facilitate easier recess formation, improving connection strength and insulation properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If side margins are made thinner to enlarge internal electrodes, then capacity increases, but insulation properties of the periphery of internal electrodes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces recesses that extend in the depth direction (z-axis) from the end surfaces toward the side margins, creating a three-dimensional connection structure. This allows external electrodes to connect to internal electrodes through both end surfaces and recesses, effectively increasing the connection area without requiring larger side margins, thus maintaining insulation properties while enabling capacitor miniaturization.
2Volume of moving object
If side margins are made thinner to enlarge internal electrodes, then device size decreases, but manufacturing precision required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses are formed in advance during the green chip fabrication process, before sintering. This preliminary formation of recesses allows subsequent side margins to be applied uniformly without requiring extremely precise control of margin thickness, as the recess structure already provides the necessary connection area for external electrodes.
3Strength
If dummy electrodes are added to improve connection strength, then connection strength increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of connection area expansion and insulation structure into a single recess feature. The recesses serve dual purposes: they increase the connection area between external and internal electrodes for improved connection strength, and they are filled with side margin material that provides insulation, thereby eliminating the need for separate dummy electrode structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-layer ceramic capacitor includes: a body, a first external electrode, and a second external electrode. The body includes a first end surface and a second end surface that face each other, a side surface that extends between the first end surface and the second end surface, a first recess that extends along a first ridge of the first end surface and the side surface, a second recess that extends along a second ridge of the second end surface and the side surface, a first internal electrode that is drawn to the first end surface and the first recess, and a second internal electrode that faces the first internal electrode and is drawn to the second end surface and the second recess. The first external electrode covers the body from the first end surface. The second external electrode covers the body from the second end surface.