Multilayer Capacitor Segmented Terminals High-Frequency Losses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multilayer capacitors face issues with high-frequency resonance and increased effective series resistance due to skin effect and internal transmission line resonance, which degrades their broadband performance and increases losses.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates physically and electrically spaced-apart coplanar base conductors, face terminals, and a capacitor stack with interdigital layers, along with lossy components like ferrite or polyiron sheets between base conductors to reduce resonance and skin effect losses, and incorporates resistive plate electrodes and tapered dielectric layers to control current paths and surface area for improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional multilayer capacitor structure with closely spaced plate electrodes is used, then capacitance density is improved, but skin effect losses and effective series resistance increase at high frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor stack is divided into multiple independent capacitor units, each with its own terminal connections. This segmentation allows current to be distributed across multiple parallel paths, reducing the skin effect in any single current path and thereby reducing overall energy losses while maintaining high capacitance density through the stacked configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar capacitor layout to a three-dimensional stacked configuration with vertical plate electrodes. This dimensional change increases capacitance density by utilizing vertical space, while the segmented terminal connections in different spatial dimensions provide multiple current paths that reduce skin effect losses.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional multilayer capacitor structure is used, then compact size is achieved, but internal transmission line resonance occurs at high frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the capacitor into multiple independent units with separate terminal connections, the patent breaks up the continuous current path that creates internal transmission line resonance. Each segmented unit has its own resonant characteristics, and when combined in parallel, they broaden the overall frequency response and reduce peak resonances, improving broadband performance while maintaining compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate terminal connections and base conductors that act as mediators to control current distribution. These intermediary elements provide multiple current paths and impedance matching, reducing the formation of internal transmission line resonances while maintaining the compact stacked structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If plate electrodes are extended to multiple stack side faces for terminal connection, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but current path length increases causing higher series resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the terminal connections so that each capacitor unit has its own dedicated base conductors and terminal connections rather than extending single electrodes across the entire stack. This segmentation creates multiple short, parallel current paths instead of one long path, reducing series resistance while keeping the manufacturing process simple through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses vertical stacking in the third dimension to reduce horizontal current path lengths. By connecting plate electrodes to terminals through vertical base conductors rather than horizontal extensions, the current paths become shorter and more direct, reducing series resistance while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized vertical stacking.
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 configuration reduces series resistance, enhances self-resonant frequency, and minimizes losses at high frequencies, resulting in improved broadband performance and reduced circuit losses.
Implementation Method 1
lossy components like ferrite or polyiron sheets between base conductors to reduce resonance and skin effect losses
Implementation Method 2
a first dielectric body supporting the first and second plate electrodes in spaced apart positions
Implementation Method 3
increased effective series resistance due to skin effect and internal transmission line resonance
Data Source
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AI summary
A multilayer capacitor may include a capacitor stack having pluralities of first and second plate electrodes connected to respective stack face terminals..Two face terminals on different stack sides are connected to the first plate electrodes. Two different face terminals also on different stack sides are connected to the second plate electrodes. Respective base conductors connect to the two sets of face terminals for connecting the capacitor to an external circuit. Three face terminals may be connected to the first or second plate electrodes. The base conductors may connect to the face terminals at the same relative position of the capacitor stack, at different relative positions of the capacitor stack. A capacitor stack may be positioned with a stack end facing a base substrate. Two multilayer capacitors may be mounted electrically in parallel with one or more lossy elements spanning a gap between the capacitors.