Multilayer Ceramic Component Asymmetric Terminal Electrode Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multilayer ceramic capacitors face challenges in forming terminal electrodes on thin element bodies, which are prone to breaking during processing, limiting the ability to achieve a low profile and small thickness.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer ceramic electronic component design where terminal electrodes are formed on the outer surface, excluding the lower surface, allowing for the combination and separation of thin element bodies to achieve a thinner structure with improved bending strength and capacitance characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the element body is made thin to achieve low profile, then the total thickness is reduced, but the element body easily breaks during holding and plating processes
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcement layer is formed on the element body before the terminal electrode formation process. This preliminary reinforcement prevents the thin element body from breaking during subsequent holding and plating operations, enabling thin profiles while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The element body is combined with a reinforcement layer made of different material (glass frit-based coating) to create a composite structure. This composite provides both the thin profile needed for low profile and the enhanced strength required for successful terminal electrode formation
2Reliability
If terminal electrodes are formed on both upper and lower surfaces, then electrical connection is improved, but the total thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal electrode formation is extracted from the lower surface and applied only to the upper surface and end surfaces. This selective placement maintains adequate electrical connection through the upper terminal electrode while removing the thickness contribution from lower surface electrodes, achieving low profile
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal electrode configuration is made asymmetric with electrodes on the upper surface and end surfaces, but not on the lower surface. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the balance between electrical connection reliability and minimal total thickness for low profile application
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes an element body and a terminal electrode. The element body includes internal electrode layers and insulation layers alternately laminated in a lamination direction. The terminal electrode is formed on an outer surface of the element body to be contacted and connected with the internal electrode layers. The terminal electrode includes an end-side electrode part and an upper-side electrode part. The end-side electrode part covers a leading end of the element body where the internal electrode layers are led. The upper-side electrode part is formed on a part of an upper surface of the element body and continues to the end-side electrode part. The terminal electrode is not substantially formed on a lower surface of the element body located on the other side of the upper surface along the lamination direction.