Shielded Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Layout for Broadband Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing capacitors face challenges in maintaining performance characteristics, particularly at high frequencies, due to limitations in coupling capacitor technology, which affects their precision and efficiency in modern applications.

Innovation Solution

A broadband multilayer ceramic capacitor design featuring a monolithic body with stacked dielectric and electrode layers, including active and shield electrode regions, where the shield electrode region is spaced apart from the active electrode region by a greater distance than the active electrode spacing, enhancing performance at high frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional capacitor designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but performance characteristics deteriorate at high frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance characteristics at high frequenciesVSAvoidelectrode structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode structure is segmented into distinct active electrode regions and shield electrode regions. The active electrodes are divided into multiple fingers extending in the longitudinal direction, while shield electrodes are positioned at specific locations to provide shielding without interfering with active capacitance. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, improving high-frequency performance while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode structures extend in the longitudinal direction (along the stacked layers) rather than only in the lateral direction. Multiple electrode fingers extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction, creating a three-dimensional electrode arrangement that increases effective capacitance area without increasing the lateral footprint. This dimensional approach enables improved performance while maintaining compact form factor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If coupling capacitor technology is advanced for high speed applications, then productivity is improved, but precision and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed and packing densityVSAvoidprecision and efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the capacitor are assigned different functional qualities: active electrode regions provide capacitance for high-speed signal coupling, while shield electrode regions provide electromagnetic shielding and noise reduction. The electrode fingers are positioned and dimensioned to optimize capacitance in specific locations, while shield electrodes are placed to provide localized shielding where needed. This local differentiation allows the capacitor to simultaneously achieve high productivity through compact design and high precision through optimized local characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If shield electrode region is positioned close to active electrode region, then device complexity is reduced, but insertion loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion lossVSAvoidshield-to-active distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Dielectric layers serve as intermediaries between the active electrode regions and shield electrode regions. These dielectric layers provide electrical isolation and control the coupling between active and shield electrodes, allowing the shield electrodes to effectively reduce insertion loss while maintaining a manageable structural complexity. The dielectric material properties and thickness are optimized to achieve the desired balance between shielding effectiveness and capacitance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The proposed capacitor design achieves low insertion loss across a broad range of frequencies, with improved performance characteristics at high frequencies, thereby addressing the limitations of existing capacitors.

Implementation Method 1

a monolithic body including a plurality of dielectric layers stacked in a Z-direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric polarization: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentUS12205766B2Multilayer ceramic capacitor having ultra-broadband performance

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 KYOCERA AVX COMPONENTS CORP

AI summary

A broadband multilayer ceramic capacitor can include at least one active electrode layer including a first active electrode and a second active electrode. The first active electrode can have a central portion extending away from a base portion in a longitudinal direction. The second active electrode can include at least one arm extending away from a base portion towards the first end and overlapping the central portion of the first active electrode. A first shield electrode in a shield electrode region can have a central portion extending from a base portion. A second shield electrode can include an arm overlapping the central portion of the first shield electrode in the longitudinal direction. The shield electrode region can be spaced apart from the active electrode region by a shield-to-active distance that is greater than an active electrode spacing distance between respective active electrodes of the plurality of active electrodes.