Multi Layer Ceramic Capacitor
Multi Layer Ceramic Capacitor
Multi Layer Ceramic Capacitor
Capacitors are devices that store energy in the form of an electric field. They can also be used
to filter signals of different frequencies. The capacitance value is an indicator of how much
electrical charge the capacitor can hold
A multilayer ceramic (MLC) capacitor is a monolithic block of ceramic containing two sets of
offset, interleaved planar electrodes that extend to two opposite surfaces of the ceramic
dielectric. This deceivingly simple structure requires a considerable amount of sophistication,
both in material and in manufacture, to produce it in the quantities used in todays electronic
equipment.
Functions
Ceramic capacitors can be used anywhere a capacitor having very low internal parasitic
inductance is required. Most commonly they are used as power supply bypass capacitors.
They are also sometimes used for coupling capacitors for HF signal amplifiers.
Ceramic capacitors can also be used as a general purpose capacitor, since they are not
polarized and are available in a large variety of capacitances, voltage ratings and sizes.
MLCC is used in modern electronic circuits. It is an indispensable passive component for
manufacturing miniaturized electronic circuits.
Requirements
There are several essential points in the composition designing of multi layer ceramic
capacitor
Class 2 capacitors have a high capacitance per volume and are used for less sensitive
applications. Their thermal stability is typically 15% in the operating temperature range, and
the nominal value tolerances are around 20%.
2. Size advantages
When high component packing densities are required, as is the case in most modern printed
circuit boards (PCBs), MLCC devices offer a great advantage compared to other capacitors.
To illustrate this point, the 0402 multi-layer ceramic capacitor package measures just 0.4
mm x 0.2 mm. In such a package, there are 500 or more ceramic and metal layers. The
minimum ceramic thickness as of 2010 is on the order of 0.5 microns.