Multilayer ceramic capacitor having ultra-broadband performance
The present invention is directed to a multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising a first external terminal disposed along a first end, a second external terminal disposed along a second end that is opposite the first end, and an active electrode region containing alternating dielectric layers and active electrode layers. At least one of the electrode layers comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected with the first external terminal and has a first electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion. The main portion has a lateral edge extending from the first end of the multilayer capacitor and the step portion has a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion. The second electrode is electrically connected with the second external terminal.
1. A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising:
a first external terminal disposed along a first end;
a second external terminal disposed along a second end that is opposite the first end; and
an active electrode region containing alternating dielectric layers and active electrode layers wherein at least one of the electrode layers comprises:
a first electrode electrically connected with the first external terminal, the first electrode having a first electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the first end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion; and
a second electrode electrically connected with the second external terminal
wherein the first electrode arm and the second electrode are spaced apart to form a main gap distance between the main portion of the first electrode arm and the second electrode and a step gap distance between the step portion of the first electrode arm and the second electrode, and wherein the step gap distance is from 5% to 70% of the main gap distance.
2. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the main gap distance is from 5% to 60% of a length of the capacitor from the first external terminal to the second external terminal.
3. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the main gap distance is 50% or more of a length of the main portion of the first electrode arm.
4. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the step gap distance is from 1% to 30% of a length of the capacitor from the first external terminal to the second external terminal.
5. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the step gap distance is from 5% to 50% of a length of the step portion of the first electrode arm.
6. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the step portion of the first electrode arm is inwardly offset from the lateral edge of the main portion towards a lateral centerline of the at least one of the electrode layers.
7. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the step portion of the first electrode arm is outwardly offset from the lateral edge of the main portion away from a lateral centerline of the at least one of the electrode layers.
8. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein each lateral edge of the step portion is offset from each lateral edge of the main portion.
9. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode includes a second electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the second end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion.
10. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 9 , wherein the main gap distance is formed between the main portion of the first electrode arm and the main portion of the second electrode arm and the step gap distance is formed between the step portion of the first electrode arm and the step portion of the second electrode arm.
11. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electrode comprises a base portion electrically connected with the first external terminal and wherein the first electrode arm extends from the base portion.
12. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein:
the second electrode comprises a base portion electrically connected with the second external terminal and wherein the second electrode includes a second electrode arm that extends from the base portion.
13. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electrode comprises a base portion electrically connected with the first external terminal and wherein the first electrode arm extends from the base portion; and
the second electrode comprises a base portion electrically connected with the second external terminal and wherein the second electrode includes a second electrode arm that extends from the base portion.
14. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein:
the first electrode comprises a base portion electrically connected with the first external terminal;
the second electrode comprises a base portion electrically connected with the second external termination;
the first electrode comprises a central portion extending away from the first end such that a central end gap distance is formed between the central portion of the first electrode and the base portion of the second electrode and a central edge gap distance is formed between the central portion of the first electrode and the second electrode;
wherein the central end gap distance is approximately equal to the central edge gap distance.
15. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the electrode layers is an active electrode layer.
16. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 15 , further comprising an anchor electrode layer.
17. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 16 , wherein the anchor electrode layer comprises
a third electrode electrically connected with the first external terminal, the third electrode having a third electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the first end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion; and
a fourth electrode electrically connected with the second external terminal.
18. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 17 , wherein the fourth electrode arm comprises a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the second end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion.
19. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the electrode layers is an anchor electrode layer.
20. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 15 , further comprising a shield electrode layer.
21. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 20 , wherein the shield electrode layer comprises a shield electrode having a generally rectangular configuration.
22. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 20 , wherein the shield electrode layer comprises a shield electrode having a step at an edge of the shield electrode opposite the edge of the shield electrode adjacent an external terminal.
23. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the step portion has a width that is 5% to 90% of a width of the main portion of the electrode arm.
24. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the step portion has a length that is 5% to 70% of a length of the electrode arm.
25. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 1 , wherein the main portion has a length that is 25% to 90% of a length of the electrode arm.
26. A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising:
a first external terminal disposed along a first end;
a second external terminal disposed along a second end that is opposite the first end; and
an active electrode region containing alternating dielectric layers and active electrode layers wherein at least one of the electrode layers comprises:
a first electrode electrically connected with the first external terminal, the first electrode having a first electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the first end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion; and
a second electrode electrically connected with the second external terminal;
wherein the first electrode arm and the second electrode are spaced apart to form a main gap distance between the main portion of the first electrode arm and the second electrode and a step gap distance between the step portion of the first electrode arm and the second electrode, and wherein the step gap distance is from 1% to 30% of a length of the capacitor from the first external terminal to the second external terminal.
27. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 26 , wherein the main gap distance is from 5% to 60% of a length of the capacitor from the first external terminal to the second external terminal.
28. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 26 , wherein the step portion of the first electrode arm is inwardly offset from the lateral edge of the main portion towards a lateral centerline of the at least one of the electrode layers.
29. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 26 , wherein the step portion of the first electrode arm is outwardly offset from the lateral edge of the main portion away from a lateral centerline of the at least one of the electrode layers.
30. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 26 , wherein the second electrode includes a second electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the second end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion.
31. A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising:
a first external terminal disposed along a first end;
a second external terminal disposed along a second end that is opposite the first end; and
an active electrode region containing alternating dielectric layers and active electrode layers wherein at least one of the electrode layers comprises:
a first electrode electrically connected with the first external terminal, the first electrode having a first electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the first end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion; and
a second electrode electrically connected with the second external terminal;
wherein the first electrode arm and the second electrode are spaced apart to form a main gap distance between the main portion of the first electrode arm and the second electrode and a step gap distance between the step portion of the first electrode arm and the second electrode, and wherein the step gap distance is from 5% to 50% of a length of the step portion of the first electrode arm.
32. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 31 , wherein the main gap distance is from 5% to 60% of a length of the capacitor from the first external terminal to the second external terminal.
33. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 31 , wherein the step portion of the first electrode arm is inwardly offset from the lateral edge of the main portion towards a lateral centerline of the at least one of the electrode layers.
34. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 31 , wherein the step portion of the first electrode arm is outwardly offset from the lateral edge of the main portion away from a lateral centerline of the at least one of the electrode layers.
35. The multilayer ceramic capacitor of claim 31 , wherein the second electrode includes a second electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion, the main portion having a lateral edge extending from the second end of the multilayer capacitor, the step portion having a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion.