Multilayer ceramic capacitor
In an exemplary embodiment, each of external electrodes 12 of a multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 continuously has a first planar part 12 a present on each end face of a capacitor body 11 in a first direction d 1 , a second planar part 12 b present on one end face of the capacitor body 11 in a third direction d 3 , and auxiliary planar parts 12 c present on both end faces of the capacitor body 11 in a second direction d 2 . A maximum third-direction dimension D 3 [12 c ] of each of the auxiliary planar parts 12 c is smaller than a third-direction dimension D 3 [12 a ] of the first planar part 12 a , while a first-direction dimension D 1 [12 c ] of each of the auxiliary planar parts 12 c is smaller than a first-direction dimension D 1 [12 b ] of the second planar part 12 b.
1. A multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising:
a capacitor body of roughly rectangular solid shape which has a capacitive part constituted by multiple internal electrode layers stacked together with dielectric layers in between;
a first external electrode which is provided at one of two opposing end parts of the capacitor body and to which some of the multiple internal electrode layers are connected; and
a second external electrode which is provided at the other of two opposing end parts of the capacitor body and to which the remainder of the multiple internal electrode layers are connected;
wherein, the multilayer ceramic capacitor is characterized in that, when, with respect to the capacitor body, the direction in which two opposing faces are facing each other represents a first direction, the direction in which other two opposing faces are facing each other represents a second direction, the direction in which the remaining two opposing faces are facing each other represents a third direction, and the dimensions along the respective directions represent a first-direction dimension, a second-direction dimension and a third-direction dimension, then:
the first external electrode continuously has a first planar part present on one end face of the capacitor body in the first direction, a second planar part present on one end face of the capacitor body in the third direction, and auxiliary planar parts present on both end faces of the capacitor body in the second direction;
the second external electrode continuously has a first planar part present on the other end face of the capacitor body in the first direction, a second planar part present on one end face of the capacitor body in the third direction, and auxiliary planar parts present on both end faces of the capacitor body in the second direction;
a maximum third-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts of the first external electrode is smaller than the third-direction dimension of the first planar part of the first external electrode, while a maximum first-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts is smaller than a maximum first-direction dimension of the second planar part of the first external electrode; and
a maximum third-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts of the second external electrode is smaller than the third-direction dimension of the first planar part of the second external electrode, while a maximum first-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts is smaller than a maximum first-direction dimension of the second planar part of the second external electrode.
2. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the maximum third-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts of the first external electrode is smaller than a maximum first-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts; and
the maximum third-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts of the second external electrode is smaller than a maximum first-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts.
3. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second planar part of the first external electrode has, at both end parts of the second planar part in the second direction, end part portions whose first-direction dimension becomes smaller toward each end face of the capacitor body in the second direction, while a minimum first-direction dimension of each of the end part portions corresponds to the maximum first-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts of the first external electrode; and
the second planar part of the second external electrode has, at both end parts of the second planar part in the second direction, end part portions whose first-direction dimension becomes smaller toward each end face of the capacitor body in the second direction, while a minimum first-direction dimension of each of the end part portions corresponds to the maximum first-direction dimension of each of the auxiliary planar parts of the second external electrode.
4. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor body has rounded parts covering all of its ridges and corners;
the first planar part, the second planar part, and the auxiliary planar parts of the first external electrode are continuously connected to each other along the rounded parts; and
the first planar part, the second planar part, and the auxiliary planar parts of the second external electrode are continuously connected to each other along the rounded parts.
5. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first external electrode at least has:
a first conductor film provided on one end face of the capacitor body in the first direction;
a second conductor film provided continuously on a part of the first conductor film, one end face of the capacitor body in the third direction, and both end faces of the capacitor body in the second direction; and
a third conductor film provided on the surfaces of the first conductor film and the second conductor film; and
the second external electrode at least has:
a first conductor film provided on the other end face of the capacitor body in the first direction;
a second conductor film provided continuously on a part of the first conductor film, one end face of the capacitor body in the third direction, and both end faces of the capacitor body in the second direction; and
a third conductor film provided on the surfaces of the first conductor film and the second conductor film.
6. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first external electrode at least has:
a first conductor film provided continuously on one end face of the capacitor body in the first direction, one end face of the capacitor body in the third direction, and both end faces of the capacitor body in the second direction; and
a second conductor film provided on the surface of the first conductor film; and
the second external electrode at least has:
a first conductor film provided continuously on the other end face of the capacitor body in the first direction, one end face of the capacitor body in the third direction, and both end faces of the capacitor body in the second direction; and
a second conductor film provided on the surface of the first conductor film.
7. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
a first-direction dimension, a second-direction dimension, and a third-direction dimension of the capacitor body have a dimensional relation of “the third-direction dimension<the first-direction dimension<the second-direction dimension.”
8. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the third-direction dimension of the capacitor body is set in a range of 65 to 120 μm.
9. The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the third-direction dimension of the capacitor body is set in a range of 35 to 65 μm.