TDK claims first flip-type 0510 MLCC

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

TDK Corp. has launched its CGAE series , claiming the industry’s first flip-type multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) in a 0510 package with a capacitance range from 47 nF to 1 µF for automotive applications. Depending on the capacitance value, the capacitors are designed for rated voltages of between 4 V and 50 V. All CGAE capacitors are qualified in accordance with AEC-Q200.

In contrast to conventional MLCCs, the connections on the flip-type capacitors are rotated through 90°, said TDK. “This produces a wider and, at the same time, a shorter current path, which results in lower equivalent series inductance (ESL) and equivalent series resistance (ESR) values, and thus, lower impedances.”

A key application for the MLCCs is noise suppression and decoupling of supply lines in automotive electronic control units (ECUs) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). In addition, the higher functionality found in autonomous driving, which requires computing power comparable to that of PCs or smartphones, is driving an increased use of decoupling MLCCs for noise suppression.

These capacitors also save space. Thanks to their high efficiency, the number of MLCCs required for these applications can be reduced.

Volume production starts in January 2020. TDK expects to develop additional products with higher capacitance values in the future for automotive applications.