Advances in Class-I C0G MLCC and SMD Film Capacitors

For applications requiring low dielectric losses (or low DF), low acoustic noise (no piezoelectric effect) and good temperature stability of capacitance, the top two choices are Class-I C0G MLCC and SMD film capacitors. There have been recent advances in both C0G MLCCs and SMD film capacitors. The C0G MLCCs have benefited from base metal electrodes (BME) in combination with an improved ability to stack well over 400 layers in the MLCC, and have resulted in cost effective and volumetrically efficient ratings up to 1 μF. The SMD film capacitors have seen significant advances in capacitance and voltage extensions, as well as heat resistance under lead-free soldering conditions. This paper will discuss the technical basis for advances in each of these technologies and give some guidance on the optimum areas (capacitance, size, voltage) for the application of each technology.