The advantages of multilayer ceramic (MLC) capacitors over plastic film types include their smaller physical size, lower inductance, and ability to operate at higher temperatures. These advantages make MLC capacitors very well suited to high power applications, such as power converter systems in electric (EV) and hybrid electric (HEV) vehicles.

Multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) are a highly efficient, robust, and mature product that are enabling rapid innovation across a myriad of industries and expanding numbers of applications. However, with global demand for these critical components at an all-time high, at the moment there is a global shortage in their supply – especially in the traditional, non-specialized geometries. As MLCC demand is fueled by significant product development in the IoT, consumer electronics, and electric vehicles (EV), new advancements in these industries have become limited to the capacitor’s availability during the shortage, with lead times reaching several months to a year in some cases.

Planar Filters

Manufactured using a thin-film process, Microstrip (planar) filters can offer a high quality factor (Q) and a reduced packaging envelope when compared to discrete lumped element designs, and are more practical at higher frequencies. The thin-film design can hold tighter design tolerances due to the distributed transmission lines forming resonant structures. Planar filters are a robust solution, attractive for applications ranging from established platforms, such as military warfare, to emerging technologies, like 5G. Below are some general-purpose resources for additional background, applications, and benefits of Microstrip filters: 

The worldwide electric vehicle (EV) market is exploding in demand and mainstream adoption as governments push for fuel economy improvements and automotive companies look for new market opportunities. According to Forbes, “by 2020, EVs are likely to cost the same as conventional fuel powered equivalents.” Major manufacturers – like General Motors, Toyota, and BMW – plan to release “a mouthwatering potential of 400 models and estimated global sales of 25 million by 2025.” For EV design engineers and purchasing agents, this drive towards increased electrification results in the challenge of finding cutting-edge components that can handle increasing temperatures, voltage, and power without sacrificing reliability, availability, and footprint.

MLCC Market Overview

Multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) are the workhorse capacitors of the electronics industry. Global demand is driven by innovation from IoT growth, smart TVs, and the automotive industry, coupled with organic demand from consumer electronics (e.g. smartphones) and rising GDP per capita. To meet the market needs, MLCC manufacturers are weighing strategies to adapt to this exponential growth: either expand their business to improve the right-to-win equation at the commodity level, or continue to innovate, maximizing expertise and product solutions for the niche best suited to their strengths.

Frequencies in the mmWave spectrum play a key role in 5G communications. RF technology that was developed around existing mmWave applications has evolved to encompass the needs of 5G wireless access. Components for such systems need to be selected for performance and cost – commercial systems are subject to intense price pressure and so both the purchase cost and the implementation cost of a component become important factors in selecting devices for a new design. Another key consideration can be size constraints and the need to preserve valuable board space.

When selecting a filter implementation one factor that is common across all frequencies is optimizing the size of the filter given the application and the required performance.

An ideal filter

The Ideal Filter would have unit gain (0dB) in its pass band and a gain of zero (-infinity dB) in its stop band. Between pass band and stop band there would be no indecision and would transition from 0dB to -infinity dB asymptotically. It would pass only the required frequencies without adding or subtracting anything from the signal and like a very discrete and fastidious butler we would not see it - just its perfect management of the frequencies in its care.

In an earlier Blog post we discussed the Shannon-Hartley Theorem in the context of 5G mmWave applications:

Fifth Generation (5G) communication systems are being planned to enable a hundred-fold increase in user data-rates – and with this increase comes a need for significant increases in bandwidth over what is currently available.