Power electronics play a critical role in converting and managing electrical energy efficiently. As electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy systems, and consumer electronics quickly become more powerful, the demand for high-voltage power electronics is quickly increasing. This means the importance of components like bootstrap capacitors has grown significantly.

Q factor, or quality factor, is an electrical term used to describe the ratio of energy stored to energy dissipated in a capacitor at a certain frequency (you can learn more about the different components of Q factor and ways to define it here). In other words, Q factor tells us how good a capacitor is at its job at a certain frequency. A high Q value indicates low energy loss during operation, making these capacitors a good fit for applications requiring low power dissipation and high stability.  

As you likely know, capacitors are used in electronic circuits to provide local energy storage and stabilize power supply voltage. Decoupling capacitors are a specific type of capacitor used to isolate or decouple two circuits. In other words, these capacitors decouple AC signals from DC signals or vice versa. Decoupling capacitors act as a buffer, supplying clean and stable power to components, which minimizes the risks of malfunctions, noise coupling, or signal integrity issues.

Radio frequency (RF) and microwave applications involve transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals at high frequencies. While these terms are often used interchangeably, RF means AC signals at 3 kHz to 300 GHz. For microwave, it’s more like 300 MHz to 300 GHz. Capacitors play a central role in these applications because they are concerned with capacitance, naturally, and impedance (i.e., resistance), which vary with frequency. Functionally, these passive electronic components store energy in an electric field. 

Welcome to the Capacitor Fundamentals Series, where we teach you about the ins and outs of chips capacitors – their properties, product classifications, test standards, and use cases – in order to help you make informed decisions about the right capacitors for your specific applications. After describing standard industry test testing in our previous article, let’s discuss high reliability testing for capacitors.

One of the primary goals in electric vehicles (EVs) is to increase the efficiency of its power conversion devices. The more efficiently power is converted, the further distance the EV can travel on one charge. For example, by reducing losses in a DC-to-DC (or DC/DC) converter, the converter (and overall vehicle) benefits from improved energy efficiency, a more streamlined design, and diminished heating from components.

A deep brain stimulator (DBS), also known as a neuro-stimulator, is a medical device that uses electrical stimulation to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The DBS is typically implanted under the skin near the collarbone or in the abdomen, and connected to a thin wire, or lead, that runs under the skin to the targeted area of the brain as shown in Figure 1. 

Welcome to the Capacitor Fundamentals Series, where we teach you about the ins and outs of chips capacitors – their properties, product classifications, test standards, and use cases – in order to help you make informed decisions about the right capacitors for your specific applications. After describing test parameters and electrical properties in our previous article, let’s discuss industry test standards for capacitors.

Welcome to the Capacitor Fundamentals Series, where we teach you about the ins and outs of chips capacitors – their properties, product classifications, test standards, and use cases – in order to help you make informed decisions about the right capacitors for your specific applications. After describing dielectric classifications in our previous article, let’s discuss capacitor test conditions and electrical properties.

Electronic devices provide the tools we need to power the world. From cell phones to modern vehicles to scientific equipment to the appliances in our homes, we rely on electronics to improve and even lengthen our lives. All electronics depend on clean power, and the bypass capacitor is crucial in ensuring devices safely meet their power specifications.