Murata begins mass production of seven automotive MLCCs with world-leading capacitance
Murata has begun mass production of seven AEC-Q200-qualified multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) that achieve the world’s largest capacitance for a given rated voltage and size, supporting stable operation of in-vehicle systems and greater design flexibility. Five parts in the GCM series are rated at 2.5-4 Vdc, targeting IC peripheral circuits in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) applications. The remaining two MLCCs are rated at 25 Vdc for in-vehicle power line applications.
In recent years, as ADAS and AD technologies advance, the number and performance level of systems installed in vehicles have continued to increase. As a result, demand for higher capacitance low-voltage MLCCs used around ICs has grown to ensure stable operation. In addition, as the number of MLCCs mounted on PCBs increases, space constraints become the critical, limiting factor in design. At the same time, for medium-rated voltage MLCCs used in automotive power lines, there is a rising demand for both miniaturisation and higher capacitance to improve power and mounting density. These needs are particularly pronounced in ADAS and AD systems, where IC peripheral circuits and power lines are both subject to significant voltage fluctuations, requiring further increases in capacitance and reductions in component size. Leveraging its proprietary ceramic materials along with particle refinement and uniformity technologies, Murata introduces seven automotive MLCCs that achieve the world’s largest capacitance by rated voltage and size.
For low-rated voltage MLCCs, Murata has expanded its lineup of products with a capacitance of 100 µF or higher, achieving 100 µF in the 1206-inch (3.2 mm × 1.6 mm) size, which was previously available only in the larger 1210-inch (3.2 mm × 2.5 mm) size. This reduces PCB mounting area by approximately 36%. In addition, in the smallest automotive MLCC size of 0201-inch (0.6 mm × 0.3 mm), capacitance has been increased from the typical 1-2.2 µF. For medium-rated voltage MLCCs, Murata has achieved a capacitance of 1 µF in the 0402-inch (1.0 mm × 0.5 mm) size, which was previously realised in the larger 0603-inch (1.6 mm × 0.8 mm), reducing PCB mounting area by approximately 61%.
By combining this product lineup, Murata addresses a wide range of challenges in the automotive market, including higher capacitance requirements around ICs, severe PCB space constraints, and stabilisation of power lines, thereby contributing to stable operation of entire systems and greater design flexibility. Furthermore, reducing the number of MLCCs required enables lower PCB material usage and reduced power consumption during manufacturing, helping to lessen the environmental impact.
