MLCCs for mains-powered applications are surface mount design
For use in space constrained, mains powered applications, Kemet has developed surface mount, safety-certified ceramic capacitors. According to the company, the smaller form factors save space and simplify manufacturing compared with leaded devices in AC line filtering applications
The CAS series of multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) offer higher capacitance, smaller overall size and simplified assembly compared with existing leaded disc devices, says Kemet. Leaded disc devices represent the majority of safety-certified ceramic capacitors currently on the market.
Market research suggested that the overall power supply sector is expected to grow to $34.92 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.7 per cent from 2018 to 2023. AC/DC power conversion is considered the largest and fastest growing type of power supply, Kemet reports, owing to its increasingly wide range of uses and applications. The CAS series of surface mount MLCCs meet the trend for increased functionality in the same or smaller spaces, and industry and consumer demand for portable solutions, which sees the PCB real estate available for electronics, including power delivery systems, shrinking. Commonly used safety certified leaded disc components are bulky compared with Kemet’s CAS series SMD MLCCs and are therefore often not suitable for applications with restricted spaces in which filtering circuitry needs to be placed. Leaded disc devices also require pin-through installation into PCBs, a process that is not compatible with standard automated reflow profiles and therefore can add production costs.
Filtering is important in mains powered products to manage unwanted transients such as high frequency noise in both line-to-line (Class x) and line-to-ground (Class y) applications. Safety certified capacitors are used in a variety of applications, such as power adapters for mobile devices, industrial power distribution, and electric vehicle power inverters.
Reggie Phillips, senior product manager, Kemet, said: “Until now, safety certified capacitor technology has not kept pace with advances in MLCC technology. Our new CAS range allows engineers to place the essential mains-connected filtering capacitors into smaller spaces, thereby reducing board size. For manufacturing professionals, the benefit is that the new devices are compatible with standard reflow processes, eliminating an additional step in the manufacturing process.”
