News / Events / Press

Technical Article: Analysis of the DC Blocking Capacitor for Stereo High-Fidelity Audio

Technical Article: Analysis of the DC Blocking Capacitor for Stereo High-Fidelity Audio

Analysis of the DC Blocking Capacitor for Stereo High-Fidelity Audio Written By: Rick Liu Abstract: The representation of audio signals in analog and digital electronics can take many forms. Still, they must ultimately be converted back to their mechanical origins as the motion of air molecules propagating as waves. These waves are generated by moving a mass, often the cone of a speaker, back and forth around a neutral position. As such, any fixed offset in the audio signal, represented by a DC bias, is simply a waste of energy and possibly a source of imbalance in the resulting sound wave. Series blocking capacitors are generally used for each audio channel to eliminate the potential of any DC component. While

Technical Article: Variability and Tolerance of Ceramic Capacitors

Technical Article: Variability and Tolerance of Ceramic Capacitors

Variability and Tolerance of Ceramic Capacitors Written By: Robert Lu Abstract: The multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) is one of the most common capacitor varieties found in electronic design. It offers a wide range of bulk capacitance and voltage tolerance in numerous form factors at relatively low cost. While these devices have become commonplace in the designers’ tool chest, they exhibit some often overlooked peculiarities. Of primary concern is the sensitivity of effective capacitance to several environmental factors, including temperature, applied bias voltage, and age. If these factors are unaccounted for, the risk of product failure becomes very real, especially in manufacturing variability and overall tolerance stack-up.

Technical Article: Platform Structure Clock Oscillators

Technical Article: Platform Structure Clock Oscillators

Platform Structure Clock Oscillators Written By: Toshihiko Koyanagi Abstract: Numerous devices in people‘s lives today are becoming more sophisticated. As a result, the number of crystal devices installed is increasing. For example, with the evolution of autonomous driving, we are using crystal devices for many functions such as sensor systems to detect distance, camera systems to capture images, image processing systems to process captured images, and communication systems to communicate many of those digital data in and out of the vehicle at high speed. In addition, in the network market, the number of crystal devices is increasing along with the further increase in the speed of communication devices, as well as the increase in the frequency and precision. This paper

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Performance and Circuit Impacts

Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Performance and Circuit Impacts

A growing number of applications, ranging from solar power converters all the way to miniature power supplies for highly complex processing cores, are starting to capitalize on the benefits of aluminum electrolytic capacitors. Aluminum electrolytics are also increasingly used to satisfy miniaturization demands in complex power tree applications like FPGAs powered by multiple voltages. And while it’s true that aluminum electrolytics also come with disadvantages, several of the more well-known ones are no longer true, and other perceived disadvantages can be reduced or eliminated by selecting newer components engineered to overcome some of the technology’s traditional shortcomings. Power Systems Design (PSD) December 22nd 2022

NEW | Multilayer Varistors Qualified to OPEN Alliance Standards for Automotive Ethernet Applications

NEW | Multilayer Varistors Qualified to OPEN Alliance Standards for Automotive Ethernet Applications

As an OPEN Alliance member, KYOCERA AVX has extended its proven, high-performance, and ultralow-capacitance AntennaGuard range with the addition of two new MLVs that meet IEEE 1000BASE-T1 and 100BASE-T1 testing requirements, significantly outperform competing diode solutions, and deliver exceptional reliability in space-saving 0402 and 0603 packages. FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (January 10, 2022) – KYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, has extended its AntennaGuard range of proven, high-performance, and ultralow-capacitance products with two new 0402 multilayer varistors (MLVs) that meet IEEE 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1 testing requirements. The new ASPGuard® Series MLVs have small, ultralow-profile, surface-mount packages optimized for high-density designs and exhibit high current and energy handling

KYOCERA AVX is Showcasing Advanced Antennas, RF Components, & Automotive Sensors and Controls at CES 2023

KYOCERA AVX is Showcasing Advanced Antennas, RF Components, & Automotive Sensors and Controls at CES 2023

CES 2023 marks KYOCERA AVX’s first year of participation at this legendary industry event. Exhibit highlights include advanced antenna and RF component solutions for IoT, 5G, healthcare, consumer electronics, and satellite communications applications as well as advanced sensor and control solutions for electromobility applications. FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (January 3, 2023) – KYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, is exhibiting at CES 2023, which will take place Thursday, January 5, through Sunday, January 8, in Las Vegas. CES has earned a reputation as a proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators and is widely recognized as one of the most influential tech events in the world.

Technical Article: SuperCapacitor Improvements on Small Generator Power Quality

Technical Article: SuperCapacitor Improvements on Small Generator Power Quality

SuperCapacitor Improvements on Small Generator Power Quality Written By: Ron Demcko | Ashley Stanziola | Daniel West Abstract: To expand portable electronics usage/reach/offering, the renewable power industry has taken an interest in the worldwide awareness of climate change and electronic waste, specifically how batteries affect the environment. One advancement is the emergence of modern low power hand crank generators, which roughly coincides with the accelerating interest in green energy used in portable electronics.

Technical Article: Predicting Metal Film Capacitor Lifetime Using Thermal Simulation

Technical Article: Predicting Metal Film Capacitor Lifetime Using Thermal Simulation

Predicting Metal Film Capacitor Lifetime Using Thermal Simulation Written By: Youssef Laamimat Abstract: In high-power applications like electric vehicles (EVs), customized metal film capacitors are often required to meet energy demands in a specific form factor. These capacitors exhibit a strong temperature dependence of their bulk capacitance over time, which directly limits their total service life. To maximize lifetime while minimizing space requirements, it is important to include accurate thermal simulation as part of the design process to ensure optimized and evenly distributed heat generation.

Technical Article: SuperCapacitors: A Reliable Backup Power Solution

Technical Article: SuperCapacitors: A Reliable Backup Power Solution

SuperCapacitors: A Reliable Backup Power Solution Written By: Johnson Jiang Abstract: Electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are electrochemical capacitors called “SuperCapacitors,” or supercaps, due to their high energy density. Compared to traditional electrolytic capacitors, SuperCapacitors store electrical energy about two to three orders of magnitude higher and achieve several hundred thousand to millions of charge-discharge cycles. This advantage comes from the special construction of SuperCapacitors.

Technical Article: Electrostatic Protection Using Ceramic Capacitors

Technical Article: Electrostatic Protection Using Ceramic Capacitors

Electrostatic Protection Using Ceramic Capacitors Written By: Oliver Zimmermann | John McCarry Abstract: Any conductive interface between an electrical circuit and the outside world introduces the possibility of damage through electrostatic discharge (ESD). Accumulated static charge on a person, a cable, or any similar surface can readily dissipate its stored potential energy upon contact into sensitive components resulting in highly destructive currents. Ideally, varistors and TVS diodes only activate to protect the circuit when a high voltage is present and impart no parasitic effects during normal operation. For high-speed data lines, in particular, it is critical that the protection device introduce as little capacitance as possible (Electronic Design). TVS diodes and varistors are therefore specified not only by their voltage

Thailand Facility Grand Opening

Thailand Facility Grand Opening

KYOCERA AVX’s new flagship facility in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, features 1.2 million square feet of state-of-the-art design, manufacturing, testing, storage, and distribution space, meets FM Global standards, and features walkable ceilings, full electrical power supply redundancy, and column-free production areas. FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (November 10, 2022) – KYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, has announced the grand opening of its $300 million advanced manufacturing facility for ceramic and tantalum capacitors in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The new facility features 1.2 million square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehousing space. Deliberately designed as a safe and sustainable global facility for the production of ceramic and tantalum capacitors, the

KYOCERA AVX is Exhibiting at Electronica 2022

KYOCERA AVX is Exhibiting at Electronica 2022

The KYOCERA AVX team will showcase the company’s complete line of trusted and proven component solutions optimized for advanced automotive, industrial, and high-reliability applications, amongst others. FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (November 8, 2022) – KYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, is exhibiting at electronica 2022 in Munich, Germany, November 15–18. The KYOCERA AVX team will showcase the company’s complete line of trusted and proven component solutions at Booth 502 in Hall B4 (B4.502). Solutions on display will include advanced capacitors, antennas, interconnects, circuit protection and timing devices, sensors, controls, filters, fuses, diodes, resistors, couplers, and inductors optimized for employment in the automotive, IoT and IIoT, industrial, international

KYOCERA AVX Announces New MLCC Part Numbering System

KYOCERA AVX Announces New MLCC Part Numbering System

The new global MLCC part numbering system launching this November will maximize manufacturing synergies within KYOCERA AVX and the KYOCERA Electronics Components Group and make it easier for customers to search the entire brand portfolio. FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (November 7, 2022) – KYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, is introducing a new global MLCC part numbering system this November. The new global MLCC part numbering system will maximize manufacturing synergies within KYOCERA AVX and the KYOCERA Electronics Components Group, which combined their MLCC manufacturing and development resources in 2021 following the corporate reorganization and rebranding that elicited KYOCERA AVX. It will also facilitate the rapid expansion

Tantalum Capacitors in 5G Smartphone Applications

Tantalum Capacitors in 5G Smartphone Applications

Tantalum Capacitors in 5G Smartphone Applications Written By: Jason Liu Abstract: The global smartphone market has grown enormously over the past decade. In 2019, about 1.32 billion smartphones were shipped globally, of which 367 million units were shipped in China alone, accounting for 27.8% of the global total. With the ongoing investment into the construction of 5G networks, especially in China, 5G-enabled smartphones are set to become ubiquitous in the near future. 5G phones are projected to grow by 10% starting in 2020 compared to the previous year. Under favorable economic and regulatory conditions, there will be ample opportunities for both leading and emerging manufacturers to capture more market share. Additionally, there are several design houses for smartphones that design

Key Parameters for Designing Ceramic Capacitors in SMPS Circuits

Key Parameters for Designing Ceramic Capacitors in SMPS Circuits

Key Parameters for Designing Ceramic Capacitors in SMPS Circuits Written By: Kevin Cho Abstract: Capacitors are ubiquitous and indispensable components of electronic circuits used for a plethora of uses. For engineers looking to design multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) in switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) such as Buck and Boost converters, some essential parameters to be considered include the ripple current capability, ripple voltage, and power dissipation. Using the KYOCERA AVX SpiCalci10 model simulation tool for SMPS capacitors, this whitepaper will outline various MLCC characteristics, AC current capability, and other considerations for circuit design.