Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Laser Direct Structuring (LDS): Working Principles and Benefits for RF Applications

On November 28, 2023 / Antennas, Application Based, News / Events / Press, RF Microwave / Thin Film, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Laser Direct Structuring (LDS): Working Principles and Benefits for RF Applications Written By: Youssef Laamimat Abstract: The growing prevalence of electronic devices presents a challenge to numerous industries and markets. Addressing the industry’s need for lighter and more compact components, LDS stands out as an excellent choice. In addition, it accelerates prototype production and streamlines time-to-market. Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) technology is a revolutionary approach offering a streamlined and efficient process for creating complex 3D circuits on a myriad of substrates. LDS technology is ideal when more curves are needed or less 3D volume is available. In RF applications such as antennas, this allows the manufacture of highly intricate designs, reduces assembly costs of having the antenna outside the device,

Technical Article: Controlled Self-Healing of Power Film Capacitors

On November 6, 2023 / Film Technology, News / Events / Press, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Controlled Self-Healing of Power Film Capacitors Written By: Kevin Cho Abstract: In high voltage, high energy applications such as electric trains and solar power grids, the safety and reliability of capacitors are paramount. Catastrophic failures and associated explosions or fires are unacceptable. Just as importantly, service lifetime and predictability for optimizing up-time are critical to the product’s success. Film capacitors with controlled self-healing are the ideal solution to these challenges and can be obtained in various sizes and technical specifications. This whitepaper discusses the distinctions between aluminum electrolytic and metal film capacitors before considering some distinct advantages of film capacitors and the self-healing properties of metallized film capacitors.

Technical Article: Safety Considerations for Acetonitrile SuperCapacitors

On November 2, 2023 / News / Events / Press, SuperCapacitors, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Safety Considerations for Acetonitrile SuperCapacitors Written By: Akihiro Kado Abstract: Advancements in SuperCapacitor design and manufacturing have made them a mainstay component in power supplies and backup systems that require high power density output. SuperCapacitors have now become commonplace components in many areas of modern electronic design. They bridge an important gap between batteries – used for high density energy storage, and electronic capacitors – for local power supply stabilization and decoupling. SuperCapacitors offer the unique ability to provide large amounts of power for short periods of time. For this reason, they have found a home in applications such as electric vehicles, uninterruptible power supplies, and data storage devices. A wide variety of SuperCapacitor structures and materials have been developed,

Technical Article: Radiation Tolerance of Tantalum Polymer Capacitors

On October 25, 2023 / News / Events / Press, Tantalum / Niobium / Polymer, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Radiation Tolerance of Tantalum Polymer Capacitors Written By: Krystof Adamek Abstract: Environments rich in ionizing radiation create a particularly difficult functional challenge for electronic components. Spacecraft, nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, and hardened military equipment (to name a few examples) demand that their electrical systems operate correctly, even in the presence of high energy particles, photons, electrons, neutrons, protons, and the like. Such radiation adversely affects electronics in two ways: fundamentally damaging the constituent materials, and creating transient electrical signals that can impede functionality. Mechanisms of radiation induced failure in semiconductors and other active devices have been well-studied, and methods for overcoming or preventing these failures have been developed. Passive devices like inductors, resistors, and capacitors, on the other hand, are

Technical Article: Advantages of SuperCapacitors for Power Constrained Backup

On August 31, 2023 / News / Events / Press, SuperCapacitors, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Advantages of SuperCapacitors for Power Constrained Backup Written By: Johnson Jiang Abstract: In most energy storage scenarios, the tradeoffs between power density and energy density quickly come to the foreground. This is best illustrated in the automotive industry, where power density directly translates to acceleration and driving performance, while energy density translates to the total range achievable on a tank of gas or, for an electric vehicle, on a single recharge cycle. This is true across almost every application, from wearable electronics to microgrid power networks on a college campus. This whitepaper from KYOCERA AVX will explore the advantages of SuperCapacitors, circuit level, uninterruptable power, and microgrid considerations, and the benefits that make them a more reliable option than traditional

Technical Article: Failure Mode Comparison of Tantalum and Niobium Oxide Capacitors

On August 24, 2023 / News / Events / Press, Tantalum / Niobium / Polymer, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Failure Mode Comparison of Tantalum and Niobium Oxide Capacitors Written By: George Zhang Abstract: The automotive industry has become highly dependent on advanced sensing and computing. Starting in the mid-twentieth century, the development of dense, reliable, and stable capacitors has been instrumental in advancing high speed computing and high performance electronics. The demands on these capacitors have increased substantially, requiring high-temperature tolerance, harsh environmental reliability, and ever-decreasing parasitic parameters such as equivalent series resistance (ESR) and inductance (ESL). Tantalum and niobium oxide capacitors have been two of the most notable contenders to meet these requirements. Though similar in construction, their failure modes are nuanced and require a careful understanding to ensure a successful design for a particular application.

Technical Article: The Principles of Varistor Selection

On August 17, 2023 / Circuit Protection, News / Events / Press, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

The Principles of Varistor Selection Written By: Teddy Won Abstract: A varistor is an electronic component used to suppress transient voltages to protect electronic circuits. The behavior of varistors in a circuit is similar to TVS diodes, but they are entirely different in design, materials, and construction. There are many kinds of varistors on the market suitable for various applications, making choosing the right one to protect a given circuit challenging. KYOCERA AVX multilayer varistors, with a unique high-energy multilayer construction, provide state-of-the-art overvoltage circuit protection and protection from voltage transients caused by ESD, inductive switching, automotive-related transients, NEMP, lighting, etc. KYOCERA AVX multilayer varistors also provide EMI/RFI filtering in the off-state, which can replace the need for additional EMC

Technical Article: Properties and Characteristics of Crystal Units

On May 23, 2023 / News / Events / Press, Technical Articles / Whitepapers, Timing Devices

Properties and Characteristics of Crystal Units Written By: Wataru Muraoka 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. Crystal Units are a piezoelectric element which produces electricity on the surface when mechanical pressure is applied, and when electricity is applied it vibrates in a certain manner. A Crystal Unit is a product

Technical Article: Passive Component Advancements for SPE Connectors and Circuit Protection Devices

On March 9, 2023 / Circuit Protection, Connectors, News / Events / Press, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Passive Component Advancements for SPE Connectors and Circuit Protection Devices Written By: Daniel West | Julian Wilson Abstract: As Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) begins to roll out there will be a need for easy to implement, yet reliable wire-to-board interconnects. Purchasing finished cable and connector assemblies is not always economical or viable. However, it is also undesirable to work with time consuming and difficult to process connectors. Insulation Displacement Connectors (IDC) and Press-Fit technology (images below) require no crimping or soldering processes, and is easily converted to a streamlined process, while maintaining the versatility of cable lengths and positioning. In addition to reliable retention forces and gas tight seals afforded by the cold weld mechanism of IDC, signal integrity is

Technical Article: Tantalum Capacitors for Electric Vehicles

On March 2, 2023 / News / Events / Press, Tantalum / Niobium / Polymer, Technical Articles / Whitepapers

Tantalum Capacitors for Electric Vehicles Written By: Jeff Lee Abstract: An electric vehicle is a car powered by electricity unlike internal combustion locomotives that obtain driving energy by burning fossil fuels, they rotate the motor with electricity accumulated in the battery to obtain driving energy. Electric vehicles are largely composed of on-board chargers (OBC), electric power control units (EPCUs), motors, speed reducers, and high voltage battery. The motor of an electric vehicle is a high-efficiency and high-power driving motor and has high output and rotational power. Unlike internal combustion vehicle engines, the electric motor can be made to minimize noise and vibration generation while driving.