What’s ceramic capacitor uses?

2024-07-07

Ceramic capacitors, especially multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), which is called the "rice of the electronics industry, are the most produced and used capacitors in electronic equipment that incorporate approximately one trillion pieces per year.

Today we will go details for ceramic capacitors’ use, before that, we will go for how to identify a good ceramic capacitor?

Normally we judge the ceramic capacitor is good or not based on below parameters, and choose the suitable quality ceramic capacitors can help save many time and problem.

1.Capacitance: measured in Farads (F), this value indicates the amount of charge the capacitor can store.

HONGDA Capacitors, the leading capacitors, inductors manufacturer in China, start producing since 1999. Own same production equipment with Murata’s, quality is guaranteed, can be your reliable MLCC supplier in China.

Our standard MLCC, HLC series, https://www.hongdacapacitors.com/res/Chip-Ceramic-Capacitors/HLC-Standard-MLCC-Multilayer-Multilayer-Ceramic-Capacitors.pdf

Capacitance can be up to 220uF, with RoHS and REACH compliance.

2.Voltage Rating: This specifies the maximum voltage the capacitor can safely handle without damage.

The voltage rating of a Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor (MLCC) depends on its size and application:

General application: MLCCs can handle up to 50 volts

Mid voltage: MLCCs can handle up to 630 volts

High voltage: MLCCs can handle up to 3000 volts

HONGDA Capacitors’ voltage can up to 4000 volts, and with full range of sizes available.

From 0201, 0402, 0603, 0805, ..., 2220, professional in MLCC production.

3.Temperature Stability: Ceramic capacitors exhibit varying levels of capacitance change with temperature fluctuations. Look for those with a stable capacitance range for your intended operating temperature.

Based on their class and dielectric type, multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) can have different temperature characteristics, class 1 and class 2 type.

4.Tolerance: This indicates the percentage variation in capacitance that a capacitor might have from its stated value. Higher tolerances are more common but can lead to less precise circuit performance.

5.Dielectric Constant: This value reflects how well the ceramic material stores energy.

The dielectric type of an MLCC describes how its rated capacitance changes with temperature. For example, MLCCs for temperature compensation use titanium oxide (TiO2) and calcium zirconate (CaZrO3) as paraelectric materials, which have a relative permittivity that changes linearly with temperature.

Related reading：shortages of MLCCs

Where are ceramic capacitors mostly used on?

We will introduce their functions and main applications.

1. Filtering:

Power Supply Filtering: Ceramic capacitors are often used to filter out high-frequency noise and ripple from power supplies. They act as a bypass path for these unwanted frequencies, ensuring a clean and stable DC voltage output.

Signal Filtering: In audio circuits, ceramic capacitors can filter out unwanted frequencies, such as high-frequency noise or low-frequency hum, to improve the quality of sound.

RF Filtering: In radio frequency (RF) circuits, ceramic capacitors are used to filter out unwanted frequencies, improving signal clarity and reducing interference.

2. Coupling:

Audio Coupling: In audio amplifiers and other audio circuits, coupling capacitors are used to transfer signals from one stage to the next without affecting the DC bias. Ceramic capacitors are often used for this purpose due to their low leakage current and good frequency response.

Signal Coupling: In various electronic circuits, ceramic capacitors can be used to couple signals between different stages, allowing for the transfer of information without unwanted interactions.

3. Bypassing:

Power Supply Bypassing: Ceramic capacitors are used to bypass high-frequency signals directly to ground, preventing them from affecting the main circuit's performance. This is especially important in power supplies, where these high-frequency signals can cause instability or noise.

Signal Bypassing: Ceramic capacitors can be used to bypass high-frequency signals directly to ground in other circuits, improving signal quality and reducing interference.

4. Timing:

Oscillators: In conjunction with resistors, ceramic capacitors can form timing circuits used in oscillators, which generate specific frequencies for various applications.

Timers: By carefully selecting the capacitance and resistance values, ceramic capacitors can be used in circuits that generate timed delays or pulses, crucial for various timing-sensitive functions.

Filtering & Timing in RF Circuits: Ceramic capacitors play a key role in the design of RF filters and oscillators, where their ability to handle high frequencies and precise capacitance values is valuable.

5. Other Applications:

Decoupling: Ceramic capacitors are used for decoupling, which involves isolating different parts of a circuit to prevent unwanted interaction between them.

Tuning: In radio receivers and other circuits, ceramic capacitors can be used for tuning, allowing for the selection of a specific frequency range.

Energy Storage: While not their primary function, small ceramic capacitors can be used for energy storage in some applications, particularly in circuits with low power requirements.

Widely used ceramic capacitors：

Ceramic capacitors are found in a wide range of electronic devices and systems due to their versatile characteristics. Some common applications include:

1.Industrial Equipment: Ceramic capacitors are pivotal in industrial automation, such as factory machinery and instruments,broadcasting and television equipments ,communication and navigation equipments,power systems, energy meter and etc.

2.Consumer Electronics: From smartphones to computers, ceramic capacitors are used in power supplies, audio circuits, and signal processing. Their typical use like smart phone and it’s related products, 5G, Household appliances and so on.

3.Automotive Electronics: They are essential in automotive electronic control units, safety systems, and entertainment systems due to their ability to function well in high-temperature environments.

4.Telecommunications: They play a crucial role in RF filters, antenna matching networks, and data transmission equipment.

5.Medical Devices: Due to their small size and reliability, ceramic capacitors are commonly used in medical equipment, such as patient monitoring systems and imaging devices.