Silicon capacitor portfolio delivers breakthroughs in density and performance

Empower Semiconductor has expanded its E-CAP family of silicon capacitors with new technologies that provide further breakthroughs in density and performance.

Integrating multiple discrete capacitances into a single solid-state device, it is the world's thinnest, most compact and flexible capacitor solution. The technology brings together a capacitor density over five times that of leading MLCCs with improved ESL and ESR characteristics dramatically reducing parasitics.

Designed employing the most advanced trench capacitor technology, the latest solutions provide densities of 1.1µF/mm2, over twice the density of alternative silicon capacitor technologies. In addition to the density, thickness levels can be attained below 50µm in overall height. Multiple, matched capacitance values from 75pF to 5µF (@2V) can be integrated into a single die to produce custom integrated capacitor arrays. At the same time, form factors can be customised for a specific application's space and height limitations. Packaging options based on bumps, pads and pillars permit designers to select the best solution based on specific system constraints.

"E-CAP provides a superior high-frequency de-coupling solution with a much smaller footprint and component count than traditional MLCC-based solutions," says Steve Shultis, Empower's SVP of Sales and Marketing. "Our technology provides new options for demanding applications in IoT, wearables, mobile, and processors where size, performance, and flexibility are essential. The latest improvements in density and performance make E-CAP ideal for next-generation, data-intensive systems that demand high-frequency operation and maximum efficiency from the smallest possible form factors."

Employing the solution, designers can merge all non-bulk, high-frequency de-coupling capacitors into a single die to dramatically lower component count, BoM cost and possible points of failure. Although they have lower nominal capacitance, their superior frequency response and ESL over MLCCs result in lower impedance at high frequencies. And unlike MLCCs, where multiple devices are required to account for de-rating from voltage, temperature and age, E-CAP needs no AC or DC bias de-rating while all other de-rating necessities are negligible. This eradicates the necessity to 'over specify' capacitance requirements to account for de-rating.