A capacitor stores electric charge and acts as a filter, allowing AC to pass through and blocking DC. Ceramic capacitors are non-polarized and use metal and ceramic layers as dielectrics. They are used in various electronic applications and come in different designs, including disc-shaped, monolithic, and multilayer. Ceramic capacitors are classified as Type I, II, or III based on their dielectric materials and are used in resonant circuits, filters, and timing elements.
A capacitor, also called a storage cell, secondary cell or condenser, is a passive electronic component capable of storing an electric charge. It is also a filter, blocking direct current (DC) and allowing alternating current (AC) to pass through. A capacitor is made up of two conductive surfaces called electrodes, separated by an insulator, called a dielectric. Unlike some capacitors, a ceramic capacitor is non-polarized, meaning that the two electrodes are non-positive and negatively charged; and uses metal and ceramic layers as dielectrics.
When DC voltage is applied to a ceramic capacitor, electric charge is stored in the electrodes. Storage capacity is small and is measured in units called Farads (F). Most capacitors are so small that their capacitance is measured in units of microfarads (10 to negative 6th power), nanofarads (ten to negative 9th power), or picofarads (10 to negative 12th power). New supercapacitors have been designed that actually hold enough charge to be measured in full Farad units.
The first ceramic capacitor design was in the 1930s when it was used as a component in radio receivers and other tube equipment. Capacitors are now a vital component in numerous electronic applications including automobiles, computers, entertainment equipment and power supplies. They are also useful for maintaining voltage levels in power lines, improving electrical system efficiency, and reducing energy loss.
The original ceramic capacitor design was disc-shaped, and with the exception of monolithic ceramic capacitors, this is still the predominant design. Ceramic capacitors use materials such as titanium acid barium as a dielectric. They are not built into a coil, like some other capacitors, so they can be used in high frequency applications and in circuits that bypass high frequency signals to ground.
A monolithic ceramic capacitor consists of thin dielectric layers twisted with staggered metal film electrodes. Once the cables are connected, the unit is pressed into a monolithic or solid, uniform shape. The small size and high capacitance of monolithic capacitors have helped make possible miniaturization, digitization and high frequency in electronic equipment.
A multilayer ceramic capacitor uses two non-polarized electrodes separated by multiple alternating layers of metal and ceramic as the dielectric. These are found in high frequency power converters and filters in switching power supplies and DC to DC converters. Computers, data processors, telecommunications, industrial controls, and instrumentation equipment also use multilayer ceramic capacitors.
Ceramic capacitors are classified as Type I, Type II or Type III. The Type I ceramic capacitor generally has a dielectric consisting of a mixture of metal oxides and titanates. They have high insulation resistance and lower frequency losses, and maintain stable capacitance even as the voltage varies. These are used in resonant circuits, filters and timing elements.
Type II capacitors have dielectrics made up of zirconates and titanates, such as barium, calcium, and strontium. They have slightly higher frequency losses and lower insulation resistance than Type I capacitors, but can still maintain high capacitance levels. These are popular for use in coupling, blocking and filtering. One disadvantage of type II capacitors is that they can lose capacity with age. Type III ceramic capacitors are general purpose capacitors that are adequate in applications that do not require high insulation resistance and capacitance stability.
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