Feedthrough multilayer capacitor array

A feedthrough multilayer capacitor array has a multilayer body in which a plurality of first and second electrode layers are alternately laminated with a dielectric layer in between; first, third, fifth, and seventh terminal electrodes formed on a first side face of the multilayer body; and second, fourth, sixth, and eighth terminal electrodes formed on a second side face of the multilayer body facing the first side face. Each first electrode layer includes first and second internal electrodes which are electrically connected through lead conductors respectively to the first and second terminal electrodes, and the third and fourth terminal electrodes. Each second electrode layer includes third and fourth internal electrodes which are electrically connected through lead conductors respectively to the fifth and sixth terminal electrodes, and the seventh and eighth terminal electrodes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a feedthrough multilayer capacitor array.

2. Related Background Art

An example of this kind of the known feedthrough multilayer capacitor arrays is a capacitor array in which a plurality of internal electrodes and a plurality of ground electrodes are laminated with a dielectric layer in between so as to form a plurality of capacitors along the laminating direction (e.g., cf. Patent Document 1). In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array of this type, the plurality of ground electrodes are connected to a single terminal electrode and connected through this terminal electrode to the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, when the plurality of ground electrodes are connected to one terminal electrode as in the case of the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array described in Patent Document 1, this terminal electrode picks up noise of the other circuits (capacitors) included in the capacitor array. For this reason, crosstalk occurs between the capacitors. With occurrence of crosstalk, it will become difficult for the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array to sufficiently absorb noise.

The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve the above problem and an object of the present invention is to provide a feedthrough multilayer capacitor array capable of sufficiently suppressing crosstalk.

In order to achieve the above object, a feedthrough multilayer capacitor array according to the present invention is a feedthrough multilayer capacitor array comprising: a multilayer body in which a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer are laminated with a dielectric layer in between; and first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth terminal electrodes formed on side faces of the multilayer body; wherein the first, third, fifth, and seventh terminal electrodes are located on a first side face of the multilayer body parallel to a laminating direction of the multilayer body, wherein the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth terminal electrodes are located on a second side face of the multilayer body facing the first side face, wherein the first electrode layer includes first and second internal electrodes, and first, second, third, and fourth lead conductors, wherein the second electrode layer includes third and fourth internal electrodes, and fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth lead conductors, wherein the first internal electrode is electrically connected to the first terminal electrode through the first lead conductor extending so as to be led from the first internal electrode to the first side face and is electrically connected to the second terminal electrode through the second lead conductor extending so as to be led from the first internal electrode to the second side face, wherein the second internal electrode is electrically connected to the third terminal electrode through the third lead conductor extending so as to be led from the second internal electrode to the first side face and is electrically connected to the fourth terminal electrode through the fourth lead conductor extending so as to be led from the second internal electrode to the second side face, wherein the third internal electrode is electrically connected to the fifth terminal electrode through the fifth lead conductor extending so as to be led from the third internal electrode to the first side face and is electrically connected to the sixth terminal electrode through the sixth lead conductor extending so as to be led from the third internal electrode to the second side face, and wherein the fourth internal electrode is electrically connected to the seventh terminal electrode through the seventh lead conductor extending so as to be led from the fourth internal electrode to the first side face and is electrically connected to the eighth terminal electrode through the eighth lead conductor extending so as to be led from the fourth internal electrode to the second side face.

In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array described above, the first and second internal electrodes included in the first electrode layer are electrically connected to the different terminal electrodes. On the other hand, the third and fourth internal electrodes included in the second electrode layer are electrically connected to the different terminal electrodes. For this reason, either in a case where the internal electrodes included in the first electrode layer are used as ground electrodes or in a case where the internal electrodes included in the second electrode layer are used as ground electrodes, the capacitor array can be mounted on a circuit board or the like without need for the plurality of capacitors to share a ground electrode. Therefore, the capacitor array is able to suppress crosstalk between the capacitors. In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array the first to eighth terminal electrodes are formed on the first and second side faces of the multilayer body. Since in the foregoing feedthrough multilayer capacitor array the terminal electrodes are formed on the two side faces of the multilayer body as described above, fabrication thereof is easier than fabrication of those in which the terminal electrodes are formed on four side faces.

Preferably, the first lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the third, fifth, and seventh lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body, the third lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the first, fifth, and seventh lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body, the fifth lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the first, third, and seventh lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body, and the seventh lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the first, third, and fifth lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body. This configuration is suitable for connecting the first to fourth internal electrodes to their respective different terminal electrodes.

Preferably, the second lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the fourth, sixth, and eighth lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body, the fourth lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the second, sixth, and eighth lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body, the sixth lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the second, fourth, and eighth lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body, and the eighth lead conductor has a portion not overlapping with any one of the second, fourth, and sixth lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body. This configuration is suitable for connecting the first to fourth internal electrodes to their respective different terminal electrodes.

The capacitor array may be configured as follows: each of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer comprises a plurality of electrode layers, and the multilayer body is a multilayer body in which the first electrode layers and the second electrode layers are alternately laminated with the dielectric layer in between. This configuration permits the capacitance of each capacitor to be controlled.

In this case, preferably, all the first internal electrodes included in the respective first electrode layers are electrically connected to the same first terminal electrode through the first lead conductors and are electrically connected to the same second terminal electrode through the second lead conductors, wherein all the second internal electrodes included in the respective first electrode layers are electrically connected to the same third terminal electrode through the third lead conductors and are electrically connected to the same fourth terminal electrode through the fourth lead conductors, wherein all the third internal electrodes included in the respective second electrode layers are electrically connected to the same fifth terminal electrode through the fifth lead conductors and are electrically connected to the same sixth terminal electrode through the sixth lead conductors, and wherein all the fourth internal electrodes included in the respective second electrode layers are electrically connected to the same seventh terminal electrode through the seventh lead conductors and are electrically connected to the same eighth terminal electrode through the eighth lead conductors. This configuration is suitable for controlling the capacitance of each capacitor.

The present invention successfully provides the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array capable of sufficiently suppressing crosstalk.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description the same elements or elements with the same functionality will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

First Embodiment

A configuration of a feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1according to the first embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.FIG. 1is a perspective view of the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array according to the first embodiment.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of a multilayer body included in the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array according to the first embodiment.

The feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1, as shown inFIG. 1, comprises a multilayer body10of approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape, and first to eighth terminal electrodes1-8formed on the multilayer body10. The first to eighth terminal electrodes1-8are formed on first and second side faces10a,10bof the multilayer body10facing each other.

The first, third, fifth, and seventh terminal electrodes1,3,5, and7are formed on the first side face10aof multilayer body10. The first, third, fifth, and seventh terminal electrodes1,3,5,7are located in the order of the first, fifth, third, and seventh terminal electrodes1,5,3, and7from a third side face10ctoward a fourth side face10dalong the facing direction of the third and fourth side faces10c,10d. The third and forth side faces10c,10dare parallel to the laminating direction of the multilayer body10and face each other in the multilayer body10.

The second, fourth, sixth, and eighth terminal electrodes2,4,6, and8are formed on the second side face10bof the multilayer body10. The second, fourth, sixth, and eighth terminal electrodes2,4,6,8are located in the order of the second, sixth, fourth, and eighth terminal electrodes2,6,4, and8from the third side face10ctoward the fourth side face10dalong the facing direction of the third and fourth side faces10c,10dof the multilayer body10.

The multilayer body10, as shown inFIG. 2, is constructed in a configuration in which a plurality of first and second electrode layers20,30(two layers each in the present embodiment) are alternately laminated with a plurality of dielectric layers11(five layers in the present embodiment). In practical feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1, the layers are integrated so that no border can be visually recognized between the dielectric layers11.

Each first electrode layer20, as shown inFIG. 2, includes a first internal electrode21and a second internal electrode22. Each of the first electrode layers20further includes a first lead conductor23extending so as to be led from the corresponding first internal electrode21to the first side face10a, and a second lead conductor24extending so as to be led from the corresponding first internal electrode21to the second side face10b. Each of the first electrode layers20further includes a third lead conductor25extending so as to be led from the corresponding second internal electrode22to the first side face10a, and a fourth lead conductor26extending so as to be led from the corresponding second internal electrode22to the second side face10b.

Each of the first and second internal electrodes21,22is of rectangular shape. The first and second internal electrodes21,22of rectangular shape in each of the first electrode layers20are located in the order named in the direction directed from the third side face10cto the fourth side face10dof the multilayer body10. The first and second internal electrodes21,22are located so as not to contact each other.

The first internal electrodes21are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode1through the first lead conductors23. The first internal electrodes21are electrically connected to the second terminal electrode2through the second lead conductors24.

The second internal electrodes22are electrically connected to the third terminal electrode3through the third lead conductors25. The second internal electrodes22are electrically connected to the fourth terminal electrode4through the fourth lead conductors26.

All the first internal electrodes21included in the respective first electrode layers20are electrically connected to the same first terminal electrode1through the first lead conductors23. All the first internal electrodes21included in the respective first electrode layers20are electrically connected to the same second terminal electrode2through the second lead conductors24.

All the second internal electrodes22included in the respective first electrode layers20are electrically connected to the same third terminal electrode3through the third lead conductors25. All the second internal electrodes22included in the respective first electrode layers20are electrically connected to the same fourth terminal electrode4through the fourth lead conductors26.

Each of the first internal electrodes21, together with the corresponding first and second lead conductors23,24, continuously covers a region crossing over from the first side face10ato the second side face10bof the multilayer body10. Therefore, each of the first internal electrodes21, together with the corresponding first and second lead conductors23,24, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body10from the first side face10ato the second side face10b.

Each of the second internal electrodes22, together with the corresponding third and fourth lead conductors25,26, continuously covers a region crossing over from the first side face10ato the second side face10bof the multilayer body10. Therefore, each of the second internal electrodes22, together with the corresponding third and fourth lead conductors25,26, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body10from the first side face10ato the second side face10b.

Each second electrode layer30, as shown inFIG. 2, includes a third internal electrode31and a fourth internal electrode32. Each of the second electrode layers30further includes a fifth lead conductor33extending so as to be led from the corresponding third internal electrode31to the first side face10a, and a sixth lead conductor34extending so as to be led from the corresponding third internal electrode31to the second side face10b. Each of the second electrode layers30further includes a seventh lead conductor35extending so as to be led from the corresponding fourth internal electrode32to the first side face10a, and an eighth lead conductor36extending so as to be led from the corresponding fourth internal electrode32to the second side face10b.

Each of the third and fourth internal electrodes31,32is of rectangular shape. The third and fourth internal electrodes31,32of rectangular shape in each of the second electrode layers30are located in the order named in the direction directed from the third side face10cto the fourth side face10dof the multilayer body10. The third and fourth internal electrodes31,32are located so as not to contact each other.

The third internal electrodes31are electrically connected to the fifth terminal electrode5through the fifth lead conductors33. The third internal electrodes31are electrically connected to the sixth terminal electrode6through the sixth lead conductors34.

The fourth internal electrodes32are electrically connected to the seventh terminal electrode7through the seventh lead conductors35. The fourth internal electrodes32are electrically connected to the eighth terminal electrode8through the eighth lead conductors36.

All the third internal electrodes31included in the respective second electrode layers30are electrically connected to the same fifth terminal electrode5through the fifth lead conductors33. All the third internal electrodes31included in the respective second electrode layers30are electrically connected to the same sixth terminal electrode6through the sixth lead conductors34.

All the fourth internal electrodes32included in the respective second electrode layers30are electrically connected to the same seventh terminal electrode7through the seventh lead conductors35. All the fourth internal electrodes32included in the respective second electrode layers30are electrically connected to the same eighth terminal electrode8through the eighth lead conductors36.

Each of the third internal electrodes31, together with the corresponding fifth and sixth lead conductors33,34, continuously covers a region crossing over from the first side face10ato the second side face10bof the multilayer body10. Therefore, each of the third internal electrodes31, together with the corresponding fifth and sixth lead conductors33,34, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body10from the first side face10ato the second side face10b.

Each of the fourth internal electrodes32, together with the corresponding seventh and eighth lead conductors35,36, continuously covers a region crossing over from the first side face10ato the second side face10bof the multilayer body10. Therefore, each of the fourth internal electrodes32, together with the corresponding seventh and eighth lead conductors35,36, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body10from the first side face10ato the second side face10b.

Each of the first lead conductors23does not overlap with any one of the third, fifth, and seventh lead conductors25,33, and35in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the first lead conductors23has a portion not overlapping with any one of the third, fifth, and seventh lead conductors in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

Each of the third lead conductors25does not overlap with any one of the first, fifth, and seventh lead conductors23,33, and35in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the third lead conductors25has a portion not overlapping with any one of at least the first, fifth, and seventh lead conductors23,33, and35in the laminating direction of the multilayer body.

Each of the fifth lead conductors33does not overlap with any one of the first, third, and seventh lead conductors23,25, and35in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the fifth lead conductors33has a portion not overlapping with any one of the first, third, and seventh lead conductors23,25, and35in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

Each of the seventh lead conductors35does not overlap with any one of the first, third, and fifth lead conductors23,25, and33in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the seventh lead conductors35has a portion not overlapping with any one of the first, third, and fifth lead conductors23,25, and33in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

FIG. 3shows a plan view of the first side face10aof the multilayer body10. It is understood fromFIG. 3that the first, third, fifth, and seventh lead conductors23,25,33, and35extend so as to be led to the first side face10a. It is also understood fromFIG. 3that each of the first, third, fifth, and seventh lead conductors23,25,33, and35does not overlap with any other lead conductor in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

Each of the second lead conductors24does not overlap with any one of the fourth, sixth, and eighth lead conductors26,34,36in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the second lead conductors24has a portion not overlapping with any one of the fourth, sixth, and eighth lead conductors26,34, and36in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

Each of the fourth lead conductor26does not overlap with any one of the second, sixth, and eighth lead conductors24,34, and36in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the fourth lead conductors26has a portion not overlapping with any one of the second, sixth, and eighth lead conductors24,34, and36in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

Each of the sixth lead conductors34does not overlap with any one of the second, fourth, and eighth lead conductors24,26, and36in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the sixth lead conductors34has a portion not overlapping with any one of the second, fourth, and eighth lead conductors24,26, and36in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

Each of the eighth lead conductors36does not overlap with any one of the second, fourth, and sixth lead conductors24,26, and34in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10. Namely, each of the eighth lead conductors36has a portion not overlapping with any one of the second, fourth, and sixth lead conductors24,26, and34in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10.

FIG. 4shows an equivalent circuit schematic of the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1. In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1which comprises capacitors C1and C2, the capacitor C1includes the first internal electrodes21and the third internal electrodes31, and the capacitor C2includes the second internal electrodes22and the fourth internal electrodes32.

The first internal electrode21included in each first electrode layer20is electrically connected to the first and second terminal electrodes1,2. The second internal electrode22included in each first electrode layer20is electrically connected to the third and fourth terminal electrodes3,4. On the other hand, the third internal electrode31included in each second electrode layer30is electrically connected to the fifth and sixth terminal electrodes5,6. The fourth internal electrode32included in each second electrode layer30is electrically connected to the seventh and eighth terminal electrodes7,8.

In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1, as described above, the first and second internal electrodes21,22included in each first electrode layer20are electrically connected to their respective different terminal electrodes. On the other hand, the third and fourth internal electrodes31,32included in the second electrode layer30are electrically connected to their respective different terminal electrodes. For this reason, either in a case where the first and second internal electrodes21,22included in the first electrode layers20are used as ground electrodes while the first to fourth terminal electrodes1-4are connected to the ground, or in a case where the third and fourth internal electrodes31,32included in the second electrode layers30are used as ground electrodes while the fifth to eighth terminal electrodes5-8are connected to the ground, the capacitor array can be mounted on a circuit board or the like in a configuration in which the plurality of capacitors C1, C2do not share any ground electrode. Therefore, the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1is able to suppress crosstalk between the capacitors C1, C2.

In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1, the first to eighth terminal electrodes1-8are formed on the two side faces of the multilayer body10, i.e., on the first and second side faces10a,10b. Therefore, fabrication of the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1becomes easier than fabrication of those in which the terminal electrodes1-8are formed on four side faces.

In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1, as shown inFIG. 3, the lead conductors located at the same position in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10do not adjoin in the facing direction of the third side face10cand the fourth side face10dof the multilayer body10. Namely, the lead conductors located at the same position in the laminating direction of the multilayer body10are so arranged that another lead conductor located at a different position in the laminating direction is interposed between them in the facing direction of the third side face10cand the fourth side face10dof the multilayer body10. For this reason, crosstalk is suitably suppressed between the lead conductors.

Second Embodiment

A configuration of a feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2according to the second embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6. The feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2according to the second embodiment is different in arrangement of the third, fourth, seventh, and eighth terminal electrodes from the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA1according to the first embodiment.FIG. 5is a perspective view of the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array according to the second embodiment.FIG. 6is an exploded perspective view of the multilayer body included in the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array according to the second embodiment.

The feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2, as shown inFIG. 5, comprises a multilayer body60of approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape, and first to eighth terminal electrodes51-58formed on the multilayer body60.

The first, third, fifth, and seventh terminal electrodes51,53,55, and57are formed on the first side face60aof the multilayer body60parallel to the laminating direction of the multilayer body60. The first, third, fifth, and seventh terminal electrodes51,53,55, and57are located in the order of the first, fifth, seventh, and third terminal electrodes51,55,57, and53from the third side face60ctoward the fourth side face60dalong the facing direction of the third and fourth side faces60c,60d. The third and forth side faces60c,60dare parallel to the laminating direction of the multilayer body60and face each other in the multilayer body60.

The second, fourth, sixth, and eighth terminal electrodes52,54,56, and58are formed on the second side face60bof the multilayer body60facing the first side face60a. The second, fourth, sixth, and eighth terminal electrodes52,54,56,58are located in the order of the second, sixth, eighth, and fourth terminal electrodes52,56,58, and54from the third side face60cto the fourth side face60dalong the facing direction of the third and fourth side faces60c,60dof the multilayer body60.

The multilayer body60, as shown inFIG. 6, is constructed in a configuration in which a plurality of dielectric layers61(five layers in the present embodiment) and a plurality of first and second electrode layers70,80(two layers each in the present embodiment) are alternately laminated. In practical feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2, the layers are integrated so that no border can be visually recognized between the dielectric layers61.

Each first electrode layer70, as shown inFIG. 6, includes a first internal electrode71and a second internal electrode72. Each of the first electrode layers70further includes a first lead conductor73extending so as to be led from the corresponding first internal electrode71to the first side face60a, and a second lead conductor74extending so as to be led from the corresponding first internal electrode71to the second side face60b. Each of the first electrode layers70further includes a third lead conductor75extending so as to be led from the corresponding second internal electrode72to the first side face60a, and a fourth lead conductor76extending so as to be led from the second internal electrode72to the corresponding second side face60b.

The first and second internal electrodes71,72of rectangular shape in each of the first electrode layers70are located in the order named in the direction directed from the third side face60cto the fourth side face60dof the multilayer body60.

The first internal electrodes71are electrically connected to the first terminal electrode51through the first lead conductor73and to the second terminal electrode52through the second lead conductors74. The second internal electrodes72are electrically connected to the third terminal electrode53through the third lead conductor75and to the fourth terminal electrode54through the fourth lead conductors76.

All the first internal electrodes71included in the respective first electrode layers70are electrically connected to the same first terminal electrode51through the first lead conductors73and to the same second terminal electrode52through the second lead conductors74. Each of the first internal electrodes71, together with the corresponding first and second lead conductors73,74, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body60from the first side face60ato the second side face60b.

All the second internal electrodes72included in the respective first electrode layers70are electrically connected to the same third terminal electrode53through the third lead conductors75and to the same fourth terminal electrode54through the fourth lead conductors76. Each of the second internal electrodes72, together with the corresponding third and fourth lead conductors75,76, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body60from the first side face60ato the second side face60b.

Each second electrode layer80, as shown inFIG. 6, includes a third internal electrode81and a fourth internal electrode82. Each of the second electrode layers80further includes a fifth lead conductor83extending so as to be led from the corresponding third internal electrode81to the first side face60a, and a sixth lead conductor84extending so as to be led from the corresponding third internal electrode81to the second side face60b. Each of the second electrode layers80further includes a seventh lead conductor85extending so as to be led from the corresponding fourth internal electrode82to the first side face60a, and an eighth lead conductor86extending so as to be led from the corresponding fourth internal electrode82to the second side face60b.

The third and fourth internal electrodes81,82of rectangular shape in each of the second electrode layers80are located in the order named in the direction directed from the third side face60cto the fourth side face60dof the multilayer body60.

The third internal electrodes81are electrically connected to the fifth terminal electrode55through the fifth lead conductors83and to the sixth terminal electrode56through the sixth lead conductors84. The fourth internal electrodes82are electrically connected to the seventh terminal electrode57through the seventh lead conductors85and to the eighth terminal electrode58through the eighth lead conductors86.

All the third internal electrodes81included in the respective second electrode layers80are electrically connected to the same fifth terminal electrode55through the fifth lead conductors83and to the same sixth terminal electrode56through the sixth lead conductors84. Each of the third internal electrodes81, together with the corresponding fifth and sixth lead conductors83,84, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body60from the first side face60ato the second side face60b.

All the fourth internal electrodes82included in the respective second electrode layers80are electrically connected to the same seventh terminal electrode57through the seventh lead conductors85and to the same eighth terminal electrode58through the eighth lead conductors86. Each of the fourth internal electrodes82, together with the corresponding seventh and eighth lead conductors85,86, penetrates the interior of the multilayer body60from the first side face60ato the second side face60b.

Each of the first, third, fifth, and seventh lead conductors73,75,83, and85does not overlap with another terminal electrode in the laminating direction of the multilayer body60. Each of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth lead conductors74,76,84, and86does not overlap with another terminal electrode in the laminating direction of the multilayer body60.

In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2, as described above, the first and second internal electrodes71,72included in each first electrode layer70are electrically connected to their respective different terminal electrodes. On the other hand, the third and fourth internal electrodes81,82included in each second electrode layer80are electrically connected to their respective different terminal electrodes. For this reason, either in a case where the first and second internal electrodes71,72included in the first electrode layers70are used as ground electrodes or in a case where the third and fourth internal electrodes81,82included in the second electrode layers80are used as ground electrodes, the capacitor array can be mounted on a circuit board or the like in a configuration in which the plurality of capacitors do not share any ground electrode. Therefore, the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2is able to suppress crosstalk between the capacitors.

In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2, the first to eighth terminal electrodes51-58are formed on the two side faces of the multilayer body60, i.e., on the first and second side faces60a,60b. Therefore, fabrication of the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array CA2is easier than fabrication of those in which the terminal electrodes51-58are formed on four side faces.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention were described above in detail, but it is noted that the present invention is by no means limited to the above embodiments and modification examples thereof. For example, the number of laminated dielectric layers11,61and the number of the respective laminated first and second electrode layers20,70,30,80are not limited to the numbers described in the foregoing embodiments. Therefore, each of the first and second electrode layers included in the multilayer body may be, for example, one layer, or may be three or more layers.

The number of first and second internal electrodes included in the first electrode layer is not limited to the number described in the foregoing embodiments. The number of third and fourth internal electrodes included in the second electrode layer is not limited to the number described in the foregoing embodiments.

The number of first internal electrodes and the number of second internal electrodes in the first electrode layer may be different from each other. The number of third internal electrodes and the number of fourth internal electrodes in the second electrode layer may be different from each other. The shape of the first to fourth internal electrodes is not limited to the rectangular shape described in the above embodiments.