Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor includes steps (a) to (d). The step (a) forms at least two punched apertures in a metal plate, thereby forming a rung section between adjacent two of the punched apertures, the rung section having surfaces as a pair appearing as a result of formation of the punched apertures. The step (b) cuts the rung section out of the metal plate to form a pad member, the length of the rung section corresponding to a distance between the surfaces being determined to be the height of the pad member. The step (c) mounts the pad member on an anode terminal such that one of the surfaces faces the anode terminal. The step (d) electrically connects an anode section of a capacitor element to the other of the surfaces and electrically connects a cathode section of the capacitor element to the cathode terminal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. Application No. 12/851,993, filed on Aug. 6, 2010 which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese application Number 2009-196269, filed Aug. 27, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a solid electrolytic capacitor and a method for manufacturing same, and particularly to a solid electrolytic capacitor in which an anode section of a capacitor element is electrically connected to an anode terminal through a pad member and a method for manufacturing same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of a conventional solid electrolytic capacitor. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor comprises a solid electrolyte type capacitor element  100 , an anode terminal  111 , and a cathode terminal  112 , which are buried in an enclosure resin  120 . The capacitor element  100  has an anode body  101  in which an anode lead  102  is planted, a dielectric layer  103  formed on a surface of the anode body  101 , an electrolyte layer  104  formed on the dielectric layer  103 , and a cathode layer  105  formed on the electrolyte layer  104 . 
         [0006]    The anode terminal  111  and the cathode terminal  112  include an anode terminal surface  115  and a cathode terminal surface  116 , respectively, which are exposed on a lower surface  120 a of the enclosure resin  120 . To a surface of the anode terminal  111  on the opposite side to the anode terminal surface  115 , joined electrically is a pad member  114  by welding means such as laser welding. A tip end part  102   a  of the anode lead  102  of the capacitor element  100  is electrically connected to a tip end part of the pad member  114 . To a surface of the cathode terminal  112  on the opposite side to the cathode terminal surface  116 , electrically connected is a part of a surface of the cathode layer  105  of the capacitor element  100 . The pad member has a rectangular parallelepiped shape or columnar shape. 
         [0007]    Conventionally, the rectangular parallelepiped pad member  114  is made by, as shown in  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b , performing a punching process on a metal plate  140  which has a thickness tc equal to a height he (cf.  FIG. 9 ) of the pad member  114  to form a ladder plate member  141 , and thereafter cutting the ladder plate member  141  along the line G-G and the line H-H to cut out a rung section  142 . 
         [0008]    However, in the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor, the rung section  142  (the pad member) is joined to the surface of the anode terminal  111  with its thickness direction directed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the anode terminal  111 . Therefore, the thickness tc of the metal plate  140  corresponds to the height hc of the pad member  114  of the capacitor element. Accordingly, in order to change the height hc of the pad member  114 , the thickness tc of the plate  140  to be prepared must be changed, and thus the height hc of the pad member  114  cannot be changed easily. 
         [0009]    In the pad member  114  which is joined to the surface of the anode terminal  111  as described above, all side surfaces of the pad member  114  are formed by cutting surfaces produced by the punching process and the cutting out of the rung section  142 . Thus the joint surface of the pad member  114  joined to the anode terminal  111  and the joint surface of the pad member  114  joined to the anode lead  102  are not formed by the cutting surfaces. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In view of the above described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a solid electrolytic capacitor in which the height of the pad member can be changed easily and a method for manufacturing same. 
         [0011]    A first solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention comprises a solid electrolyte type capacitor element including a dielectric layer intervening between an anode section and a cathode section, an anode terminal connected electrically to the anode section of the capacitor element through a pad member, and a cathode terminal connected electrically to the cathode section of the capacitor element. Here, the pad member is formed by performing a cutting process on a metal plate. The pad member includes a cutting surface produced by the cutting process, and the cutting surface forms a joint surface joined to the anode section of the capacitor element and a joint surface joined to the anode terminal. 
         [0012]    The pad member of the first solid electrolytic capacitor described above is formed by performing the cutting process on the metal plate to form a pad forming member having a width equal to a height of the pad member, and thereafter joining the pad forming member to a surface of the anode terminal with its width direction directed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the anode terminal. Therefore, the width of the pad forming member corresponds to a height of the pad member of the solid electrolytic capacitor. The pad member thus formed has a cutting surface which is produced by the cutting process, and a partial area of the cutting surface is joined to the surface of the anode terminal. Also, another area of the cutting surface positioned on the opposite side to the partial area forms a joint surface joined to the anode section of the capacitor element. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, the height of the pad member can be changed only by changing the width of the pad forming member which is produced from the metal plate, and it is not necessary to change the thickness of the metal plate. Therefore, in the first solid electrolytic capacitor described above, a height of the pad member can be changed easily, compared to the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor in which it is necessary to change the thickness of the metal plate in order to change the height of the pad member. 
         [0014]    A second solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention is the first solid electrolytic capacitor described above, wherein the pad member is formed by performing a punching process on the metal plate to form a ladder plate member, and thereafter cutting a rung section out from the ladder plate member, the pad member includes a pair of cutting surfaces produced by the punching process, and the cutting surfaces form a joint surface joined to the anode section of the capacitor element and a joint surface joined to the anode terminal respectively. 
         [0015]    A third solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention is the first or second solid electrolytic capacitor described above, wherein a width of the pad member in a direction from the anode terminal toward the cathode terminal is smaller than a height of the pad member. 
         [0016]    In the third solid electrolytic capacitor described above, since the width of the pad member is small, a space factor of the capacitor element improves in the solid electrolytic capacitor. 
         [0017]    A first method for manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention comprises a forming step, a joining step, and a mounting step. Here, the solid electrolytic capacitor comprises a solid electrolyte type capacitor element including a dielectric layer intervening between an anode section and a cathode section, an anode terminal connected electrically to the anode section of the capacitor element through a pad member, and a cathode terminal connected electrically to the cathode section of the capacitor element. 
         [0018]    In the forming step, a cutting process is performed on a metal plate to form a pad forming member which is to be the pad member. Here the pad forming member has a width in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the plate equal to a height of the pad member. 
         [0019]    In the joining step, after performing the forming step, the pad forming member is joined to a surface of the anode terminal with its width direction directed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the anode terminal. 
         [0020]    In the mounting step, after performing the joining step, the capacitor element is mounted on the anode terminal and the cathode terminal, the anode section of the capacitor element is connected to a tip end surface of the pad forming member, and the cathode section of the capacitor element is connected to the cathode terminal. 
         [0021]    According to the first manufacturing method described above, the width of the pad forming member corresponds to a height of the pad member of the manufactured solid electrolytic capacitor. Accordingly, the height of the pad member can be changed only by changing the width of the pad forming member which is produced from the metal plate, and it is not necessary to change the thickness of the metal plate. Therefore, a height of the pad member can be changed easily, compared to the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor in which it is necessary to change the thickness of the metal plate in order to change the height of the pad member. 
         [0022]    A second method for manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention is the first manufacturing method described above, wherein in the forming step, the pad forming member is formed by performing a punching process on the metal plate to form a ladder plate member, and thereafter cutting a rung section out from the ladder plate member. 
         [0023]    A third method for manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention is the first or second manufacturing method described above, wherein the pad forming member produced in the forming step has a thickness smaller than the width, and in the joining step, the pad forming member is joined to the surface of the anode terminal with its width direction directed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the anode terminal and its thickness direction directed in a direction from the anode terminal toward the cathode terminal. 
         [0024]    According to the third manufacturing method described above, the thickness and the width of the pad forming member correspond, respectively, to the width in a direction from the anode terminal toward the cathode terminal and the height of the pad member of the manufactured solid electrolytic capacitor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view showing a solid electrolytic capacitor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view showing an essential part of the solid electrolytic capacitor in an enlarged manner; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3   a  is a plan view for explaining a pad forming step of a manufacturing method of the solid electrolytic capacitor; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross sectional view taken along the line A- A shown in  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0029]      FIG. 3   c  is a perspective view showing a pad formation member produced in the pad forming step; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view for explaining a first phase of a joining step of the manufacturing; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view for explaining a latter phase of the joining step; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view for explaining a mounting step of the manufacturing method; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view for explaining an enclosure resin forming step and a cutting step of the manufacturing method; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view showing a modification of the solid electrolytic capacitor; 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view showing a conventional solid electrolytic capacitor; 
           [0036]      FIG. 10   a  is a plan view for explaining a step of producing a pad member of the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 10   b  is a cross sectional view taken along the line B-B shown in  FIG. 10   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0038]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is discussed in detail below with reference to drawings. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view showing a solid electrolytic capacitor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the solid electrolytic capacitor of this embodiment comprises a capacitor element  1 , an anode terminal  3 , and a cathode terminal  4 , which are buried in an enclosure resin  2 . The capacitor element  1  is lead type and electrolyte type. 
         [0040]    The capacitor element  1  has an anode body  11  in which an anode lead  12  is planted, a dielectric layer  13  formed on a surface of the anode body  11 , an electrolyte layer  14  formed on the dielectric layer  13 , and a cathode layer  15  formed on the electrolyte layer  14 . 
         [0041]    The anode body  11  is formed by a porous sintered body made of a valve metal, for which employed is a metal such as tantalum, niobium, titanium, or aluminum. 
         [0042]    The anode lead  12  includes a base end part  122  buried in the anode body  11 , and a tip end part  121  extracted from a surface of the anode body  11 . The anode lead  12  is made of a valve metal which is the same kind as or different kind from the valve metal which forms the anode body  11 , and the anode body  11  and the anode lead  12  are electrically connected to each other. 
         [0043]    The dielectric layer  13  is an oxide film formed on the surface of the anode body  11 , and the oxide layer is formed by immersing the anode body  11  in an electrolytic solution such as phosphate aqueous solution or adipic acid aqueous solution to oxidize the surface of the anode body  11  electrochemically (anodic oxidation). 
         [0044]    The electrolyte layer  14  is formed on the dielectric layer  13 , using an electrically-conductive inorganic material such as manganese dioxide, or an electrically-conductive organic material such as TCNQ (Tetracyano-quinodimethane) complex salt or electrically-conductive polymer. 
         [0045]    The cathode layer  15  is formed by a carbon layer (not shown) formed on the electrolyte layer  14  and a silver paste layer (not shown) formed on the carbon layer, and the electrolyte layer  14  and the cathode layer  15  are electrically connected to each other. 
         [0046]    In the capacitor element  1  described above, the anode body  11  and the anode lead  12  form an anode section of the capacitor element  1 , while the electrolyte layer  14  and the cathode layer  15  form a cathode section of the capacitor element  1 . 
         [0047]    The anode terminal  3  and the cathode terminal  4  include an anode terminal surface  31  and a cathode terminal surface  41 , respectively, which are exposed from a lower surface  2   a  of the enclosure resin  2 . The anode terminal surface  31  and the cathode terminal surface  41  form a pair of lower surface electrodes of the solid electrolytic capacitor. 
         [0048]    The anode terminal  3  and the cathode terminal  4  are each formed by performing a plating process on a surface of a terminal forming member (not shown) which is made of copper and is a base material of the terminals to form a plating layer (not shown) including a nickel layer, a palladium layer, and a gold layer. Various metals other than copper can be used as a material of the terminal forming member. Also, various metals other than nickel, palladium, and gold can be used as a material of the plating layer. 
         [0049]    A pad member  33  is joined electrically to a surface  32  of the anode terminal  3  on the opposite side to the anode terminal surface  31  by welding means such as laser welding. Specifically, by performing laser welding or the like on facing surfaces of the pad member  33  and the anode terminal  3 , a part of the plating layer of the anode terminal  3  and a part of the pad member  33  are melted and integrated, whereby joining the pad member  33  and the anode terminal  3  to each other electrically. The pad member  33  is formed using a metal such as iron ( 42  alloy), nickel, or tantalum. 
         [0050]    The pad member  33  is formed by performing a punching process on a metal plate  60  to form a ladder plate member  6  (cf.  FIG. 3   a ), and thereafter cutting a rung section  61  out from the ladder plate member  6 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pad member  33  includes a pair of cutting surfaces Cs, Cs produced by the punching process, and the cutting surfaces Cs, Cs form a joint surface (a tip end surface  33   a  of the pad member  33 ) joined to the tip end part  121  of the anode lead  12  of the capacitor element  1  and a joint surface joined to the anode terminal  3  respectively. 
         [0051]    Also, in the solid electrolytic capacitor of this embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a width wp of the pad member  33  in a direction from the anode terminal  3  toward the cathode terminal  4  is smaller than a height hp of the pad member  33 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the capacitor element  1  is mounted on the anode terminal  3  and the cathode terminal  4 . The tip end part  121  of the anode lead  12  of the capacitor element  1  is adhered to the tip end surface  33   a  of the pad member  33  by laser welding, and a part of a surface of the cathode layer  15  is bonded by a conductive adhesive to a surface  42  of the cathode terminal  4  on the opposite side to the cathode terminal surface  41 . Thereby, the anode section of the capacitor element  1  is electrically connected to the anode terminal  3  through the pad member  33 , and the cathode section of the capacitor element  1  is electrically connected to the cathode terminal  4  through the conductive adhesive. 
         [0053]    A manufacturing method of the above described solid electrolytic capacitor is explained below. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3   a  is a plan view for explaining the pad forming step of the manufacturing method of the solid electrolytic capacitor,  FIG. 3   b  is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in  FIG. 3   a , and  FIG. 3   c  is a perspective view showing a pad formation member produced in the pad forming step. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , in the pad forming step, the metal plate  60  is subjected to the punching process to form a plurality of punched apertures  601  which is aligned in a row. Thereby, a ladder plate member  6  is formed, and the ladder plate member  6  includes a plurality of rung sections  61 . The metal plate  60  is made of a metal such as iron ( 42  alloy), nickel, or tantalum. 
         [0056]    The processing conditions of the punching process are set so that a length x 0  of the rung section  61  is equal to the height hp (cf.  FIG. 2 ) of the pad member  33 . Here, the length x 0  is a length of the rung section  61  in the longitudinal direction of the ladder plate member  6  to be produced in the punching process, namely in a direction from one of adjacent punched apertures  601 ,  601  toward the other. 
         [0057]    In the manufacturing method in accordance with this embodiment, employed for the metal plate  60  is a plate having a thickness t 0  smaller than the length x 0  of the rung section  61 . 
         [0058]    After forming the ladder plate member  6 , the ladder plate member  6  is cut along the lines E-E and F-F to cut out the rung section  61  as shown in  FIG. 3   a , thereby forming a pad forming member  62  which is to be the pad member  33  as shown in  FIG. 3   c . In this process, each of the rung sections  61  is fastened by a fastening apparatus (not shown) while its both ends are cut off, and therefore, the produced pad forming member  62  is kept fastened by the fastening apparatus. 
         [0059]    By forming the pad forming member  62  in such a manner, as shown in  FIG. 3   c , the length x 0  of the rung section  61  and the thickness t 0  of the plate  60  correspond to a width wp 0  and a thickness tp 0  of the pad forming member  62 , respectively. Therefore, the pad forming member  62  has a width equal to the height hp of the pad member  33 , and a thickness smaller than the width. 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view for explaining a first phase of a joining step of the manufacturing method of the solid electrolytic capacitor, and  FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view for explaining a latter phase of the joining step. The joining step is performed after performing the pad forming step. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the first phase of the joining step, the pad forming member  62  is rotated by  90  degrees to change the posture of the pad forming member  62  so that the right and left pair of cutting surfaces Cs, Cs faces upward and downward. Here, the pair of cutting surfaces Cs, Cs is produced by the punching process in the pad forming step. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the latter phase of the joining step, a frame body  5  is prepared, and the frame body  5  has an anode frame  51  which is to be the anode terminal  3  and a cathode frame  52  which is to be the cathode terminal  4 . The pad forming member  62  whose posture has been changed is placed on an upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51  of the frame body  5  with the pair of cutting surfaces Cs, Cs facing upward and downward. 
         [0063]    Specifically, a table (not shown) is prepared. The table can make the pad forming member  62  stick to its surface and can change its own posture. The pad forming member  62  fastened by the fastening apparatus is transported to the table, while maintaining the posture taken immediately after the formation of the pad forming member  62  (the posture taken when the rung sections  61  are cut), and then placed on the surface of the table while maintaining the posture. After the pad forming member  62  is made to stick to the surface of the table, the pad forming member  62  is released from being fastened by the fastening apparatus. Thereafter, by changing the posture of the table, the posture of the pad forming member  62  is changed as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0064]    Subsequently, the pad forming member  62  whose posture has been changed is again fastened by the fastening apparatus, and thereafter the pad forming member  62  is made to stop sticking to the surface of the table. Thereafter, the pad forming member  62  is transported to the anode frame  51 , while maintaining the changed posture, and then placed on the upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51  while maintaining the changed posture. 
         [0065]    The pad forming member  62  is thus placed on the upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51  with its width direction  621  directed in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51  and its thickness direction  622  directed in a direction from the anode frame  51  toward the cathode frame  52 , as shown in  FIG. 5  (see also  FIGS. 3   c  and  4 ). 
         [0066]    The anode frame  51  and the cathode frame  52  are each formed by performing a plating process on a surface of a frame forming member (not shown) which is made of copper and is a base material of the frames to form a plating layer (not shown) including a nickel layer, a palladium layer, and a gold layer. Various metals other than copper can be used as a material of the frame forming member. Also, various metals other than nickel, palladium, and gold can be used as a material of the plating layer. 
         [0067]    After the pad forming member  62  is placed on the upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51 , laser welding is performed on facing surfaces between the pad forming member  62  and the anode frame  51 . A part of the plating layer of the anode frame  51  and a part of the pad forming member  62  are thereby melted and integrated, and as a result, the pad forming member  62  and the anode frame  51  are joined to each other electrically. 
         [0068]    By joining the pad forming member  62  to the anode frame  51  as described above, the pad member  33  is formed from the pad forming member  62 . The pad forming member  62  includes the pair of cutting surfaces Cs, Cs produced by the punching process in the pad forming step, and the cutting surfaces Cs, Cs form the joint surface of the pad member  33  joined to the anode frame  51 , and a tip end surface  33   a  of the pad member  33  which is a joint surface joined to the anode lead  12 , respectively. 
         [0069]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view for explaining a mounting step of the manufacturing method of the solid electrolytic capacitor. The mounting step is performed after performing the joining step. As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the mounting step, the capacitor element  1  is mounted on the frame body  5 . 
         [0070]    When mounting the capacitor element  1  on the frame body  5 , the tip end part  121  of the anode lead  12  of the capacitor element  1  is brought into contact with a tip end surface  62   a  of the pad forming member  62  (the tip end surface  33   a  of the pad member  33 ), and laser welding is performed on the contact surface to fix the tip end part  121  of the anode lead  12  to the tip end surface  62   a  of the pad forming member  62 . The anode lead  12  and the pad forming member  62  are thereby connected to each other electrically. 
         [0071]    Concurrently, a part of the surface of the cathode layer  15  of the capacitor element  1  is bonded to an upper surface  522  of the cathode frame  52  using a conductive adhesive. The cathode layer  15  and the cathode frame  52  are thereby connected to each other electrically. 
         [0072]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view for explaining an enclosure resin forming step and a cutting step of the manufacturing method of the solid electrolytic capacitor. The enclosure resin forming step is performed after performing the mounting step. As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the enclosure resin forming step, the enclosure resin  2  is formed around the capacitor element  1 , thereby burying the capacitor element  1 , the pad forming member  62 , the anode frame  51  and the cathode frame  52  in the enclosure resin  2 . At this time, a lower surface  511  of the anode frame  51  and a lower surface  521  of the cathode frame  52  are exposed from a lower surface  2   a  of the enclosure resin  2 . Thus, a block body  72  is produced in the enclosure resin forming step. 
         [0073]    The cutting step is performed after performing the enclosure resin forming step. As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the cutting step, the block body  72  produced in the enclosure resin forming step is subjected to a cutting process. Specifically, the block body  72  is cut along the line C-C, thereby cutting the enclosure resin  2  and the anode frame  51  along the same plane. Further, the block body  72  is cut along the line D-D, thereby cutting the enclosure resin  2  and the cathode frame  52  along the same plane. 
         [0074]    By performing the cutting step, respective parts of the anode frame  51  and the cathode frame  52  are cut off to form the anode terminal  3  and the cathode terminal  4 , and thereby the capacitor element  1  is formed as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0075]    In the manufacturing method described above, the pad forming member  62  is joined to the upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51  with its width direction  621  directed in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51 . Therefore, the width wp 0  of the pad forming member  62  corresponds to the height hp of the pad member  33  of the produced solid electrolytic capacitor. Accordingly, the height hp of the pad member  33  can be changed only by changing the width wp 0  of the pad forming member  62  which is produced from the metal plate  60 , and it is not necessary to change the thickness t 0  of the metal plate  60 . 
         [0076]    Therefore, in the solid electrolytic capacitor of this embodiment and its manufacturing method, the height of the pad member  33  can be changed easily, compared to the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor in which it is necessary to change the thickness tc of the metal plate  140  (cf.  FIG. 10   b ) in order to change the height he of the pad member  114  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0077]    Further, in the manufacturing method described above, the pad forming member  62  is joined to the upper surface  512  of the anode frame  51  with its thickness direction  622  directed in the direction from the anode frame  51  toward the cathode frame  52 . Therefore, the thickness tp 0  of the pad forming member  62  corresponds to the width wp of the pad member  33  of the manufactured solid electrolytic capacitor in a direction from the anode terminal  3  to the cathode terminal  4 . Here, in the manufacturing method described above, the pad forming member  62  produced therein has the thickness tp 0  which is smaller than the width wp 0 . Accordingly, in the manufactured solid electrolytic capacitor, the width wp of the pad member  33  is small and the space factor of the capacitor element  1  improves. 
         [0078]    The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment in construction but can be modified variously by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, the configurations concerning the pad member  33  employed in the above described solid electrolytic capacitor including the lead type capacitor element  1  and the manufacturing method thereof can be applied to a solid electrolytic capacitor including a foil-like capacitor element  8  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0079]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the foil-like capacitor element  8 , a surface of a foil-like anode body  81  includes a first area  811  where a dielectric layer  82  is formed and a second area  812  where the dielectric layer  82  is not formed. An electrolyte layer  83  is formed on the dielectric layer  82 , and a cathode layer  84  is formed on the electrolyte layer  83 . In the solid electrolytic capacitor shown in  FIG. 8 , the tip end surface  33   a  of the pad member  33  which is formed by the cutting surface Cs is connected to the second area  812  on the surface of the anode body  81 . 
         [0080]    In the above described solid electrolytic capacitor and the manufacturing method thereof, the pad forming member  62  which is to be the pad member  33  is formed by performing the punching process on the metal plate  60  to form the ladder plate member  6 , and thereafter cutting the rung section  61  out from the ladder plate member  6 . However, the present invention is not limited to this. The pad forming member  62  may be formed by performing various cutting processes on the metal plate  60 .