Patent Publication Number: US-11651897-B2

Title: Electronic component

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/674,315, filed on Nov. 5, 2019, which claims benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0074817 filed on Jun. 24, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an electronic component. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Common electronic components employing ceramic materials include capacitors, inductors, piezoelectric elements, varistors or thermistors, and the like. 
     Electronic devices in which such electronic components are used are gradually becoming highly efficient and miniaturized. Accordingly, electronic components used in the electronic devices are also miniaturized and highly efficient. 
     In particular, due to demand for mobile phones which are highly efficient and thinner, densification and multilayer lamination of substrate mounting are sustainedly progressing. In this regard, an RF performance in a set may be reduced due to electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise, and a radiated magnetic field may have a devastating effect on a low power signal such as GPS or Wi-Fi. 
     Accordingly, there has been increasing demand for a technique for removing or shielding a source of noise such as EMI. 
     A conventional EMI-shielding technique involves mounting an electronic component on a substrate and surrounding both electronic component and substrates with a shield can. This causes an increased volume not only in a Z direction but also in X and Y directions, thereby not conforming to a current trend for the densification and multilayer lamination in substrate mounting. 
     In such an aspect, demand exists for an effective technique for facilitating shielding of the EMI noise of an electronic component itself. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic component capable of substantially retaining component characteristics while reducing leakage flux. 
     Another aspect is to provide an electronic component capable of preventing a short between a solder and an EMI-shielding layer when mounting the electronic component. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic component includes a capacitor body having alternately stacked first internal electrodes and second internal electrodes with dielectric layers therebetween, and a first surface and a second surface opposing each other, a third surface and a fourth surface connected to the first and second surfaces and opposing each other, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface connected to the first to fourth surfaces and opposing each other, the first internal electrodes and the second internal electrodes being exposed through the third surface and the fourth surface, respectively. First and second external electrodes respectively extend from the third and fourth surfaces of the body to respective portions of the first surface and are respectively connected to the first and second internal electrodes. A shielding layer includes a cap portion disposed on the second surface of the capacitor body and a side wall portion disposed on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces of the capacitor body. An insulating layer is disposed between the capacitor body and the shielding layer. The shielding layer includes first and second shielding layers offset from each other in a direction connecting the third and fourth surfaces. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second shielding layers may be spaced part from each other by a gap portion disposed between the first and second shielding layers, and an insulating film may be disposed in the gap portion. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second shielding layers may be spaced part from each other by a gap portion disposed between the first and second shielding layers, and an oxide film may be disposed in the gap portion. 
     In an example embodiment, the electronic component may further include a cover layer disposed on the shielding layer and formed of an insulating material. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second external electrodes may include first and second connection portions respectively disposed on the third and fourth surfaces of the capacitor body and respectively connected to the first and second internal electrodes, and first and second band portions respectively extending from the first and second connection portions to the respective portions of the first surface of the capacitor body. 
     In an example embodiment, the second surface of the capacitor body is free of the first and second external electrodes, and the insulating layer and the shielding layer may have flat surfaces overlaying the second surface. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second band portions may further extend to respective portions of the second, fifth, and sixth surfaces of the capacitor body. 
     In an example embodiment, the respective portions of the second, fifth, and sixth surfaces of the capacitor body having the first and second band portions extending thereon may be overlapped by the insulating layer and the shielding layer. 
     In an example embodiment, the insulating layer may be formed of an adhesive layer. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic component includes a capacitor body having alternately stacked first internal electrodes and second internal electrodes with dielectric layers therebetween, first and second external electrodes respectively connected to the first and second internal electrodes and disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a length direction on a first surface of the capacitor body, and first and second shielding layers disposed on respective portions of the capacitor body to be spaced apart from each other in the length direction. 
     In an example embodiment, the electronic component further may include an insulating layer disposed between the capacitor body and the first and second shielding layers. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second shielding layers may include at least one of a conductive material and a magnetic material. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second shielding layers may include a conductive material and a magnetic material. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second shielding layers may jointly extend on all surfaces of the capacitor body other than the first surface of the capacitor body. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second shielding layers may be spaced apart from each other by a gap, and an insulator may fill the gap between the first and second shielding layers. 
     In an example embodiment, the first shielding layer may overlap with portions of the first external electrode, and the second shielding layer may overlap with portions of the second external electrode. 
     In an example embodiment, all portions of surfaces of the capacitor body overlapped by the first shielding layer may be spaced away from the second external electrode, and all portions of surfaces of the capacitor body overlapped by the second shielding layer may be spaced away from the first external electrode. 
     In an example embodiment, the first and second shielding layers may be spaced apart from each other by a gap, and all portions of surfaces of the capacitor body overlapped by the gap may be spaced apart from the first and second external electrodes. 
     In an example embodiment, the capacitor body may have a second surface opposing the first surface, third and fourth surfaces opposing each other in the length direction and connecting the first and second surfaces, and fifth and sixth surfaces opposing each other and connecting the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces, and insulating film filling the gap between the first and second shielding layers may extend across the second surface and along the fifth and sixth surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view of a capacitor body and external electrodes applied to an electronic component according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are perspective views of first and second internal electrodes provided in the electronic component of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic perspective view of the electronic component according to an example embodiment taken from below; 
         FIG.  4    is a plan view of the electronic component of  FIG.  3    shown from above; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of the electronic component of  FIG.  3    taken along line I-I′; 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view of another example of the external electrodes; and 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of an additionally formed cover layer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described as follows with reference to the attached drawings. 
     However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. 
     Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Accordingly, the shapes and dimensions of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like elements. 
     Further, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings for the elements having similar functions and activities. 
     In the specification, unless otherwise specifically indicated, when a certain part “includes” a certain component, it is understood that other components may be further included but are not excluded. 
     To clearly describe the example embodiments, X, Y and Z directions indicated in the drawings are defined to represent a length direction, a width direction and a thickness direction, respectively, of the capacitor body in an electronic component. 
     Additionally, the Z direction may be oriented in the same direction as a lamination direction in which the dielectric layers are stacked up. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view of a capacitor body and external electrodes applied to an electronic component according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are perspective views of first and second internal electrodes applied to the electronic component of  FIG.  1   , while  FIG.  3    is a schematic perspective view of the electronic component according to an example embodiment taken from below,  FIG.  4    is a plan view of the electronic component of  FIG.  3    seen from above, and  FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG.  3   . 
     Hereinbelow, the electronic component of the example embodiments will be described in reference to  FIGS.  1 ,  2 A,  2 B, and  3  to  5   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  2 A,  2 B, and  3  to  5   , an electronic component  100  of an example embodiment includes a capacitor body  110 , first and second external electrodes  131  and  132 , a shielding layer  142 , and an insulating layer  141 . 
     The capacitor body  110  is formed by laminating a plurality of dielectric layers  111  in the Z direction and sintering. The adjacent dielectric layers  111  of the capacitor body may be integrated with each other so that boundaries therebetween are not readily apparent without using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). 
     Additionally, the capacitor body  110  includes the plurality of dielectric layers  111  and first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  having different polarities and alternately stacked or disposed with respective dielectric layers  111  interposed therebetween in the Z direction. 
     The capacitor body  110  may include an active region in which the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  are alternately disposed with respective dielectric layers  111  interposed therebetween as a portion contributing to generation of capacity of a capacitor, and upper portion- and lower portion-cover regions disposed on upper and lower surfaces of the active region in the Z direction as a margin portion. The upper portion- and lower portion-cover regions are free of internal electrodes, and respectively extend above an uppermost internal electrode and below a lowermost internal electrode of the active region. 
     Such capacitor body  110  is not particularly limited in terms of a configuration thereof, but may be hexahedral. The capacitor body  110  may include a first surface and a second surface  1  and  2  opposing each other (e.g., in the Z direction), a third surface and a fourth surface  3  and  4  connected to the first and second surfaces  1  and  2  and opposing each other in the X direction, and a fifth surface and a sixth surface  5  and  6  connected to the first and second surfaces  1  and  2  and the third and fourth surfaces  3  and  4  and opposing each other (e.g., in the Y direction), where the first surface  1  can be a mounting surface. 
     The dielectric layers  11  may include ceramic powder, for example, BaTiO 3 -based ceramic powder, or the like. 
     The BaTiO 3 -based ceramic powder may be (Ba 1-x Ca x )TiO 3 , Ba(Ti 1-y Ca y )O 3 , (Ba 1-x Ca x )(Ti 1-y Zr y )O 3 , or Ba(Ti 1-y Zr y )O 3 , or the like, in which calcium (Ca), zirconium (Zr), or the like, is included in BaTiO 3 , but is not limited thereto. 
     In addition to the ceramic powder, a ceramic additive, an organic solvent, a plasticizer, a binder, and a dispersant, or the like, may be further included in the dielectric layers  111 . 
     The ceramic additive may include, for example, a transition metal oxide or a transition metal carbide, rare-earth element, magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), or the like. 
     The first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122 , electrodes to which different polarities are applied, may be formed on the dielectric layers  111  and laminated in the Z direction and alternately disposed with respective dielectric layers  111  interposed therebetween in the capacitor body  110  in the Z direction. 
     In this case, the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  may be electrically insulated from each other by the dielectric layers  111  disposed therebetween. 
     The first internal electrode(s)  121  are each exposed through the third surface  3  of the dielectric layer  111  and the second internal electrode(s)  122  are each exposed through the fourth surface  4  of the dielectric layer  111 . 
     End portions of the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  alternately exposed through the third and fourth surfaces  3  and  4  of the capacitor body  110  are respectively connected to the first and second external electrodes  131  and  132  disposed on opposing ends of the capacitor body  110  in the X direction, which is described below, so that the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  can be respectively electrically connected to the first and second external electrodes  131  and  132 . 
     According to such composition, charges are accumulated between the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  when a voltage is applied to the first and second external electrodes  131  and  132 . 
     Capacitance of the multilayer capacitor  100  is proportional to an area of overlap of the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122 , which overlap in the active region in the Z direction. 
     Further, materials forming the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  are not particularly limited, and may be a conductive paste consisting of at least one of a noble metal material or nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu). 
     A method for printing the conductive paste may be a screen-printing method, a gravure printing method, or the like, but is not limited thereto. 
     The first and second external electrodes  131  and  132  are provided with a voltage having different polarities, and are disposed on opposing end portions of the body  110  in the X direction. The first and second external electrodes  131  and  132  are respectively connected to portions of the first and second internal electrodes  121  and  122  exposed through the third and fourth surfaces  3  and  4  of the capacitor body  110 . 
     The first and second external electrodes  131  and  132  may include a first connection portion  131   a  and a first band portion  131   b.    
     The first connection portion  131   a  is disposed on the third surface  3  of the capacitor body  110  and is in contact with end portion(s) of the first internal electrode(s)  121 , which are exposed externally through the third surface  3  of the capacitor body  110 , to physically and electrically connect the first internal electrode(s)  121  and the first external electrode  131 . 
     The first band portion  131   b  extends from the first connection portion  131   a  to a portion of the first surface  1  of the capacitor body  110 . 
     The first band portion  131   b , as appropriate, may further extend toward the second, fifth and sixth surfaces  2 ,  5  and  6  of the capacitor body  110  for improvement of adhesion strength. 
     The second external electrode  132  may include a second connection portion  132   a  and a second band portion  132   b.    
     The second connection portion  132   a  is disposed on the fourth surface  4  of the capacitor body  110 , is in contact with end portion (s) of the second internal electrode (s)  122 , which are exposed externally through the fourth surface  4  of the capacitor body  110 , to physically and electrically connect the second internal electrode(s)  122  and the second external electrode  132 . 
     The second band portion  132   b , as appropriate, may further extend toward the second, fifth and sixth surfaces  2 ,  5  and  6  of the capacitor body  110  for improvement of adhesion strength. 
     The insulating layer  141  is disposed between a surface of the capacitor body  110  and the shielding layer  142  and is disposed to cover the second surface  2  entirely and portions of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 . 
     A height of the insulating layer  141  in the Z direction is shorter than that of the capacitor body  110  so that portions of lower sides of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  of the capacitor body  110  may be exposed. 
     The insulating layer  141  may include a polystyrene-based, vinyl acetate-based, polyester-based, polyethylene-based, polypropylene-based, polyamide-based, rubber-based or acrylic-based thermoplastic resin, a phenol-based, epoxy-based, urethane-based, melamine-based or alkyd-based thermosetting resin, a photosensitive resin, paraline, SiOx or SiNx. 
     Further, the insulating layer  141  may be formed of an adhesive layer. 
     As an example, when the insulating layer  141  and the shielding layer  142  are formed using a shielding sheet including an insulating film and a shield film, the insulating film of a shielding sheet may include an adhesive ingredient, thereby enabling the shield film to adhere to a surface of the capacitor body. 
     In such case, an adhesive layer may be additionally formed on one surface of the insulating layer  141  between the capacitor body  110  and the one surface of the insulating layer  141 . 
     No additional adhesive layer may be formed on one surface of the insulating layer  141  in such a case in which the insulating layer  141  is formed using a B-stage insulating film. 
     Such insulating layer  141  may be formed by applying a liquid insulating resin on a surface of the body  110 , laminating an insulating film, such as a dry film (DF), on the capacitor body  110 , or forming an insulating resin on a surface of the capacitor body  110  by vapor deposition. 
     For the insulating film, a polyimide film, an Ajinomoto build-up film (ABF) excluding a photosensitive insulating resin may be used. 
     The shielding layer  142  reduces leakage flux leaking from the electronic component  100  externally, and may include a cap portion disposed on the second surface  2  of the capacitor body  110  and a side wall portion disposed on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  of the capacitor body  110 . 
     In other words, the shielding layer  142  is disposed on all surfaces of the capacitor body  110  excluding the first surface  1 . 
     Such shielding layer  142  may be formed to have an integrated form of the cap portion and the side wall portion using the vapor deposition process or by attaching the shielding sheet formed of an insulating film or a shield film to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  of the capacitor body  110  or laminating on the second surface  2 . 
     Such shielding layer  142  may include at least one of a conductive material and a magnetic material. 
     As an example, the conductive material may be a metal including at least one selected from the group consisting of copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), silicon (Si), boron (B), chrome (Cr), niobium (Nb) and nickel (Ni) or an alloy. The conductive material may be Fe—Si or Fe—Ni. 
     Additionally, the shielding layer  142  may include at least one selected from the group consisting of ferrite, permalloy, and an amorphous ribbon. 
     The shielding layer  142  may be, for example, a copper-deposited layer, but is not limited thereto. 
     Further, the shielding layer may be a multilayer structure; for example, a double layer structure of a conductive material layer and a magnetic material layer formed thereon, that of a first conductive material layer and a second conductive layer formed on the first conductive material layer, or that of multi-conductive materials. 
     The first and second conductive layers may include different or the same conductive materials. 
     Such shielding layer  142  may be divided into two in the X direction connecting the third and fourth surfaces  3  and  4  and thus may consist of first and second shielding layers  142   a  and  142   b . The first and second shielding layers  142   a  and  142   b  may be adjacent and offset from each other so as to be non-overlapping on the surface of the body  110 . 
     A gap portion  150  consisting of an insulating film or an oxide film may be provided between the first and second shielding layers  142   a  and  142   b.    
     The gap portion  150  may be formed by filling an insulating material or oxide in a groove in the shape of a slit. 
     Such gap portion  150  may prevent occurrence of a short by preventing the first and second shielding layers  142   a  and  142   b  from providing a path for an electric current flow therethrough even when a solder is in contact with the shielding layer  142  when mounting the electronic component of the example embodiment on a substrate. 
     According to an example embodiment, the shielding layer  142  is disposed on the electronic component  100  itself, and thus is distinguished from a shield can, which is connected to a printed circuit board to shield EMI, or the like after mounting the electronic component  100  on the printed circuit board for shielding. 
     As an example, in contrast to the shield can, it is not necessary to consider connection of the printed circuit board with a ground layer for the shielding layer  142  of the present disclosure. 
     In addition, the electronic component  100  according to an example embodiment can prevent leakage flux occurring therein while preventing an electrical short between the shielding layer  142  and the first and second external electrodes  131  and  132  by forming the shielding layer  142  in an “∩” shape connecting the cap portion and the side wall portion. 
     A total number of electronic components  100  included in an electronic device and a distance between adjacent electronic components  100  are decreasing as the electronic devices become slimmer and more highly efficient. In this regard, leakage flux occurring in each electronic component  100  can be more effectively prevented by shielding the electronic component  100  itself, thereby making it more advantageous for the slimming and high performance of the electronic device. 
     In addition, compared to the case in which the shield can is used, use of the shielding layer  142  facilitates an increase in an amount of effective magnetic materials in a shielded region, thereby improving characteristics of the electronic component  100 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG.  5   , in an example embodiment, when the band portions  131   b  and  132   b  of the first and second external electrodes  131  and  132  extend to a part of the second surface  2  of the capacitor body  110 , the insulating layer  141  and the shielding layer  142  may have a shape in which a center portion is concave on the second surface  2  between the first and second band portions  131   b  and  132   b  of the first and second external electrodes  131  and  132 . 
     In contrast, as shown in  FIG.  6   , first and second band portions  131   b ′ and  132   b ′ of first and second external electrodes  131 ′ and  132 ′ may not be formed on the second surface  2  of the capacitor body  110 . 
     In this case, an insulating layer  141 ′ covers an upper surface of the capacitor body  110  while being in close contact with the entire second surface  2  of the capacitor body  110 , and a shielding layer  142 ′ formed on the insulating layer  141 ′ and including first and second shielding layers  142   a ′ and  142   b ′ may also have a flat top surface. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , an electronic component of an example embodiment may further include a cover layer  143  disposed on the shielding layer  142 ″ to cover first and second shielding layers  142   a ″ and  142   b ″ and the gap portion  150 . 
     The cover layer  143  is disposed on the shielding layer  142 ″ to cover the shielding layer  142 ″ while exposing an end portion of the shielding layer  142 ″. 
     Such cover layer  143  may include a polystyrene-based, vinyl acetate-based, polyester-based, polyethylene-based, polypropylene-based, polyamide-based, rubber-based or acrylic-based thermoplastic resin, a phenol-based, epoxy-based, urethane-based, melamine-based or alkyd-based thermosetting resin, a photosensitive resin, paraline, SiOx or SiNx. 
     Further, the cover layer  143  may be formed simultaneously with the insulating layer  141 ″ and the shielding layer  142 ″ disposing an insulating film of a shielding sheet consisting of an insulating film, a shield film, and a cover film to face the capacitor body and laminating the shielding sheet on the capacitor body. 
     As another example, the cover layer  143  may be formed by laminating a cover film on the shielding layer  142  formed on the capacitor body  110 . As another example, the cover layer  143  may be formed on the second to sixth surfaces of the capacitor body  110  by forming an insulating material by vapor deposition such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or the like. 
     The cover layer  143  may have an adhesive function. For example, a cover film in a shielding sheet consisting of an insulating film, a shield film, and a cover film may have an adhesive ingredient to adhere to the shield film. 
     The insulating layer  141 ″ and the shielding layer  142 ″ may be formed so that lower portions thereof extend to a lower end of the first and second connection portions  131   a  and  132   a  to substantially cover the first and second connection portions  131   a  and  132   a  of the first and second external electrodes  131  and  132 . 
     According to the present disclosure, leakage flux of an electronic component is reduced and component characteristics are substantially retained. 
     In addition, by dividing the shielding layer into a portion in contact with the cathode and a portion in contact with the anode, a short between a solder and an EMI-shielding layer can be prevented when mounting the electronic component. 
     While example embodiments have been shown and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.