Patent ID: 7715173

Claim:
A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising: a ceramic capacitor body having opposite ends and a plurality of electrode layers and dielectric layers; first and second terminals attached to the ceramic capacitor body, the first terminal being electrically coupled to a first electrode layer and the second terminal being electrically coupled to a second electrode layer; wherein the plurality of electrode layers comprise a plurality of internal active electrodes within the ceramic capacitor body configured in an alternating manner such that a first of the plurality of internal active electrodes extends from one end of the ceramic capacitor body inwardly and a next internal active electrode extends from an opposite end of the ceramic capacitor body inwardly; a plurality of internal electrode shields within the ceramic capacitor body; wherein each internal electrode shield extends inwardly to or beyond a corresponding terminal to thereby provide shielding; and the plurality of internal electrode shields comprising a plurality of side shields, wherein each side shield extends inwardly from one end of the ceramic capacitor body, and wherein the side shields are configured to shield at least one internal active electrode to thereby further resist arc over between the internal active electrodes and the terminals.