Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEM) has developed the world's first MLCC with a capacitance of 2.2µF in a 0603 (0.3mm × 0.6mm × 0.3mm) package that can run at 6.3V.
This device allows SEM to take first-mover advantage in the value-added market for super-small, very-large-capacitance MLCCs, securing more than a one-year technological lead over the competition.
The miniscule 0603 MLCC enjoys rapidly growing market demand. The capacitance for a 0603 MLCC that runs at 6.3V has been limited to just 1µF until now. This means SEMs new MLCC version boosted the capacitance by a factor of 2.2 in this package size. Other available MLCCs with 2.2µF capacitance are in packages of 1005 or larger, meaning SEM has reduced the size by 70%.
A wine glass (380cc) full of the new MLCCs is worth KRW300 million, which is equivalent to buying a luxury sedan. The overall MLCC market size is estimated at KRW8 trillion a year. SEM plans to pursue an aggressive strategy that focuses on small, very-large-capacitance MLCCs for smart phones, tablet PCs and other mobile electronics, a segment expected to grow by over 20 percent a year.
