# US 12,603,230 B2 · Multilayer electronic component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,230 B2 - Document ID: US12603230B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/223,152 - Filed: 2025-05-30 - Published: 2025-09-18 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-12-01 - Assignees: KYOCERA Corporation - Applicants: KYOCERA Corporation - Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki; Hirotoshi Kii; Atsushi Miyabayashi; Kenta Nakashima; Satoru Naokawa; Daisuke Fukuda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603230B2 ## CPC - H01G 4/30: Stacked capacitors (H01G4/33 takes precedence) - H01G 4/012: Form of non-self-supporting electrodes - H01G 4/12: Ceramic dielectrics {(H01G4/085 takes precedence)} - H01G 4/232: electrically connecting two or more layers of a stacked or rolled capacitor - H01G 4/2325: {characterised by the material of the terminals} - H01G 4/0085: {Fried electrodes} - H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10) ## Abstract In a multilayer electronic component, an effective portion includes dielectric layers and internal electrodes alternately laminated in a laminating direction. A cover is superposed on the effective portion from a first side in the laminating direction. An underlying electrode is superposed on the cover from the first side. An external electrode is superposed on the underlying electrode from the first side. The underlying electrode and the external electrode are secured by sharing a diffusion layer in which a material of the underlying electrode and a material of the external electrode coexist with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multilayer electronic component comprising: an effective portion including dielectric layers and internal electrodes alternately laminated in a laminating direction; a cover superposed on the effective portion from a first side out of the first side and a second side in the laminating direction; an underlying electrode superposed on the cover from the first side; and an external electrode superposed on the underlying electrode from the first side, wherein the underlying electrode and the external electrode are secured by sharing a diffusion layer in which a material of the underlying electrode and a material of the external electrode coexist with each other, wherein a first edge portion of each of the internal electrodes and the external electrode are in contact with each other, and wherein a thickness by which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the underlying electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is greater than a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the internal electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the first edge portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes: two or more insulating layers laminated in the laminating direction, and a dummy electrode positioned at boundaries of the two or more insulating layers a second edge portion of the dummy electrode and the external electrode are in contact with each other, and a thickness by which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the underlying electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is smaller than a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the dummy electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the second edge portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes: two or more insulating layers laminated in the laminating direction, and a dummy electrode positioned at boundaries of the two or more insulating layers, a second edge portion of the dummy electrode and the external electrode are in contact with each other, and a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the internal electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the first edge portion is smaller than a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the dummy electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the second edge portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the thickness by which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the underlying electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is greater than or equal to 1.0 μm and smaller than or equal to 3.5 μm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein a thickness by which the material of the underlying electrode is diffused in the external electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is greater than or equal to 1.0 μm and smaller than or equal to 3.5 μm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein the thickness by which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the underlying electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is greater than or equal to 0.25 times a thickness of the underlying electrode and smaller than or equal to 0.88 times the thickness of the underlying electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein a thickness by which the material of the underlying electrode is diffused in the external electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is greater than or equal to 0.10 times a thickness of the external electrode and smaller than or equal to 0.58 times the thickness of the external electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein a thickness by which the material of the underlying electrode is diffused in the external electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is greater than or equal to ⅔ and smaller than or equal to 3/2 of a thickness by which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the underlying electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein, in at least a region of the underlying electrode far from the external electrode, a main ingredient of the underlying electrode is a first metal, and in at least a region of the external electrode far from the underlying electrode, a main ingredient of the external electrode is a second metal different from the first metal, wherein, in the diffusion layer, the first metal is diffused in the external electrode and the second metal is diffused in the underlying electrode, and wherein, in a section parallel to the laminating direction, the diffusion layer includes the first metal at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % per an area of 0.01 μm2 and the second metal at 12.5 atom % per an area of 0.01 μm2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein, a main component of the internal electrodes is Ni, a main component of the underlying electrode is Ni, and a main component of the external electrode is Cu. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 1, wherein, the external electrode is formed by plating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 2, wherein a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the internal electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the first edge portion is smaller than a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the dummy electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the second edge portion. ### Claim 13 A multilayer electronic component comprising: an effective portion including dielectric layers and internal electrodes alternately laminated in a laminating direction; a cover, superposed on the effective portion from a first side out of the first side and a second side in the laminating direction, and including: two or more insulating layers laminated in the laminating direction, and a dummy electrode positioned at boundaries of the two or more insulating layers; an underlying electrode superposed on the cover from the first side; and an external electrode superposed on the underlying electrode from the first side, wherein the underlying electrode and the external electrode are secured by sharing a diffusion layer in which a material of the underlying electrode and a material of the external electrode coexist with each other, wherein a first edge portion of each of the internal electrodes and the external electrode are in contact with each other, wherein a second edge portion of the dummy electrode and the external electrode are in contact with each other, and wherein a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the internal electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the first edge portion is smaller than a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the dummy electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the second edge portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multilayer electronic component according to claim 13, wherein a thickness by which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the underlying electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom % is smaller than a length of a portion in which the material of the external electrode is diffused in the dummy electrode at greater than or equal to 12.5 atom %, the length being from the second edge portion.