# US 2025/0157731 A1 · Multilayer ceramic capacitor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0157731 A1 - Document ID: US20250157731A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/904,138 - Filed: 2024-10-02 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-10 - Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yoko WAKAIZUMI; Masaaki SUGIYAMA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250157731A1 ## CPC - H01G 4/012: Form of non-self-supporting electrodes - H01G 4/0085: {Fried 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 4/30: Stacked capacitors (H01G4/33 takes precedence) - H01G 4/2325: {characterised by the material of the terminals} - 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 A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes an element body portion including dielectric layers and internal electrode layers stacked in a thickness direction, a first external electrode on a first end surface of the element body portion, and a second external electrode on a second end surface of the element body portion. The internal electrode layers include first internal electrode layers connected to the first external electrode, and second internal electrode layers connected to the second external electrode. Each of the internal electrode layers includes an opposing portion opposed, in the thickness direction, to an adjacent internal electrode layer. A third internal electrode layer is located in a space between the opposing portion and at least one of first and second side surfaces, in a width direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising: an element body portion including a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite to each other in a thickness direction, a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to each other in a width direction, and a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other in a length direction, and including a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers stacked in the thickness direction; a first external electrode on the first end surface; and a second external electrode on the second end surface; wherein the plurality of internal electrode layers include a plurality of first internal electrode layers connected to the first external electrode, and a plurality of second internal electrode layers connected to the second external electrode; each of the plurality of internal electrode layers includes an opposing portion opposed, in the thickness direction, to an adjacent internal electrode layer of the plurality of internal electrode layers; and a third internal electrode layer is located in a space between the opposing portion and at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface, in the width direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1, wherein a fourth internal electrode layer is located in at least one of a space between the first internal electrode layer and the second end surface, and a space between the second internal electrode layer and the first end surface, in the length direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 2, wherein the fourth internal electrode layer located in the space between the first internal electrode layer and the second end surface in the length direction is located at a same or substantially a same position in the thickness direction as the first internal electrode layer; and the third internal electrode layer located in the space between the second internal electrode layer and the first end surface in the length direction is located at a same or substantially a same position in the thickness direction as the second internal electrode layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 2, wherein Ni is diffused in a peripheral region of the fourth internal electrode layer, the peripheral region excluding a region extending from the fourth internal electrode layer by about one-third of a thickness of the fourth internal electrode layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 2, wherein a grain size in a peripheral region of the fourth internal electrode layer is smaller than a grain size in a vicinity of an outermost surface of the element body portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1, wherein Ni is diffused in a peripheral region of the third internal electrode layer, the peripheral region excluding a region extending from the third internal electrode layer by about one-third of a thickness of the third internal electrode layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the third internal electrode layer is located at a same or substantially a same position in the thickness direction as the opposing portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1, wherein a grain size in a peripheral region of the third internal electrode layer is smaller than a grain size in a vicinity of an outermost surface of the element body portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second external electrodes includes a base electrode layer and a plating layer on the base electrode layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 9, wherein the base electrode layer includes a baked layer including glass and metal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 10, wherein the glass includes Si. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 10, wherein the metal includes Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, or Au, or an alloy including at least one of Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, or Au. ### Claim 13 A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising: an element body portion including a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite to each other in a thickness direction, a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to each other in a width direction, and a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to each other in a length direction, and including a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers stacked in the thickness direction; a first external electrode on the first end surface; and a second external electrode on the second end surface; wherein the plurality of internal electrode layers include a plurality of first internal electrode layers connected to the first external electrode, and a plurality of second internal electrode layers connected to the second external electrode; and a fourth internal electrode layer is located in at least one of a space between the first internal electrode layer and the second end surface, and a space between the second internal electrode layer and the first end surface, in the length direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 13, wherein the fourth internal electrode layer located in the space between the first internal electrode layer and the second end surface in the length direction is located at a same or substantially a same position in the thickness direction as the first internal electrode layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 13, wherein Ni is diffused in a peripheral region of the fourth internal electrode layer, the peripheral region excluding a region extending from the fourth internal electrode layer by about one-third of a thickness of the fourth internal electrode layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 13, wherein a grain size in a peripheral region of the fourth internal electrode layer is smaller than a grain size in a vicinity of an outermost surface of the element body portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 13, wherein each of the first and second external electrodes includes a base electrode layer and a plating layer on the base electrode layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 17, wherein the base electrode layer includes a baked layer including glass and metal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 18, wherein the glass includes Si. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The multilayer ceramic capacitor according to claim 18, wherein the metal includes Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, or Au, or an alloy including at least one of Ni, Cu, Ag, Pd, or Au.