Patents Assigned to AVX Corporation
  • Patent number: 10121600
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that comprises a sintered porous anode, a dielectric layer that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric layer is provided. The anode is formed from a finely divided powder (e.g., nodular or angular) having a relatively high specific charge. Despite the use of such high specific charge powders, high voltages can be achieved through a combination of features relating to the formation of the anode and solid electrolyte. For example, relatively high press densities and sintering temperatures may be employed to achieve “sinter necks” between adjacent agglomerated particles that are relatively large in size, which render the dielectric layer in the vicinity of the neck less susceptible to failure at high forming voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Petrzilek, Martin Biler
  • Patent number: 10116067
    Abstract: A single element electrical connector includes a single conductive contact element formed into a cage structure having a wire insert end and a wire contact end along a longitudinal centerline axis of the connector. The cage structure defines an upper pick-up surface having a surface area suitable for placement of a suction nozzle of a vacuum transfer device, as well as a pair of contact tines biased towards the centerline axis to define a contact pinch point for an exposed core of a wire inserted into the connector. A contact surface is defined by a member of the cage structure for electrical mating contact with a respective contact element on a component on which the connector is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: AVX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter Bishop
  • Patent number: 10079115
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode body, a solid electrolyte that contains one or more conductive polymers and overlies the dielectric, and an external coating that overlies the solid electrolyte, is provided. The external coating includes at least one carbonaceous layer and at least one metal layer. In addition to the aforementioned layers, the external coating can also include at least one conductive polymer layer that can be disposed between the carbonaceous and metal layers. Among other things, such a conductive polymer layer can reduce the likelihood that the carbonaceous layer will delaminate from the solid electrolyte during use. Further, the notched geometry of the anode body itself is selected to minimize the risk of delamination of the external coating layers from the anode body. This combination of characteristics can increase the mechanical robustness of the part and improve its electrical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Lotfi Djebara, Ludek Kubes
  • Patent number: 10074487
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that comprises an anode that comprises a porous anode body and a dielectric layer is provided. The anode body is formed from a pressed and sintered valve metal powder having a specific charge of about 200,000 ?F*V/g or more and a phosphorous content of about 150 parts per million or less. A solid electrolyte overlies the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Wakatsuki, Yusuke Sasaki, Yuuhei Moriguchi
  • Patent number: 10033346
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and associated methodology providing for fixed components that exhibit tailorable variations in frequency response depending on the applied frequencies over the components useful frequency range. The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved operational characteristics of generally known transmission line capacitor devices by providing a parallel resistive component constructed as a portion of the dielectric separating electrodes corresponding to a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventor: Gheorghe Korony
  • Patent number: 10020116
    Abstract: Improved termination features for multilayer electronic components are disclosed. Monolithic components are provided with plated terminations whereby the need for typical thick-film termination stripes is eliminated or greatly simplified. Such termination technology eliminates many typical termination problems and enables a higher number of terminations with finer pitch, which may be especially beneficial on smaller electronic components. The subject plated terminations are guided and anchored by exposed internal electrode tabs and additional anchor tab portions which may optionally extend to the cover layers of a multilayer component. Such anchor tabs may be positioned internally or externally relative to a chip structure to nucleate additional metallized plating material. External anchor tabs positioned on top and bottom sides of a monolithic structure can facilitate the formation of wrap-around plated terminations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew P. Ritter, Robert H. Heistand, II, John L. Galvagni, Sriram Dattaguru
  • Patent number: 10014120
    Abstract: A capacitor assembly for use in high voltage and high temperature environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a capacitor element containing an anodically oxidized porous, sintered body that is coated with a manganese oxide solid electrolyte. To help facilitate the use of the capacitor assembly in high voltage (e.g., above about 35 volts) and high temperature (e.g., above about 175° C.) applications, the capacitor element is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas. It is believed that the housing and inert gas atmosphere are capable of limiting the amount of moisture supplied to the manganese dioxide. In this manner, the solid electrolyte is less likely to undergo an adverse reaction under extreme conditions, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Biler, Jan Petrzilek, Ivana Zednickova
  • Patent number: 10014108
    Abstract: A capacitor assembly configured to effectively dissipate heat when exposed to a high ripple current is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of capacitor elements, each including an anode body and lead, a dielectric layer overlying the anode body, and a solid electrolyte. Each capacitor element is defined by upper and lower major surfaces, first opposing minor surfaces, and second opposing minor surfaces. The major surfaces each have a surface area greater than that of each of the minor opposing surfaces. A hermetically sealed housing having a length, width, and height defines an interior cavity within which the plurality of capacitor elements are positioned. The ratio of the length to the height ranges from about 2 to about 80. Further, the lower major face of each capacitor element faces a lower wall of the housing, where the lower wall is defined by the housing's length and width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Petrzilek, Jiri Navratil, Martin Biler
  • Patent number: 9991055
    Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of exhibiting good properties under hot conditions. The ability to perform under such conditions is due in part to the use of an intrinsically conductive polymer in the solid electrolyte that contains repeating units having the following formula (I): wherein, R is (CH2)a—O—(CH2)b; a is from 0 to 10; b is from 1 to 18; Z is an anion; and X is a cation. The resulting capacitor assembly may exhibit excellent electrical properties even when exposed to high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Miloslav Uher, Jan Petrzilek
  • Patent number: 9972442
    Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains electrodes (i.e., anode and cathode) and a working electrolyte is provided. The anode and optionally the cathode include a wire assembly containing two or more individual wires. A particulate material is also disposed in contact with at least a portion of the wire assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Mitchell D. Weaver, Zebbie Lynn Sebald
  • Patent number: 9972444
    Abstract: A capacitor assembly that is capable of exhibiting good properties under dry conditions. The ability to perform under such conditions is due in part to the use of an intrinsically conductive polymer in the solid electrolyte that contains repeating units having the following formula (I): wherein, R is (CH2)a—O—(CH2)b; a is from 0 to 10; b is from 1 to 18; Z is an anion; and X is a cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Petrzilek, Miloslav Uher
  • Patent number: 9966196
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor and method for making the capacitor are provided. The capacitor includes a sintered porous anode body; a sintered anode substrate; a dielectric that overlies at least a portion of the anode body and at least a portion of the anode substrate and that is also formed within at least a portion of the anode body; a solid electrolyte cathode overlying at least a portion of the dielectric that overlies the anode body; an anode termination that is electrically connected to the anode substrate; and a cathode termination that is electrically connected to the solid electrolyte. The anode body is disposed on a planar surface of the anode substrate, and both the anode body and substrate are formed from a powder of a valve metal composition. Further, the anode substrate is hermetic and impermeable to liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Paulus, John R. Sturmer
  • Patent number: 9928963
    Abstract: A capacitor assembly that comprises a housing, a capacitor element that is hermetically sealed within the housing, and a thermally conductive material that at least partially encapsulates the capacitor element is provided. The capacitor element includes a sintered anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode body, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric. The thermally conductive material has a thermal conductivity of about 1 W/m-K or more as determined in accordance with ISO 22007-2:2014.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Petrzilek, Jiri Navratil, Martin Biler
  • Patent number: 9916935
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that contains a capacitor element including an anode body, a dielectric layer, and solid electrolyte is provided. The capacitor element also includes an anode lead (e.g., wire, tape, etc.) that is electrically connected to the anode body. A first portion of the anode lead is embedded within the anode body, while a second portion of the anode lead extends from the anode body in a longitudinal direction. Contrary to conventional capacitors in which the exposed portion of the anode lead is supported by a complex and bulky lead frame assembly, there is no lead frame present in the capacitor of the present disclosure. Thus, the volumetric efficiency of the finished capacitor can be increased. An assembly containing a matrix of multiple solid electrolytic capacitor elements is also provided, as is a method for forming a matrix that comprises multiple solid electrolytic capacitor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventor: Jiri Navratil
  • Patent number: 9905368
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor including a capacitor element, a first anode lead, a second anode lead, and a carrier wire. The capacitor element includes a sintered, porous anode body; a dielectric layer overlying the sintered, porous anode body; and a cathode overlying the dielectric layer that includes a solid electrolyte. The first and second anode leads each have an embedded portion positioned within the anode body and an external portion extending longitudinally from a surface of the anode body in an x-direction, while the carrier wire is positioned external to the anode body. Further, a first portion of the carrier wire is connected to the external portions of the first and second anode leads, while a second portion of the carrier wire extends longitudinally away from the surface of the anode body in the x-direction. Such an arrangement reduces the ESR and leakage current of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Lotfi Djebara, Ludek Kubes, Radek Matousek, Stanislav Zednicek
  • Patent number: 9907176
    Abstract: A module containing a plurality of active capacitors and a sacrificial capacitor is provided. The active capacitors and sacrificial capacitor are aligned along a horizontal direction so that the side surfaces of their cases are parallel to each other. The particular arrangement of the active capacitors and sacrificial capacitor results in a module configuration where the anode terminations for the active capacitors and an external component of the lead frame for the sacrificial capacitor are coplanar so that the module can be mounted to a circuit board via the anode terminations and the external component of the lead frame in a mechanically and electrically stable manner. Further, the center of gravity of the module in the length and/or width directions can be located at a midpoint of the overall module length and/or width, which enhances the stability of the module when mounted to a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn Vaillancourt, Ken Moulton, Scott McCarthy, Jason Laforge
  • Patent number: 9892860
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor including a capacitor element having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a sintered anode body; an anode lead; an anode termination; and a cathode termination is described. The anode termination has a planar portion and an upstanding portion, where the planar portion of the anode termination has a first section and a second section, where the first section has a first thickness and the second section has a second thickness. Further, the second thickness is less than the first thickness, and the first section is disposed between the upstanding portion and the second section. In addition, the second section is disposed beneath the lower surface of the capacitor element. Moreover, the anode lead and capacitor element are generally parallel with the planar portion. Such an arrangement can result in a capacitor exhibiting improved mechanical and electrical stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventor: Ales Vyroubal
  • Patent number: 9892862
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode body formed from an electrically conductive powder, dielectric located over and/or within the anode body, an adhesion coating overlying the dielectric, and a solid electrolyte overlying the adhesion coating is provided. The powder has a high specific charge and in turn a relative dense packing configuration. Despite being formed from such a powder, the present inventors have discovered that the conductive polymer can be readily impregnated into the pores of the anode. This is accomplished, in part, through the use of a discontinuous precoat layer in the adhesion coating that overlies the dielectric. The precoat layer contains a plurality of discrete nanoprojections of a manganese oxide (e.g., manganese dioxide).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Aoki, Hiromasa Noborio, Junya Tatsuno, Koji Inazawa
  • Patent number: 9876323
    Abstract: An electrical connector for use with wires is disclosed that includes an electrical contact and an insulated housing. The electrical contact includes a wire contact portion and a connector contact portion. The wire contact portion connects the electrical connector to a wire. The connector contact portion includes a male contact prong and a female contact socket. The electrical contact may be positioned within an insulated housing that is designed to connect both the male contact prong and the female contact socket when mated with another electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: AVX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brent Lybrand
  • Patent number: 9870869
    Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains a casing that contains a sidewall extending to an upper end to define an opening is provided. The sidewall further defines an inner surface that surrounds an interior. At least one anode and at least one cathode are positioned within the interior of the casing, wherein the cathode contains an electrochemically-active material and further wherein an anode lead extends from the anode. A working electrolyte is in electrical contact with the anode and the electrochemically-active material. The capacitor also comprises a lid assembly that contains a lid positioned on an upper end of the casing sidewall, wherein the lid defines an orifice through which a tube extends. The tube accommodates the anode lead that extends from the anode. A dielectric layer is formed on a surface of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Yanming Liu, Jason Laforge