Abstract: In a first embodiment, a trimmable composite multilayer capacitor (10) is fabricated with a novel process so that the capacitor (10) exhibits a high quality factor Q and is capable of efficient and accurate functional trimming over a wide range while in a circuit. The capacitor (10) comprises a capacitor body (12) defined by a plurality of interleaved first and second electrodes (14, 16) spaced apart by dielectric material. The plurality establishes a fixed capacitance value. The plurality is co-fired at a first temperature. A trimmable outermost electrode (14') is disposed on the exterior of the capacitor body (12) and is capable of depletion for particularly selecting the overall capacitance value of the capacitor (10). The trimmable outermost electrode is sintered on the capacitor body (12) at a second temperature which is less than the first temperature. Finally, first and second terminations (24, 26) are positioned at the ends of the capacitor body (12).

Abstract: A shorted trimmable composite multilayer capacitor (10) is initially shorted, but can be easily and efficiently unshorted and then functional trimmed while in a circuit. The capacitor (10) has a capacitor body (12) defined by a plurality of interleaved first and second electrodes (14, 16) spaced apart by ceramic. A trimmable outermost electrode (14') is situated on the capacitor body (12) and is capable of depletion by trimming for particularly selecting a capacitance associated with the capacitor (10). First and second terminations (24, 26) are disposed at first and second ends of the capacitor body (12) for connecting the capacitor (10) to a circuit. The first termination (24) is connected to the first electrodes (14), while the second termination is connected to the second electrode (16). Importantly, an interconnect bar (15) is disposed on the capacitor body (12) for connecting the outermost electrode (14') to the second termination (26) to thereby short the first and second terminations (24, 26).