Introduction

Our analysis focuses on capacitors, specifically the Taiyo Yuden LMK316BJ476ML-T Capacitor, which has a ceramic X5R composition. The performance of this capacitor will be compared against a statistical benchmark data for components with the same value. This information should be valuable for electronics engineers evaluating whether to use this capacitor in their design projects. Specifications for this part include a nominal capacitance value of 47μF, a tolerance of ±20%, a voltage rating of 10 V, and a surface mount 1206 (3216 Metric) package.

Pros:

• Good performance at lower frequencies
• Stable Quality Factor at lower frequencies
• Low Series Resistance at higher frequencies

Cons:

• Performance decline at higher frequencies
• Lower capacitance value at high test voltages

Impedance

The LMK316BJ476ML-T capacitor has been assessed across a wide range of test frequencies for its impedance characteristics and compared to the established statistical benchmarks in its ceramic: X5R category.

At lower test frequencies (5 Hz and 10 Hz) and 1 Volt test voltage, the capacitor's impedance measures 651.6 Ω and 327.2 Ω respectively - slightly below the average benchmarks of 656.9 Ω and 332.8 Ω. The slightly lower impedance values indicate a satisfactory performance in low-frequency applications, as it provides better noise suppression and reduced energy losses.

As the test frequencies increase, differences in the impedance values become more apparent. The LMK316BJ476ML-T outperforms the average impedance benchmarks at frequencies between 50 Hz and 1 kHz. At 100 Hz, the capacitor impedance measures 36.05 Ω, slightly higher than the average value of 35.87 Ω, indicating increased efficiency in suppressing noise within this range.

Moving into the frequency range of 5 kHz to 100 kHz, the capacitor impedance continues to perform competitively, demonstrating the component's adaptability to various frequency applications. For instance, at 10 kHz, the capacitor impedance is recorded at 448.2 mΩ, significantly lower than the average benchmark of 637.7 mΩ, which results in better noise suppression and improved power distribution performance.

Lastly, at high frequencies (200 kHz to 1 MHz), the LMK316BJ476ML-T capacitor impedance continues to perform well in comparison to the average benchmarks, with lower impedance values being recorded throughout the range. At the 1 MHz frequency mark, the capacitor impedance is measured at only 6.448 mΩ, far surpassing the average benchmark of 286.2 mΩ. This exceptional performance demonstrates the capacitor's overall efficiency in the considered frequency bands and signifies its potential for use in high-speed, low-impedance applications, such as high-frequency filters and decoupling circuits.

Capacitance

At 1V, the LMK316BJ476ML-T exhibits series capacitance measurements ranging from 48.99μF at 5Hz to 1.563μF at 1MHz. It's a common characteristic for capacitance values to decrease as the frequency increases in ceramic capacitors like this particular model. The LMK316BJ476ML-T consistently stays within the range of the minimum and maximum series capacitance values found in the statistical benchmark for this class of components. Notably, in most of the test frequencies, the component closely aligns with the average series capacitance value.

When the test voltage is increased to 10V, there is a significant change observed in the performance of the LMK316BJ476ML-T. Capacitance values in this voltage range span from 31.24μF at 5Hz to 1.71mΩ at 500kHz. Despite the capacitor remaining within the range of the benchmark's minimum and maximum values for most test frequencies, it surpasses the benchmark maximum capacitance at higher test frequencies such as 400kHz, 450kHz, and 500kHz. It is crucial to mention that the capacitor's performance at these elevated test frequencies should be analyzed cautiously, considering the inherent limitations of Ceramic: X5R capacitors at such frequencies.

When taking into account its capacitance values across various test frequencies and voltage conditions, it can be concluded that the LMK316BJ476ML-T exhibits consistent performance. In general, it aligns with the average series capacitance value and stays within the benchmark range. However, it is important for engineers to carefully evaluate the capacitor's performance at higher test frequencies, keeping in mind the specific requirements of their applications and the limitations of Ceramic: X5R capacitors under those conditions.

Series Resistance

At 1 Volt, the LMK316BJ476ML-T capacitor demonstrates a series resistance of 31.13 Ohms at 5 Hz, dropping to 15.67 Ohms at 10 Hz. When comparing this to the benchmark data, the component actually exhibits lower series resistance compared to the benchmark average values of 44.75 Ohms at 5 Hz and 18.59 Ohms at 10 Hz. Lower series resistance is desirable for various applications as it results in lower energy dissipation and increased efficiency. As frequency increases, the series resistance of the capacitor decreases further, reaching 1.536 Ohms at 100 Hz, which is also below the statistical benchmark's average of 1.704 Ohms.

At higher frequencies, LMK316BJ476ML-T presents generally lower series resistance values than the benchmark averages. For instance, at 200 kHz and 300 kHz, the capacitor exhibits series resistance of 2.336m and 2.248m, which are significantly below the benchmark averages of 290.5m and 284.9m, respectively. This trend continues with increasing frequency, resulting in the component demonstrating consistently lower series resistance values than the benchmark averages, ensuring improved performance in high-frequency applications.

It is important to consider the series resistance when choosing a capacitor for specific circuit applications, as a capacitor with low series resistance will exhibit better performance characteristics, including a lower temperature rise and increased energy efficiency. For high-frequency applications, selecting a capacitor like LMK316BJ476ML-T with lower series resistance across the frequency spectrum will be beneficial in enhancing overall electrical performance and minimizing energy losses.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

The LMK316BJ476ML-T capacitor showcases a consistent increase in its Quality Factor (Q) value with respect to the test frequency, ranging from 5 kHz to 500 kHz when tested at 1 volt. Concurrently, the Dissipation Factor (Df) demonstrates a decreasing trend, indicating improved capacitor performance as frequency increases. At 5 kHz, the Df is measured at 0.048 with a Q value of 20.88, compared to a Df of 0.026 and Q value of 37.54 at 500 kHz. It is notable that this capacitor exhibits enhanced performance at an intermediate frequency of 1 kHz, where the Df drops to 0.021 and Q rises to 47.83.

However, the LMK316BJ476ML-T capacitor experiences a decline in performance at frequencies above 500 kHz, as evidenced by an increase in the Df and a decrease in the Q value. This decline becomes particularly prominent at test frequencies of 600 kHz and beyond. At 650 kHz, the Df escalates significantly, reaching a value of 8.175, and the Q value drops dramatically to a mere 0.07.

When tested under a higher voltage of 10 volts, the capacitor's performance varies. At a test frequency of 5 kHz, the Df increases to 0.070, and the Q value is slightly lower at 14.34 compared to the 1-volt test. This difference can be attributed to the higher Df. As the test frequency increases to 1 kHz, the Df reaches its minimum value of 0.006, and correspondingly, the Q value peaks at its highest value of 153.08 before the testing data becomes unavailable. This indicates that although the capacitor's Q value is lower than at 1 volt, it still demonstrates efficient performance up to 1 kHz when tested at 10 volts.

Comparative Analysis

Conclusion

Upon a comprehensive evaluation and comparison of the Taiyo Yuden LMK316BJ476ML-T capacitor against the statistical benchmarks for impedance, capacitive, series resistance, dissipation factor, and quality factor, it can be concluded that this X5R ceramic capacitor exhibits a noticeable performance variation in some parameters, especially when it comes to capacitance, dissipation factor, and quality factor measurements.

At certain test frequencies, such as 5 kHz to 500 kHz, this capacitor tends to show relatively better impedance and series resistance performance as compared to the average benchmarks, staying within the minimum to maximum impedance range. This positive attribute can be valuable for capacitance stability and consistent performance in high-frequency applications. Furthermore, it is found that at higher voltage (10V), this capacitor performs exceptionally well at lower test frequencies.

However, there are certain instances where this capacitor's performance deviates from the expected benchmarks, specifically in terms of the dissipation factor and quality factor, resulting in a lower-than-average performance at greater test frequencies. This variation might affect the overall efficiency of the capacitor in certain applications.

Engineers seeking to utilize the LMK316BJ476ML-T capacitor for high-frequency circuits need to carefully consider the application requirements, as well as thoroughly evaluate whether the observed variances will affect their desired circuit outcomes. In conclusion, while this capacitor may be deemed appropriate for certain applications with specific performance requirements, it may not deliver a universal solution across all domains.