Introduction

In this technical review, we will analyze the performance of a Capacitor from Walsin Technology Corporation, with part number 0201X104K160CT. This capacitor is a Ceramic: X5R type, with a nominal value of 100nF, tolerance of ±10%, and a voltage rating of 16V. The mounting type is Surface Mount and it comes in 0201 (0603 Metric) package.

We will examine the key parameters of the component and compare them against the statistical benchmark data formed from other components of the same value. The aim is to objectively determine the overall performance of this capacitor and its suitability for potential use in various circuits by fellow engineers.

Pros:

• Overall acceptable performance in some frequency ranges
• Decent Quality Factor values at certain frequencies
• Lower Impedance at higher frequency ranges

Cons:

• Lower than expected capacitance values in some frequency ranges
• Higher Dissipation Factor values at lower frequencies
• Higher Series Resistance compared to other components with the same value

Impedance

An in-depth examination of the impedance performance data for the Walsin Technology Corporation Capacitor, part number 0201X104K160CT, has been conducted. This is compared against a statistical benchmark which consists of data from other similarly valued components.

From the available data on impedance measurements for the 0201X104K160CT Capacitor, it can be discerned that at low frequencies and at an applied voltage of 1 Volt, the capacitor has a higher impedance compared to the average benchmark value: for instance, 307.3k Ohms measured at 5Hz which is relatively close to the average of 313.4k Ohms for the benchmark, but both values remain lower than 345.9k Ohms, the maximum value within the benchmark data. Similarly, for the 10Hz frequency, the component registers an impedance of 154.4k Ohms, contrasted against the benchmark average and maximum impedance values of 157.2k Ohms and 173k Ohms, respectively. These data points indicate that while the capacitor deviates from the mean performance, it still does not reach the maximum benchmark values.

At higher frequencies, the 0201X104K160CT Capacitor demonstrates improved impedance performance: at 50Hz and 1 Volt, the capacitor impedance is 31.22k Ohms, in close proximity to, but still lower than, the average benchmark value of 31.67k Ohms. In the same measurement conditions, the component's performance consistently approaches the average benchmark values, suggesting a more favorable correlation as frequencies rise.

It is essential to also consider the impedance values at higher applied voltage, specifically 10 Volts. As expected, there is a notable increase in component impedance at various frequency points when compared to the 1 Volt measurements. For instance, at 5Hz and 10 Volts, the capacitor impedance is 514.1k Ohms, significantly higher than the average benchmark value at 1 Volt. However, the benchmark values for comparison have not been provided for the 10 Volt conditions. Without these 10 Volt benchmark values, it is difficult to objectively evaluate the capacitor's impedance performance in this condition. It is advisable to obtain such benchmark data for a comprehensive assessment.

Understanding the impedance performance of the Walsin Technology Corporation Capacitor, 0201X104K160CT, across various frequencies and voltage conditions is critical in assessing its suitability for specific applications. Careful evaluation of its deviation from benchmark values can help designers make informed decisions and considerations for the performance of their electronic circuits.

Capacitance

The 0201X104K160CT Capacitor, produced by Walsin Technology Corporation, features a nominal capacitance value of 100nF with a ±10% tolerance. To analyze the capacitance performance against the provided statistical benchmark for similar components, we will focus our examination on the test results at 1 Volt and 10 Volts measurement conditions.

At a test voltage of 1 Volt, the 0201X104K160CT Capacitor exhibits a higher capacitance in a majority of the test frequencies compared to the statistical benchmark average. For example, at the test frequency of 5 Hz, the Capacitor displays a capacitance of 103.8nF, while the benchmark average is 101.8nF. This trend continues for the rest of the intervals, up to a test frequency of 10 kHz, where the capacitance of the 0201X104K160CT stands at 96.73nF, slightly below the benchmark average of 96.9nF. It is important to note that in the higher test frequency intervals (75 kHz and above), the Capacitor exhibits a more significant deviation, with capacitance ranging from approximately 3nF to 9nF below the benchmark average.

Regarding the LCR measurements at 10 Volts, we observe a greater disparity in performance. Capacitance increases from a test frequency of 5 Hz and peaks at 20 kHz, with a value of 68.73nF. In contrast, the benchmark's peak occurs at 50 kHz and averages 96.67nF. After this point, capacitance shows a significant recovery, reaching its maximum value of 107.3nF at a 100 kHz frequency, now surpassing the benchmark average capacitance. It is essential to understand that as the voltage increases, the dielectric stress on the capacitor also increases, which can impact the capacitance value.

In conclusion, this analysis illustrates that the 0201X104K160CT Capacitor performs relatively well in comparison to the statistical benchmarks. It outperforms the benchmarks at certain test frequencies, especially in the lower and middle ranges, while underperforming in others. Engineers targeting specific test frequency intervals where the Capacitor displays its best performance should consider this component for use in their products. However, for applications where higher test frequencies (above 75 kHz) and 1 Volt measurements are required, it might be more beneficial to explore alternative components with optimized performance in those specific frequency ranges.

Series Resistance

In this section, we will be analyzing the series resistance performance of the Walsin Technology Corporation 0201X104K160CT Capacitor, against a statistical benchmark formed by other components of the same value. This analysis will be useful to engineers and designers in understanding how this capacitor performs compared to its competitors, especially in applications where precise performance is required.

Statistical benchmarks for series resistance were reported in 1V and 10V LCR measurements, across varying test frequencies. At a test frequency of 5Hz, the 0201X104K160CT series resistance was 18.31k Ohms, which is above the average of 8.751k Ohms and approached the maximum measured in the statistical benchmark dataset. At a test frequency of 10Hz, the series resistance was measured at 9.287k Ohms, which is more than double the average value of 4.329k Ohms from the benchmark. A lower resistance value is generally desirable for proper operation of the capacitor, as a higher resistance can lead to energy losses and degraded performance.

As the test frequency increased to 100Hz, the series resistance of the evaluated 0201X104K160CT dropped significantly to 973.7 Ohms, slightly above the benchmark average of 444.7 Ohms. At 1kHz, the series resistance reached 101.2 Ohms, still above the average benchmark value of 46.51 Ohms. As the frequency reached 10kHz, the component's series resistance dropped to 11.54 Ohms, more than double the statistical benchmark average of 5.163 Ohms. It is important to note that the series resistance of capacitors usually decreases as the test frequency increases, and this trend can be observed with the 0201X104K160CT capacitor.

At even higher frequency levels, the series resistance values of the 0201X104K160CT continued to decrease while remaining consistently above their respective benchmark averages. At 100kHz, the series resistance measurement was 1.035k Ohms, notably higher than the benchmark average of 491m Ohms. When tested at 300kHz and 1Mhz, series resistance measurements were 269.5m Ohms and 79.76m Ohms, respectively. Although these values are lower than prior measurements, they still exceed the statistical benchmark averages of 158m Ohms and 70.07m Ohms, respectively.

Upon examination of the 10V LCR measurements, we observed similar trends with series resistance values being consistently higher than their respective benchmark averages across various test frequencies. As an example, at a test frequency of 50kHz, the series resistance was measured at 1.415 Ohms, which is higher than the benchmark average of 1.039 Ohms.

In conclusion, it is evident that the Walsin Technology Corporation 0201X104K160CT Capacitor exhibits higher series resistance values across all test frequencies compared to the statistical benchmark averages. Engineers and designers should thoroughly evaluate the performance requirements of their specific applications and take into account the series resistance values presented in this analysis when considering the use of this capacitor or when comparing alternative components.

Dissipation Factor and Quality Factor

In the conducted LCR measurements at 1 Volt, the Kemet 0201X104K160CT ceramic capacitor exhibits a dissipation factor (Df) ranging from 0.060 to 0.074 within the 5kHz to 20kHz test frequency band. At the same time, the quality factor (Q) varies between 14.3 to 16.73. Comparing these results to the statistical benchmark data reveals that the Df values are higher, which is less desirable because it indicates larger energy losses in the capacitor as heat.

As the test frequency increases beyond 20kHz, the capacitor's performance improves. The Df values decrease and lie within the range of 0.032 to 0.034 between 550kHz and 1MHz. The corresponding Q factors are better at these higher frequencies, ranging from 29.82 to 31.15, which suggests lower energy losses for high-frequency applications.

When analyzing the LCR measurements obtained at 10 Volts, the results show that the dissipation factor decreases, with values between 0.025 to 0.044 within the 10kHz to 50kHz test frequency. Additionally, the quality factor shows a notable improvement at these higher voltages, ranging from 22.57 to 35.38, indicating better performance than at 1 Volt. A higher Q factor means a lower degree of capacitor energy loss and a more efficient energy storage.

However, it is essential to point out that between the 5kHz to 1MHz test frequency range, data is missing at a 10 Volts operation, which could affect the overall interpretation of this capacitor's performance at higher voltage levels, and more information is needed for a more accurate analysis.

In conclusion, the Kemet 0201X104K160CT ceramic capacitor has shown improved performance when operating at higher frequency ranges and higher voltages. Taking these results into account, engineers can employ this detailed analysis to determine the capacitor's suitability for their specific applications and circuit requirements.

Comparative Analysis

Conclusion

Upon comparing the component data of 0201X104K160CT capacitor with the benchmark data, several observations can be made. Generally, the 0201X104K160CT capacitor demonstrates competitive performance compared to the statistical benchmark. However, it is important to note that there are some frequency ranges where the component's performance deviates from the average performance of the benchmark.

At lower test frequencies (5 kHz to 50 kHz), the 0201X104K160CT capacitor has a higher impedance than the average benchmark impedance. However, these deviations decrease as the test frequency increases, staying within a close range of average impedance values at the higher frequencies (50 kHz to 1 MHz). It is worth noting that the dissipative behavior of the capacitor is either equal or lower than the average benchmark values across the entire tested frequency range.

When reviewing the data on series resistance, the 0201X104K160CT capacitor performs moderately within the upper and lower limit values of the benchmark. The component seems to have slightly higher series resistance values as compared to the average benchmark values, particularly at the lower frequencies. As for series capacitance, the component's values are within the range of the benchmark data but trending towards the lower limits at higher frequencies when voltage is at 1 Volt. At 10 Volts, while testing for a wide range of frequencies, some data is absent, which may affect a comprehensive performance evaluation.

Given the above analysis, engineers may consider the 0201X104K160CT capacitor from the Walsin Technology Corporation to be a decent choice for their applications. Despite deviations in some parameters at specific frequency ranges, the component can deliver satisfactory performance that falls within the acceptable ranges of the benchmark. Further analysis of the remaining sections (Impedance, Capacitance, Series Resistance, Dissipation Factor, and Quality Factor) must be taken into consideration for a complete assessment of the component's optimization for specific applications.