Smartphones and wearables are getting an invisible but significant hardware upgrade. Murata Manufacturing has officially kicked off mass production of its new LLD series, the world’s smallest three-terminal, low-equivalent series inductance (ESL) multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC).
Measuring a microscopic 0.6 by 0.3 millimeters (0201-inch size), the new capacitors slash the required mounting area by about 64% compared to Murata’s previous 0402-inch generation.
For hardware designers, that means freeing up incredibly valuable real estate on densely packed printed circuit boards (PCBs).
The Power Problem in Modern Devices
As the integrated circuits (ICs) inside our mobile devices become faster and more powerful, keeping their power supply stable is a growing headache.
High-speed processing causes rapid spikes and drops in current demand, which can easily trigger voltage fluctuations. If the voltage isn’t stable, the device simply isn’t reliable.
To combat this, engineers use three-terminal capacitors. Thanks to their four shorter current paths, they offer lower ESL than standard two-terminal parts, effectively stabilizing the power supply.
Shrinking a three-terminal capacitor is faces a bottleneck as their internal and external electrode structures are highly complex, making miniaturization a major engineering hurdle, especially when next-generation devices demand thinner, smaller components.
Breaking the Bottleneck
Murata managed to overcome this structural challenge by completely overhauling both its electrode design and its manufacturing processes.
The resulting 0201-inch component allows for high-density mounting while keeping voltage steady right next to the ICs, even at high frequencies. Ultimately, this breakthrough gives engineers the breathing room and flexibility they need to push the performance limits of tomorrow’s most space-constrained devices.
Two models are available. LLD033R60G105ME01 has a capacitance of 1 µF, a rated voltage of 4 Vdc, and an operating temperature range of -55 to +85°C. LLD033D80E105ME01 has a capacitance of 1 µF, a rated voltage of 2.5 Vdc, and an operating temperature range of -55 to +105°C.
Murata will continue developing compact, high-performance MLCCs for mobile and wearable devices, contributing to further miniaturization and enhanced performance of electronic equipment.
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