VISHAY VITRAMON Capacitor Products Application Note HVArc Guard® Surface-Mount Capacitors for Low-Power Voltage Multiplier Applications Voltage multipliers can generate very high voltages due to an inverter circuit that feeds a step-up transformer, which is connected to the multiplier circuit. An example of a typical voltage multiplier, which is simply a circuit comprised of capacitors and diodes that charge and discharge in alternating half cycles of the applied AC voltage, is shown in the diagram below. HVArc Guard® Capacitors Vin Out GND Figure 1. Series Multiplier for HV Applications Cascading voltage doubler cells, as shown in the circuit, result in a high-voltage output. Applications for voltage multipliers include flyback converters, where a high voltage is produced from a low battery or supply voltage in medical X-ray systems, air ionizers, and oscilloscopes, and instrumentation requiring a high-voltage power supply. Surface Arc-Over Problems in High-Voltage Applications be added to isolate the high-voltage section from other sections of the board. Although coatings add cost to the process and the design, they are required in some applications to meet electrical safety standards. Figure 1. Standard High Voltage MLCC with voltage applied causing surface arc-over between terminations Figure 2. Standard High Voltage MLCC surface typical arc-over failure site Document Number: 45058 Revision: 17-Aug-07 For technical support, contact [email protected] www.vishay.com 1 APPLICATION NOTE When a high voltage potential is applied at > 1000 V, an arc-over between the terminals, or from terminal to case, will occur. To eliminate any arc-over, an overcoating can be applied to the board, or additional board layout spacing can Application Note Vishay Vitramon HVArc Guard® Surface-Mount Capacitors for Low-Power Voltage Multiplier Applications Figure 3. Example of typical surface arc-over failure site in an 1812-case-size X7R, 100 nF, 500 VDC rated MLCC and a post-test cross section showing surface cracking To avoid having to overcoat the components, coated disk capacitors or conformal coated leaded through-hole capacitors are commonly used in voltage multiplier sections, but they take up a large amount of board space. HVArc Guard surface-mount capacitors offer designers a space-saving alternative. Because of their special worldwide-patent-pending internal construction APPLICATION NOTE Figure 4. Carbon traces from surface arc-over on a typical Standard High Voltage MLCC technology, Vishay's HVArc Guard surface-mount capacitors eliminate the need to conformal coat the part or over-coat the circuit board to prevent surface arc-over. In addition, HVArc Guard surface-mount capacitors offer cost savings by eliminating the costly manual insertion processes associated with through-hole devices. Figure 5. Vishay HVArc Guard without surface arc-over Impedance of HVArc Guard Surface-Mount Capacitors for Voltage Multiplier Applications The basic voltage multiplier is termed capacitive since the circuit can hold and store a charge. By series-connecting HVArc Guard surface-mount capacitors, low-power voltage multipliers can be designed so that the output voltage increases as the number of cascaded stages increases. www.vishay.com 2 When selecting an HVArc Guard surface-mount component, careful attention must be paid to the voltage breakdown characteristics. For technical support, contact [email protected] Document Number: 45058 Revision: 17-Aug-07 Application Note Vishay Vitramon HVArc Guard® Surface-Mount Capacitors for Low-Power Voltage Multiplier Applications 10.00 Impedance (Ω) Z HVArc Guard Z Standard 1.00 ESR HVArc Guard ESR Standard 0.10 0.01 105 106 107 108 Frequency (Hz) The graph above compares the impedance vs. frequency, ESR, and impedance of a standard commercial 500 V, X7R capacitor in the 1206 case and an HVArc Guard surface-mount capacitor with the same ratings. As demonstrated in the graph, the impedance of the HVArc Guard is similar to standard high-voltage surface-mount capacitors. Specific details regarding the impedance of specific HVArc Guard surface-mount capacitors are available upon request through your local Vishay sales office. HVArc Guard Surface-Mount Capacitors Ordering Information HVArc Guard surface-mount capacitors are available in both NP0 and X7R dielectrics, and in a variety of popular surface-mount EIA- standard case sizes. HVArc Guard NP0 Dielectric Ordering Code ORDERING INFORMATION VJ0805 CASE CODE A DIELECTRIC 0805 1206 1210 A = C0G 102 J X G CAPACITANCE CAPACITANCE TERMINATION DC VOLTAGE NOMINAL CODE TOLERANCE RATING 1) J=±5% K = ± 10 % M = ± 20 % X = Ni barrier 100 % tin plated matte finish F = AgPd G = 1000 V R = 1500 V T PACKAGING 5Z PROCESS CODE A = Unmarked C = 7" reel/ paper tape T = 7" reel/ plastic tape P = 11 1/4" reel/ paper tape B = Bulk R = 11 1/4" reel/ plastic tape W = Waffle tray 5Z = HVArc Guard Note: 1. DC voltage rating should not be exceeded in application Document Number: 45058 Revision: 17-Aug-07 For technical support, contact [email protected] www.vishay.com 3 APPLICATION NOTE Expressed in picofarads (pF). The first two digits are significant, the third is a multiplier. Examples: 102 = 1000 pF A MARKING Application Note Vishay Vitramon HVArc Guard® Surface-Mount Capacitors for Low-Power Voltage Multiplier Applications HVArc Guard X7R Dielectric Ordering Code ORDERING INFORMATION VJ1812 CASE CODE Y DIELECTRIC 1206 1210 1808 1812 Y = X7R 102 J X P CAPACITANCE CAPACITANCE TERMINATION DC VOLTAGE NOMINAL CODE TOLERANCE RATING 1) Expressed in picofarads (pF). The first two digits are significant, the third is a multiplier. Examples: 223 = 22 000 pF J=±5% K = ± 10 % M = ± 20 % X = Ni barrier 100 % tin plated F = AgPd P = 250 V E = 500 V L = 630 V G = 1000 V A MARKING T PACKAGING A = Unmarked C = 7" reel/ paper tape T = 7" reel/ plastic tape P = 11 1/4" reel/ paper tape B = Bulk R = 11 1/4" reel/ plastic tape W = Waffle tray 5Z PROCESS CODE 5Z = HVArc Guard Note: 1. DC voltage rating should not be exceeded in application WORLDWIDE SALES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT APPLICATION NOTE NOTICE Specifications of the products displayed herein are subject to change without notice. Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., or anyone on its behalf, assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies. Information contained herein is intended to provide a product description only. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any intellectual property rights is granted by this document. Except as provided in Vishay’s terms and conditions of sale for such products, Vishay assumes no liability whatsoever, and disclaims any express or implied warranty, relating to sale and/or use of Vishay products including liability or warranties relating to fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, or infringement of any patent, copyright, or other intellectual property right. The products shown herein are not designed for use in medical, life-saving, or life-sustaining applications. Customers using or selling these products for use in such applications do so at their own risk and agree to fully indemnify Vishay for any damages resulting from such improper use or sale. THE AMERICAS JAPAN NETHERLANDS VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY, INC. 63 LANCASTER AVE. MALVERN, PA 19355 UNITED STATES PH: +1-610-407-4800 FAX: +1-610-640-9081 VISHAY JAPAN CO., LTD. GE EDISON BUILDING, SHIBUYA 3F 3-5-16 SHIBUYA SHIBUYA-KU TOKYO 150-0002 JAPAN PH: +81-3-5464-6411 FAX: +81-3-5464-6433 VISHAY BCCOMPONENTS B.V. HURKESTRAAT 31 P.O. BOX 8766 5652 AH EINDHOVEN NETHERLANDS PH: +31-40-2590-700 FAX: +31-40-2590-777 ASIA EUROPE SINGAPORE GERMANY VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY ASIA PTE LTD. 25 TAMPINES STREET 92 KEPPEL BUILDING #02-00 SINGAPORE 528877 PH: +65-6788-6668 FAX: +65-6788-0988 VISHAY EUROPE SALES GMBH GEHEIMRAT-ROSENTHAL-STR. 100 95100 SELB GERMANY PH: +49-9287-71-0 FAX: +49-9287-70435 UNITED STATES FRANCE P.R.C. VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY ASIA PTE LTD. (SHANGHAI REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE) ROOM D, 15F, SUN TONG INFOPORT PLAZA 55 HUAI HAI WEST ROAD 200030 SHANGHAI P.R.C. PH: +86-21-6283-1036 FAX: +86-21-6283-1039 VISHAY S.A. 199, BLVD DE LA MADELEINE 06003 NICE, CEDEX 1 FRANCE PH: +33-4-9337-2920 FAX: +33-4-9337-2997 One of the World’s Largest Manufacturers of Discrete Semiconductors and Passive Components www.vishay.com 4 For technical support, contact [email protected] Document Number: 45058 Revision: 17-Aug-07