Murata today announced it has set a new capacitor performance benchmark with the introduction of its NFM15HC435D0E3. The product is the world’s first automotive-grade three-terminal multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) to provide a capacitance of 4.3 µF in a 0402-inch (1.0 × 0.5 mm) size. It also delivers superior power decoupling and noise removal, which are significant benefits when designing for mobility applications such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving functions.

By featuring a three-terminal arrangement, the capacitor exhibits lower equivalent series inductance (ESL) than two-terminal components. This ensures stable circuit operation and reduces the footprint for the required mounting area. Further, the NFM15HC435D0E3 enables reduced impedance in the high frequency band via far fewer components.

As the adoption of vehicle autonomy grows, so too has the demand for advanced sensors and processors. Given that, miniaturized MLCCs with enhanced high-frequency characteristics and greater capacity must be designed in. To realize this new solution, Murata leveraged proprietary thin layer forming technology and high-precision lamination process to yield improved atomization and equalization of the ceramic and electrode materials.