The KYOCERA AVX product portfolio is quite complex, so this article will focus on a small part of it: SMD capacitors . Below are the most important and extensive series of these components, their general characteristics, typical applications, and parameters . Information on the unified component marking system introduced in the KYOCERA AVX portfolio is also included

In this article we cover topics such as:

• New KYOCERA AVX product symbols
• General comparison of properties and applications
• Description of some of the series

Signature system change

Thanks to the merger of KYOCERA and AVX, the marking system for capacitors produced by the newly created brand was unified. The need to develop a universal marking system arose because both manufacturers already offered MLCC components. In the near future, it will be possible to search for products in the TME catalog using the old symbols, but it should be noted that the new nomenclature more accurately describes the characteristics of the components, as detailed below.

Let's take the symbol KGM15BR71H104KT as an example. This string of characters must be divided into the following parts:

The elements of the symbol refer to:

• KGM = capacitor series
• 15 = dimensions
• B = thickness (profile) of the component
• R7 = dielectric used
• 1H = maximum operating voltage
• 104 = capacity determination
• K = tolerance range
• T = packaging method

As you can see, not all of these shortcuts are intuitive. So, let's list the terms used by the manufacturer.

The dimensions (provided on a scale in inches): 03 (0201), 05 (0402), 15 (0603 or 0306), 21 (0805), 31 (1206), 32(1210), 42 (1808), 43 (1812), 44 (1825), 55 (2220), 56 (2225), 91 (3640).

Thickness designations depend on the series and the dielectric used in the component.

Dielectrics: CG (C0G), G8 (X8G), L8 (X8L), R5 (X5R), R7 (X7R), R8 (X8R), S6 (X6S), S7 (X7S), T7 (X7T), V5 (Y5V).

Maximum operating voltage : 0E (2.5V), 0G (4V), 0J (6.3V), 1A (10V), 1C (16V), 1E (25V), 1V (35V), 1H (50V), 2A (100V), 2D (200V), 2E (250V), 2J (630V), 3A (1000V), 3N (1500V), 3D (2000V), 3E (2500V), 3U (3000V).

The next two digits indicate the capacitor's capacitance, using the same convention as standard component markings. The value is given in pF: the first two digits are the base, and the third digit indicates the number of zeros to add. For example: "106" = 10,000,000 pF = 10 μF.

Tolerance determined as a percentage takes the following values: F (±1%), G (±2%), J (±5%), K (±10%), M (±20%).

Series Selection

The KYOCERA AVX products presented belong to several series with different characteristics, designed for specific application areas. These included, among others, components for security, radio, and safety circuits. The basic characteristics and product divisions are presented in the following table.

As you can see, a significant portion of the product range consists of capacitors manufactured according to the AEC-Q200 standard, meaning they are approved for use in automotive electronics. A large part of the range also includes capacitors manufactured using FLEXITERM®, which provides them with increased mechanical strength (more information about this technology can be found later in this text).

Below we present a description and characteristics of the cross-section of selected series of KYOCERA AVX capacitors.

KAE series

The primary purpose of the KAE series capacitors is ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection in automotive electronics. For this purpose, the products are manufactured in accordance with the AEC-Q200. They support voltages up to 100V (depending on the model) and are designed to protect logic gates, meaning they are primarily used in onboard devices such as cockpit buttons, center consoles, multimedia players, navigation systems, etc.

KAF Series

The components belonging to the KAF series are FLEXITERM® products. The capacitors in this group are characterized by exceptional mechanical and thermal resistance (temperature tolerance ranges from -55 to 150 °C). The components are manufactured in such a way that in the event of a failure, the pins do not short-circuit; in the event of damage, the circuit will most likely open. The components comply with the AEC-Q200.

KAM Series

The KAM series belongs to one of KYOCERA's most extensive AVX product groups (comprising over 1000 items). It includes MLCC capacitors in a wide selection of sizes (from 0201 to 2220) and parameters (capacitances from 1pF to 22μF, operating at voltages up to 2kV). Importantly, this offering includes precision components manufactured with a tolerance of ±1%.

KAS Series

KAS capacitors are another group of products that utilize FLEXITERM® technology. This involves the use of an additional layer in the component's structure, designed to improve resistance to stresses that arise during mounting the component on the printed circuit board and subsequently as a result of its use. Mechanical damage is the most common cause of MLCC capacitor failure and includes damage due to thermal changes during soldering to the PCB. KAS products, such as KAE and KYOCERA AVX, are primarily recommended for protection circuit applications.

KGF Series

The components in this group are characterized by their resistance to temperature cycling, i.e., periods of heating and cooling. The manufacturer anticipates a minimum lifespan of 3000 such cycles. Thanks to this, KGF capacitors perform particularly well in motor sensor circuits and battery power supply circuits (stabilizers, chargers, balancers, etc.). Also noteworthy is the presence of elements capable of operating at voltages up to 3kV and with relatively large capacitances (up to 22µF).

KGL Series

KGL elements are low ESL (equivalent series inductance) capacitors that play an important role in circuits where high-frequency currents, leading to a significant increase in equivalent series inductance. This phenomenon is primarily encountered by designers of RF devices and microprocessor systems. In the case of the KGL series, the low ESL is achieved using RGC (Reverse Geometry Capacitor) technology, whose KYOCERA AVX product abbreviation is LICC® (Low Inductance Chip Capacitor). The capacitor terminals are placed on the longer sides of the casing, thus reducing the distance between them. This leads to a reduction in the current loop responsible for the increased inductance.

KGM Series

This is the largest group of KYOCERA AVX products presented to date, encompassing thousands of components with diverse features. They were designed for use in mobile and consumer electronics circuits, as well as for the medical industry . The components are available in versions manufactured with various dielectrics, resulting in a wide selection of parameters (voltages up to 3 kV , capacitances up to 100 µF ) and form factors (smallest case size 0201 , low-profile variants , etc.). Importantly, the series includes components with a tight tolerance of ±1% and capable of operating at temperatures up to 150 °C .

KGQ Series

For telecommunications (RF segment), KYOCERA AVX supplies capacitors from the KGQ series. Their advantage is their very low impedance ("Ultra Low ESR") for frequencies in the VHF, UHF, and microwave bands (i.e., from approximately 30 MHz to approximately 300 GHz). These components are available in small form factors (0402 to 1210), enabling the construction of miniaturized, battery-powered circuits for radio receivers, transmitters, communication modules (WiFi, LoRa, GSM, GPS, etc.), and various types of signal converters used in consumer equipment or IoT devices.

 Author: Content prepared by Transfer Multisort Elektronik Sp. z oo.

https://www.tme.eu/es/news/about-product/page/60794/seleccion-de-condensadores-de-la-marca-kyocera-avx/