Space-Saver 0402-Size Silicon RF Capacitors Kick Up Performance

March 1, 2004

The HPC0402A/B/C silicon-based surface-mount RF capacitors come in low-profile (0.40 mm, 0.18 mm, and 0.25 mm high for the A, B, and C versions, respectively) 0204-size packages measuring 1.02 by 0.51 mm, with values over 22 pF. Built on a proprietary...

Roger Allan

The capacitors' innovative design decreases the distances between components placed on a pc board, reducing parasitic inductance to 0.032 nH. Moreover, self-resonant frequency is raised to ultra-high frequencies ranging from 1 MHz to several gigahertz.

The HPC0402A/B/C capacitors come in optional voltage ratings of 6, 10, 16, and 25 V. For the A version, overall capacitance values range from 0.6 up to 180 pF, with tight tolerances within ±1% or 0.05 pF. The B and C versions are available in 16 capacitance ranges from 10 pF to 180 pF with 1% tolerances. Other features include a temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) of ±30 ppm/°C and an operating-temperature range of −55°C to 125°C.

The HPC0402A is priced at $0.042 each (1 pF ±0.1 pF) and $0.055 each (180 pF ±5%) for production quantities. The HPC0402B and C capacitors cost $0.055 each in production quantities. Lead times are up to eight weeks.

Vishay Intertechnology Inc.www.vishay.com (714) 573-6866

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About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.