Tantalums Fit In 0402 Cases

Heralding an industry first, the TACMicrochip series tantalum chip capacitors pack up to 10 µF in a 0402 case size. The components rely on a unique construction that eliminates the welded lead frame common in conventional molded tantalum capacitors. Capacitor material is directly deposited on a tantalum wafer substrate, allowing the components to be built up in a series of automated process steps. The resulting wafer can be sliced into individual chips like semiconductor die. Typical specifications include 10 µF at 2V, 4.7 µF at 4V, 2.2 µF at 6.3V, and 10 µF at 10V with maximum ESR values of 15Ω at 100 KHz. Also available in lead-free versions, the capacitors employ the company’s soft-termination technology that compensates for the thermal mismatch between components and PC boards. Operating temperature ranges from -55° to +125°C. Prices range from $0.45 to $0.55 each/10,000. AVX CORP., Myrtle Beach, SC. (843) 448-9411.