A self-charging droplet capacitor for harvesting low-level ambient energy is provided. The capacitor includes a conductive liquid droplet, which is placed on a heterogeneous and hydrophobic surface of dielectric materials coated onto a conductive substrate. The substrate and the droplet, along with the dielectric materials in between, form a parallel-plate type capacitor. The droplet is free to move on the surface, and thus, provides a position-dependent variation of capacitance. The surface consists of two regions, each with a different material and thickness. The different strengths of solid-water contact electrification of the two materials give rise to a self-charging mechanism. The variation in thickness allows for the capacitance change required for energy harvesting.

A self-charging droplet capacitor for harvesting low-level ambient energy is provided. The capacitor includes a conductive liquid droplet, which is placed on a heterogeneous and hydrophobic surface of dielectric materials coated onto a conductive substrate. The substrate and the droplet, along with the dielectric materials in between, form a parallel-plate type capacitor. The droplet is free to move on the surface, and thus, provides a position-dependent variation of capacitance. The surface consists of two regions, each with a different material and thickness. The different strengths of solid-water contact electrification of the two materials give rise to a self-charging mechanism. The variation in thickness allows for the capacitance change required for energy harvesting.

The present invention is directed to a multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising a first external terminal disposed along a first end, a second external terminal disposed along a second end that is opposite the first end, and an active electrode region containing alternating dielectric layers and active electrode layers. At least one of the electrode layers comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected with the first external terminal and has a first electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion. The main portion has a lateral edge extending from the first end of the multilayer capacitor and the step portion has a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion. The second electrode is electrically connected with the second external terminal.

The present invention is directed to a multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising a first external terminal disposed along a first end, a second external terminal disposed along a second end that is opposite the first end, and an active electrode region containing alternating dielectric layers and active electrode layers. At least one of the electrode layers comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is electrically connected with the first external terminal and has a first electrode arm comprising a main portion and a step portion. The main portion has a lateral edge extending from the first end of the multilayer capacitor and the step portion has a lateral edge offset from the lateral edge of the main portion. The second electrode is electrically connected with the second external terminal.

A semiconductor device includes first and second electrode pads for externally connecting two electrodes of a sensor capacitor that has a capacitance that changes according to an environmental change. The semiconductor device further includes a capacitor having a pair of electrodes, one of the pair of electrodes being connected to the first electrode pad, a capacitance circuit having a reference capacitance, and a determination circuit that includes first and second relay terminals. The determination circuit is configured to send a charging current from the first relay terminal to the other electrode of the capacitor and send a charging current from the second relay terminal to the capacitance circuit, and determine whether or not the size of a potential of the first relay terminal is greater than the size of a potential of the second relay terminal, thereby determining whether a capacitance of the sensor capacitor has changed or not.

A semiconductor device includes first and second electrode pads for externally connecting two electrodes of a sensor capacitor that has a capacitance that changes according to an environmental change. The semiconductor device further includes a capacitor having a pair of electrodes, one of the pair of electrodes being connected to the first electrode pad, a capacitance circuit having a reference capacitance, and a determination circuit that includes first and second relay terminals. The determination circuit is configured to send a charging current from the first relay terminal to the other electrode of the capacitor and send a charging current from the second relay terminal to the capacitance circuit, and determine whether or not the size of a potential of the first relay terminal is greater than the size of a potential of the second relay terminal, thereby determining whether a capacitance of the sensor capacitor has changed or not.

A ceramic body includes outer layer portions of about 15 μm or more and about 25 μm or less in thickness outside an inner layer portion where internal electrodes are stacked with dielectric ceramic layers interposed therebetween, the inner layer portion includes inner cover electrodes opposed to the internal electrode located outermost in the stacking direction with the dielectric ceramic layers interposed therebetween, the outer layer portions include outer cover electrodes opposed to the inner cover electrodes with the dielectric ceramic layers interposed therebetween, the inner cover electrodes have a coverage of about 75% or more and about 100% or less, the outer cover electrodes have a coverage of about 50% or more and about 70% or less, and boundary layers containing Mg and Mn are provided at the boundaries between the outer cover electrodes and the dielectric ceramic layers located outside the electrodes.

A capacitor comprises a first winding member, where the first winding member comprises a first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer. A second winding member comprises a second dielectric layer and second conductive layer. The first winding member is interleaved, partially or entirely, with the second winding layer. A dielectric package is adapted to at least radially contain or border the first winding member and the second winding member. A first metallic member has a generally planar, radially extending surface for electrically and mechanically contacting an upper portion the first conductive layer. A second metallic member has a generally planar, radially extending surface for electrically and mechanically contacting a lower portion of the second conductive layer.

A capacitor comprises a first winding member, where the first winding member comprises a first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer. A second winding member comprises a second dielectric layer and second conductive layer. The first winding member is interleaved, partially or entirely, with the second winding layer. A dielectric package is adapted to at least radially contain or border the first winding member and the second winding member. A first metallic member has a generally planar, radially extending surface for electrically and mechanically contacting an upper portion the first conductive layer. A second metallic member has a generally planar, radially extending surface for electrically and mechanically contacting a lower portion of the second conductive layer.

A metal terminal-equipped electronic component includes: an electronic component having a terminal electrode; a conductive cloth member joined to the terminal electrode as a metal terminal; and a cushioning member supporting the electronic component and the cloth member, in which the cloth member is joined to at least a mounting surface of the cushioning member and a joint surface of the cushioning member to which the electronic component is joined, and the terminal electrode of the electronic component is joined to the cloth member on the joint surface of the cushioning member.