A body includes dielectric films, first electrode films, and second electrode films being stacked on one another or being wound together. A first external electrode is at one end of the body and electrically connected to the first electrode films. A second external electrode is at another end of the body and electrically connected to the second electrode films. The body includes a capacitance portion in which each of the first electrode films faces a corresponding second electrode film of the second electrode films with a corresponding dielectric film of the dielectric films in between, and the capacitance portion includes spaces each between a corresponding dielectric film of the dielectric films and a corresponding first electrode film of the first electrode films or between a corresponding dielectric film of the dielectric films and a corresponding second electrode film of the second electrode films.

An apparatus and associated method for an energy-storage device (e.g., a capacitor) having a plurality of electrically conducting electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a non-electrically conducting region, and wherein the non-electrically conducting region further includes a non-uniform permittivity (K) value. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a substrate; fabricating a first electrode on the substrate; and fabricating a second electrode such that the second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a non-electrically conducting region, wherein the non-electrically conducting region has a non-uniform permittivity (K) value. The capacitor devices will find benefit for use in electric vehicles, of all kinds, uninterruptible power supplies, wind turbines, mobile phones, and the like requiring wide temperature ranges from several hundreds of degrees C. down to absolute zero, consumer electronics operating in a temperature range of −55 degrees C. to 125 degrees C.

An apparatus and associated method for an energy-storage device (e.g., a capacitor) having a plurality of electrically conducting electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a non-electrically conducting region, and wherein the non-electrically conducting region further includes a non-uniform permittivity (K) value. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a substrate; fabricating a first electrode on the substrate; and fabricating a second electrode such that the second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a non-electrically conducting region, wherein the non-electrically conducting region has a non-uniform permittivity (K) value. The capacitor devices will find benefit for use in electric vehicles, of all kinds, uninterruptible power supplies, wind turbines, mobile phones, and the like requiring wide temperature ranges from several hundreds of degrees C. down to absolute zero, consumer electronics operating in a temperature range of −55 degrees C. to 125 degrees C.

A spark gap including a capacitive energy store is provided. The spark gap is fed via a multiplicity of capacitors arranged in a form of a ring, wherein the capacitors are electrically connected to the anode and the cathode via ring-shaped and conical or funnel-shaped conductors. As a result, sudden changes in impedance can be avoided. At the same time, it is possible to realize as large a cross-sectional area of the conductor as possible within a very small space. Therefore, the spark gap has a switching response with a high rate of rise of the voltage pulse as soon as the spark gaps flash over. This results in an easily predictable switching response of the spark gap. The spark gap can be used, for example, to generate pulses of monochromatic X-ray radiation.

The present invention relates to an electrode unit (10, 20) for an electric vacuum capacitor comprising a band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) with a height H, wherein the band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) is wound in a spiral with a maximum diameter D.sub.max and a constant distance between successive turns, wherein the band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) comprises a first longitudinal edge (11a, 21a) attached to a supporting part (12) and a second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b), the second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b) being free, wherein at the outer extremity of the spiral, the first longitudinal edge (11a, 21a) and the second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b) are connected by an inclined edge (11c, 21c) such that the first longitudinal edge (11a, 21a) is longer than the second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b), wherein the inclined edge (11c, 21c) forms with the longitudinal axis (B) of the band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) an angle α less than or equal to an angle α.sub.max=(45°.Math.π/180°). The invention relates also to a vacuum capacitor (30) comprising at least one electrode unit (10, 20) according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to an electrode unit (10, 20) for an electric vacuum capacitor comprising a band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) with a height H, wherein the band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) is wound in a spiral with a maximum diameter D.sub.max and a constant distance between successive turns, wherein the band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) comprises a first longitudinal edge (11a, 21a) attached to a supporting part (12) and a second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b), the second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b) being free, wherein at the outer extremity of the spiral, the first longitudinal edge (11a, 21a) and the second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b) are connected by an inclined edge (11c, 21c) such that the first longitudinal edge (11a, 21a) is longer than the second longitudinal edge (11b, 21b), wherein the inclined edge (11c, 21c) forms with the longitudinal axis (B) of the band-shaped capacitor plate (11, 21) an angle α less than or equal to an angle α.sub.max=(45°.Math.π/180°). The invention relates also to a vacuum capacitor (30) comprising at least one electrode unit (10, 20) according to the present invention.

A capacitor assembly, configured for a high-voltage application, contains an active capacitor part, a housing for accommodating the active capacitor part and an insulating medium for the electrical insulation of the active capacitor part. A flexible-shape inlay is arranged between the insulating medium and the housing and connected electrically thereto. Ideally the capacitor assembly is part of a converter assembly.

A vacuum-capacitor-type instrument voltage transformer (1) is equipped with a main capacitor (2) and an insulating tube (3) that accommodates the main capacitor (2). A voltage dividing capacitor (4) is connected to the main capacitor (2) in series. The main capacitor (2) is equipped with a plurality of vacuum capacitors (2a) to (2c) that are connected in series. A high-voltage-side electrode (6) is provided on a high-voltage side of the insulating tube (3), and a ground-side electrode (7) is provided on its low-voltage side. The high-voltage-side electrode (6) is equipped with a high-voltage shield (8). Electrostatic capacity of the vacuum capacitor (for example, the vacuum capacitor (2a)) disposed on the high-voltage side is set to be greater than electrostatic capacity of the vacuum capacitor (for example, the vacuum capacitor (2b)) disposed on the low-voltage side.

A vacuum-capacitor-type instrument voltage transformer (1) is equipped with a main capacitor (2) and an insulating tube (3) that accommodates the main capacitor (2). A voltage dividing capacitor (4) is connected to the main capacitor (2) in series. The main capacitor (2) is equipped with a plurality of vacuum capacitors (2a) to (2c) that are connected in series. A high-voltage-side electrode (6) is provided on a high-voltage side of the insulating tube (3), and a ground-side electrode (7) is provided on its low-voltage side. The high-voltage-side electrode (6) is equipped with a high-voltage shield (8). Electrostatic capacity of the vacuum capacitor (for example, the vacuum capacitor (2a)) disposed on the high-voltage side is set to be greater than electrostatic capacity of the vacuum capacitor (for example, the vacuum capacitor (2b)) disposed on the low-voltage side.

A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body including a stack of dielectric layers and internal electrodes, and an external electrode electrically connected to each of the internal electrodes and provided at each of both end surfaces of the ceramic body. The external electrode includes a metal layer and a plating layer on the metal layer. In a cross section of the metal layer that is obtained by cutting the external electrode along a plane parallel to a side surface at a central position in a width direction, the metal layer includes a dielectric material at an area ratio of about 20% or more, and includes cavities at an area ratio of about 5% or more and about 20% or less, the cavities having an average diameter of about 0.5 μm or more and about 1.5 μm or less, and having a maximum diameter of about 5.0 μm or less.