Samsung Electro-Mechanics launches new MLCC for 5G phones

Samsung Electro-Mechanics' multi-layer ceramic capacitors / Courtesy of Samsung Electro-Mechanics

By Baek Byung-yeul

Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced Wednesday that it has developed a new multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) that is slimmer and capable of reducing high-frequency noise from 5G smartphone processor chips.

The ultra-slim, three-socket MLCC is 18 percent thinner than its predecessor and supplies have already begun to global smartphone manufacturers, according to the IT component maker.

An MLCC is a core component of electronic devices, controlling the stable flow of current within electric circuits in smartphones and home appliances. With more cars adopting electronics equipment, MLCCs are also increasingly used in automobiles.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics said the new product is the thinnest among the “1209-class” (1.2-millimeters in length and 0.9-millimeters in width) three-socket MLCCs with a thickness of 0.65 millimeters, which allows smartphone makers more freedom in terms of product design.

The company said its previous products had a width of 0.8 millimeters due to limitations in minimizing the internal dielectric layer; but added that it had managed to come up with a thinner version by applying independent thin-layer molding and superfine dielectric layer technologies.

“There has been an increase in requests for slimmer components following an increase in the number of components and reduction in thickness of recent smartphones, with multi-functional and high-performance requirements, including 5G mobile communications and multi-cameras,” Samsung Electro-Mechanics said.

The company has added an additional earth socket to its new MLCC to help reduce high-frequency power noise generated from 5G network-enabled smartphones.

“We added earth sockets to efficiently remove high-frequency noise occurring from the application processor power unit.”

Samsung Electro-Mechanics started the MLCC business in 1988 and now has the second-largest global market share, while competing with Japanese and Taiwanese rivals. The global MLCC market was valued at 16 trillion won ($14.5 billion) in 2020 and is projected to grow to 20 trillion won in 2024.

“There has been a massive increase in miniature, high-performance, and highly-reliable MLCC demand with the commercialization of 5G mobile communications and the increasing amount of electronics equipment used in automobiles,” Kim Doo-young, head of the component unit at Samsung Electro-Mechanics, said.

“Samsung Electro-Mechanics will secure a leading position in the market by strengthening its distinctive technology, including the proprietary development of core materials and internalization of equipment, and manufacturing capabilities,” Kim added.

Industry analysts expect the company to perform better in 2021 as its smartphone components see increasing use. Kwon Sung-ryul, an analyst at DB Financial Investment, said Samsung Electro-Mechanics is expected to post an operating profit of 305.2 billion won in the first quarter, up 85.4 percent year-on-year.