AVX has developed multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) arrays designed to shrink the circuit foot print, enhance EMI performance and improve overall manufacturing speed. The range of arrays include two-element arrays in 0405 and 0508 packages and four-element arrays in 0508 and 0612 packages with capacitance values ranging from 1pf to 2.2uf and voltages of 6.3V to 100V.
When used in switched capacitor voltage doubling inverter designs the arrays provide significant performance enhancements, including improved EMI emissions and manufacturing speed, versus inductor based circuits. The CMOS based circuits have an added advantage of low operating current (~150uA) and an operating efficiency greater than 90% with most loads.
The switched capacitor voltage doubling inverters are available in SO8 and miniature SO8 packages and a completed circuit would require the IC and three periphery capacitors. The capacitor arrays reduce the size of the periphery capacitors in a voltage doubler. The most common applications of this circuit are LCD contrast biasing, GaAs power amplifiers, interface power supplies, PDA / notebooks and hand held electronics.