2025. 2. 11. 15:08ㆍKorean Economy
On the 5th, Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced that it has developed an ultra-compact, high-voltage multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) for autonomous vehicles, positioning itself to expand in the high-performance automotive electronics market.
MLCCs are components that regulate and stabilize electric currents in electronic circuits. They are widely used in smartphones, PCs, IT devices, home appliances, automobiles, 5G networks, and IoT-related products. In automobiles, MLCCs are essential for power transmission, safety, driving, and infotainment systems, with each vehicle containing between 3,000 and 10,000 MLCCs.
The newly developed MLCC measures 1005 in size (1.0 mm x 0.5 mm) and offers 2.2µF capacitance at 10V. It is designed for LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems, which are a key component in autonomous driving technology.
LiDAR helps vehicles detect their surroundings and measure distances with high precision, ensuring safe driving. Since it provides 360-degree real-time object recognition, obtaining millimeter-level precision data requires stable power supply and accurate signal transmission, making ultra-compact, high-capacity MLCCs essential.
Additionally, because LiDAR sensors are mounted on the exterior of vehicles, they are exposed to extreme conditions such as temperature fluctuations, humidity, and impact. As a result, high-voltage MLCCs with twice the standard safety margin and superior reliability are necessary for LiDAR systems.
The newly developed MLCC achieves industry-leading voltage performance within the same size category.
Typically, increasing both voltage and capacitance simultaneously in an MLCC is challenging. Higher voltage requires a thicker dielectric material to store electricity, but this reduces the number of dielectric layers that can be stacked, making it difficult to achieve high capacitance.
To overcome this, Samsung Electro-Mechanics developed a proprietary additive material and introduced a new manufacturing technique that minimizes empty spaces within the dielectric, ensuring stable operation even under high voltage.
Furthermore, this MLCC is the first in the world to receive AEC-Q200 certification, the global reliability standard for automotive electronic components, at 1005 size, 2.2µF, and 10V high voltage. It can also be applied to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), body control systems, chassis components, and infotainment systems in vehicles.
With the advancement of autonomous driving technologies and the expansion of the electric vehicle market, demand for high-capacity, high-reliability MLCCs is expected to grow steadily.
According to market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the automotive MLCC market is projected to grow from KRW 4.5 trillion (USD 3.3 billion) in 2024 to KRW 10 trillion (USD 7.3 billion) by 2028.