Cornell Dubilier Electronics ultralow-profile aluminium electrolytic capacitors

Traditionally, capacitors with large capacitance require a certain volume to accommodate electrodes and dielectric materials. However, due to advances in material science and engineering, designers can now achieve higher energy density with a single component, rather than multiple discrete capacitors with a lower overall MTBF (mean time between failure).

CDE (Cornell Dubilier Electronics) has introduced ultralow-profile electrolytic capacitors as thin as 1 mm with capacitance up to 20,000 uF (9 VDC @ 85°C or 6.3 VDC @ 125°C). With a surface area of 177 cm², the capacitor can withstand 54 A RMS ripple current (at 20 kHz with external thermal management) and is especially suited to power-demanding operations.

The part is designed to operate in a wide temperature range (­­‑55 to +125°C) and high altitude (>3000 m) and to withstand shock, vibration and moisture (tested according to MIL-STD-202). Furthermore, the shape, size and capacitance can be customised to fit specific end-product design requirements.

If higher voltage is required, different product series at up to 3 mm thickness are available to offer 1500 uF (63 VDC at 85°C) to 24,000 uF (4 VDC at 85°C). Mating is achieved via FPC leads with ZIF connectors to satisfy low-profile applications and to reduce PCB footprint compared to an array of SMT capacitors.

Designers can therefore think slim and are not limited by the traditional boxy style. This should extend the marketability and practicality of their end products across categories including consumer, industrial and other demanding segments.