Capacitor having separate terminals on three or more sides and methods of fabrication

Abstract

A multilayer capacitor comprises separate terminals on at least three sides, and on as many as six sides. The capacitor can be fabricated in a large number of different configurations, types, and sizes, depending upon the target application. The separate terminals that are disposed on different sides of the capacitor can be readily coupled to a variety of different adjacent conductors, such as die terminals (including bumpless terminals or bars), IC package terminals (including pads or bars), and the terminals of adjacent discrete components. Methods of fabrication, as well as application of the capacitor to an electronic assembly, are also described.

1 . An electronic assembly comprising: 
 a capacitor including 
 a body having first and second charge-storing elements in its interior, and having a plurality of planar exterior sides; and  
 P separate terminals on at least three exterior sides, M of the separate terminals being coupled to the first charge-storing element, and N of the separate terminals being coupled to the second charge-storing element,  
   wherein M, N, and P are positive integers, and wherein P=M+N; and    at least one electrical element having a plurality of terminals coupled to the P separate terminals of the capacitor, wherein the at least one electrical element comprises a planar exterior surface opposing one of the exterior sides of the capacitor, wherein the at least one electrical element comprises a conductive bar protruding outwardly from the exterior surface and coupled to a second exterior side of the capacitor, and wherein the capacitor is disposed on the exterior surface of the at least one electrical element.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the capacitor has a thickness, and wherein the conductive bar has a height approximately equal to the capacitor thickness.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electrical element is from the group comprising an electrical component and a substrate.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 3 , wherein the electrical component comprises a capacitor.  
   
   
       5 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 3 , wherein the electrical component comprises an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the P separate terminals comprise four separate terminals on four different ones of the plurality of exterior sides.  
   
   
       7 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the P separate terminals comprise five separate terminals on five different ones of the plurality of exterior sides.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the P separate terminals comprise six separate terminals on six different ones of the plurality of exterior sides.  
   
   
       9 . The electronic assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the capacitor body has a geometrical shape of a rectangular solid.  
   
   
       10 . A method of fabricating a capacitor having a body with an interior and a plurality of exterior sides comprising: 
 forming first and second charge-storing elements that are separated by a dielectric material;    forming first and second terminals coupled to the first and second charge-storing elements, respectively, and disposed on first and second ones of the plurality of exterior sides;    forming at least one conductor within the interior;    forming at least one additional conductor within the interior;    forming a third terminal coupled to the first charge-storing element and disposed on a third one of the plurality of exterior sides, wherein the third terminal is electrically coupled to the first terminal only via the first charge-storing element and the at least one conductor;    forming a fourth terminal coupled to the second charge-storing element and disposed on a fourth one of the plurality of exterior sides, wherein the fourth terminal is electrically coupled to the second terminal only via the second charge-storing element; and    forming a fifth terminal coupled to the second charge-storing element and disposed on a fifth one of the plurality of exterior sides, wherein the fifth terminal is electrically coupled to the second terminal only via the second charge-storing element and the at least one additional conductor.    
   
   
       11 . The method recited in  claim 10  and further comprising: 
 forming a sixth terminal coupled to the first charge-storing element and disposed on a sixth one of the plurality of exterior sides, wherein the sixth terminal is electrically coupled to the first terminal only via the first charge-storing element.    
   
   
       12 . The method recited in  claim 10 , wherein, in forming, the plurality of exterior sides are of a rectangular solid.  
   
   
       13 . A method comprising: 
 positioning a capacitor having separate terminals on at least three sides on a flat exterior surface of a substrate;    electrically coupling a separate terminal of a first side to a first terminal on the substrate;    electrically coupling a separate terminal of a second side to a second terminal on the substrate; and    electrically coupling a separate terminal of a third side to a third terminal on the substrate, wherein, in coupling, either or both of the second and third terminals comprise a conductive bar protruding outwardly from the substrate surface.    
   
   
       14 . The method recited in  claim 13 , wherein, in coupling, an additional separate terminal of the first side is electrically coupled to an additional terminal on the substrate.  
   
   
       15 . The method recited in  claim 13 , wherein, in coupling, the separate terminal of the first side is electrically coupled to an additional terminal on the substrate.  
   
   
       16 . A method comprising: 
 positioning a capacitor having P separate terminals on at least three sides adjacent to a substrate having M terminals;    positioning an electrical element having N terminals adjacent to the capacitor; and    electrically coupling the P separate terminals to the M terminals and N terminals, wherein M, N, and P are positive integers, and wherein P=M+N; and    wherein, in positioning, at least one terminal of either or both the substrate and the electrical element comprises a conductive bar that protrudes outwardly from a surface of the respective substrate and/or electrical element.    
   
   
       17 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein, in positioning the capacitor, the capacitor has P separate terminals on at least four sides.  
   
   
       18 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein, in positioning the capacitor, the capacitor has P separate terminals on at least five sides.  
   
   
       19 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein, in positioning the capacitor, the capacitor has P separate terminals on at least six sides.  
   
   
       20 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein, in positioning the capacitor, the M terminals of the substrate comprise at least one conductive bar.  
   
   
       21 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein, in positioning the capacitor, the M terminals of the substrate comprise two conductive bars, and the capacitor is positioned between the two conductive bars.  
   
   
       22 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein, in positioning the electrical element, the N terminals of the electrical element comprise at least one conductive bar.  
   
   
       23 . The method recited in  claim 16 , wherein, in positioning the electrical element, the N terminals of the electrical element comprise two conductive bars, and the two conductive bars are positioned on either side of the capacitor.