A small capacitor gives more power. It is smaller in size, has higher capacitance, and is made for future cars. Could this change ADAS and autonomous systems?
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has started mass production of the GCM21BE71H106KE02 multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC), the world’s first 0805-inch size MLCC that delivers 10µF capacitance with a 50Vdc rating for automotive use. The device achieves high capacitance and reliability in a smaller package without lowering the voltage rating, helping save PCB space, reduce capacitor count, and meet the reliability needs of compact, high-density automotive power and control systems.
The capacitor is aimed at automotive design engineers and manufacturers developing ADAS, autonomous driving systems, ECUs, and other vehicle electronics. With the growing use of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) technologies, the number of integrated circuits (ICs) inside vehicles continues to rise. As more ICs are added, demand for high-capacitance passive components increases, while engineers must also address tighter space limits on crowded automotive printed circuit boards (PCBs).
The MLCC addresses these challenges. Optimized for 12V automotive power lines, it uses Murata’s proprietary ceramic material and thinning processes to reduce the total number of capacitors required. Compared to Murata’s earlier 4.7µF/50Vdc MLCC in the same 0805 size, the new capacitor provides about 2.1 times the capacitance. It also delivers the same 10µF/50Vdc rating as Murata’s previous 1206-inch MLCC, but in a package that is about 53% smaller, enabling more compact and efficient automotive designs.
Looking ahead, the company plans to continue advancing MLCC miniaturization and capacitance while broadening its product lineup for the automotive sector. At the same time, the company is working to reduce material use and improve production efficiency, lowering electricity consumption in manufacturing and reducing environmental impact.
