THE CHARACTERIZATION OF PASSIVE MULTILAYER COMPONENTS BY ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELD COMPUTATION

A method for evaluation of discrete system parameters by continuous system modelling is presented. Electromagnetic field computation with the finite element method is used for the design or passive multilayer components. A complex electric scalar potential and a complex magnetic vector potential formulation are chosen to calculate electromagnetic field quantities. Both formulations are adjusted to take into account conducting and displacement currents. Also an energy method is described to compute the parameters of an electric equivalent circuit scheme from the electric and magnetic field distribution in a component. Field and parameter computation are tested with two high frequency multilayer ceramic capacitors of low capacitance values and compared to the results of conventional design methods and to measured quantities.