Interactive online simulation tool for capacitors

The portals provide electrical and performance characteristics by frequency and temperature for an extensive range of multilayer ceramic or tantalum, polymer, and niobium oxide surface-mount capacitors.

The new SpiCAT software also simplifies capacitor selection, grouping different product series by common application features, and allows design engineers to review electrical characteristics for individual part numbers with respect to temperature and frequency to support quick, easy, and accurate parametric characterisation and the rapid identification of capacitor solutions that are suited to their individual application requirements.

The updated software also offers enhanced functionality. Once a part has been selected, interactive graphs allow users to identify the effect that modified frequencies and temperatures have on parameters including capacitance, equivalent series resistance (ESR), dissipation factor (DF), impedance, ripple voltage, and ripple current.

The program also allows users to input application voltage and temperature information to chart direct current leakage (DCL) over time, provides an equivalent circuit diagram with characteristics for each parameter. Other new features allow users download 3D models of each case size, print out graphs and parameters for selected part numbers, and check inventory in distributor stock.

Mitch Weaver, member of the technical staff, AVX, stated: “AVX is continuously working to improve our customers’ experience, and our newly redesigned SpiCAT simulation software does just that. We’re very proud to share our responsive, new SpiCAT software and to better support our customers’ design programs by providing quick, easy, and accurate parametric characterisation for an extensive range of surface-mount MLCC, tantalum, polymer, and niobium oxide capacitors.”