Miniaturization is one of the megatrends in electronics. It is driven by several factors, including the demand for increasing functional density in electrical equipment. In other words, increasing versatility must be combined with smaller dimensions, lower weight and greater ease of use. Thus, mobile phones now offer applications extending far beyond telephony such as cameras, MP3 players, navigation systems, or TV and radio. They also feature interfaces for data transfer such as USB, Bluetooth and wireless LAN. Moreover, high-end mobile phones must allow users to phone everywhere easily. They have to be able to operate using several different mobile phone standards and therefore offer multimode and multiband capability. The demand for more functions accommodated in a smaller space can be realized only if electronic components become even more compact or integrate more functions.

EPCOS is a trendsetter in miniaturization, especially in the area of RF applications, for which it manufactures several key components:

• The market share for UMTS mobile phones is growing steadily. EPCOS supplies the most compact duplexers for specific frequency bands defined by the UMTS mobile phone standards. They combine transmit and receive filters in a single package while allowing simultaneous transmission and reception. With its BAW-SAW duplexers, EPCOS is the first manufacturer to combine the benefits of two filter technologies in a single component.

• The SIM card in a mobile phone identifies the user in the network. The ultra-flat ESD/EMI module from EPCOS with an insertion height of less than 0.5 millimeters protects both the card – that is vital for security – and the terminal from electrostatic discharges (ESD) and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

The demand for miniaturized components is also growing in other areas as well. Here too, EPCOS presents a range of innovative solutions that assume key functions in their applications:

• For the fast-growing market for variable-speed and thus energy-saving drives of industrial machinery, we have developed aluminum electrolytic capacitors with a current handling capability around 20 percent higher than that of competitor products of the same volume. We also offer space-saving Power Capacitor Chips (PCCs) for such applications.

• Our products play a major role in the protection of electronic circuits. Among them are varistors, i.e. voltage-dependent resistors designed to protect residential electrical connections, mobile phone base stations and industrial machinery from surge voltages. EPCOS has increased the power handling capability of its varistors by up to 60 percent without compromising their compact dimensions.

• Miniaturized and calibrated pressure sensors with digital interface are key components for measurment and control in automotive and industrial electronics. Further fields of application are medical and environmental technology.

• Inductors are used particularly in automotive and industrial electronics to suppress high frequency interference or as storage chokes in power supplies. These components combine high performance with minimum space requirements.

SAW components: Most compact UMTS duplexers in case size 2016

EPCOS is pushing the miniaturization of UMTS duplexers ever further: the new filter components for W-CDMA bands I and V in case size 2016 have a footprint of only 2.0 x 1.6 mm² and an extremely low insertion height of 0.45 mm. EPCOS is currently also developing duplexers of this case size for other frequently used W-CDMA bands.  more

SAW components: Production start for world’s smallest UMTS duplexer

The new duplexer for the WCDMA Bands V/VI features a footprint of just 2.5 x 2.0 mm² and an ultra-flat insertion height of 0.5 mm.  more

SAW components: Smallest duplexer for WCDMA Band VIII

EPCOS has developed the smallest duplexer for the WCDMA Band VIII. The duplexer is based on a SAW-SAW combination and measures in at only 3.0 x 2.5 X 1.1 mm^³. The product features very high isolation values with simultaneously low insertion losses of 1.7 dB in the Tx path and 2.0 dB in the Rx path.  more

SAW components: 2-in-1 filter for GPS and Bluetooth

EPCOS is driving the miniaturization of filters for connectivity applications forwards with its 2-in-1 filter for GPS and Bluetooth. The component has dimensions of only 2.0 x 1.6 mm² and has outstanding filter properties. The degree of integration has been increased at the same time, as the 2-in-1 filter also offers a diplexing function. The diplexer separates the GPS from the Bluetooth signal, a necessary step when using only a single antenna for both applications.  more

SAW components: Smallest triplexer worldwide

EPCOS has developed the smallest family of triplexers worldwide, which integrate filters for cellular, PCS and GPS systems in a single component. These triplexers measure only 2 x 2.5 mm² and are thus significantly smaller than competitor products at 3.2 x 3.2 mm².  more

Front-end modules: Advanced multiplexers for UMTS

EPCOS has developed several new multimode and multiband front-end modules that allow future mobile phones to use the different frequency bands of UMTS.  more

SAW components: First BAW-SAW duplexer worldwide

The first prototypes of a combined BAW-SAW duplexer for WCDMA Band II were completed in February 2007. They combine the advantages of the BAW and SAW filter technologies in a single component.  more

SAW-BAW duplexers for WCDMA: Best of both worlds

The antenna duplexer in CDMA phones acts as a passive crossover network that conducts the RF signals from the power amplifier to the antenna in the transmit direction along the Tx path.  more

LTCC modules: World’s smallest front-end module for WLAN and Bluetooth

EPCOS has developed the most compact all-in-one front-end module worldwide for Bluetooth and WLAN applications to the 802.11 b/g/n standard. With an insertion height of 1.4 mm, it has a footprint of only 4.5 x 3.2 mm² on the circuit board.  more

ESD/EMI modules: High fidelity

EPCOS developed a new combined dual ESD/EMI audio filter that effectively reduces parasitic noise and increases audio quality. The filter features low series resistance and combines EMI filtering and ESD protection in a 0405, 2-fold array, package.  more

CeraDiode: Protection for high-speed applications

EPCOS has developed a new array in SOT-666 on the basis of the proven CeraDiode technology (corresponding to case size 0506). Despite its compact size, the CDA3C05GTH array accommodates no fewer than five CeraDiodes. With the new CDA3C05GTH CeraDiode Array (case size 0506, SOT-666) it is possible to protect one or two USB interfaces or one Firewire interface and save costs and space at the same time.  more

Ceramic components: ESD/EMI modules for SIM card readers

Four Pi filters and four varistors are integrated in the module. This permits significant space-saving compared to discrete solutions.  more

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors: Ultra-compact solution

The new snap-in aluminum electrolytic capacitors of the B43305 and B43508 series from EPCOS enable converter solutions with significant space-saving ability. The components feature the same electrical properties as earlier types, but are smaller by up to two case classes.  more

Aluminum electrolytic capacitors: More current handling capacity with the same volume

EPCOS has developed the new B43540 snap-in aluminum electrolytic capacitor specifically for link-circuit applications in frequency converters. The capacitors feature a 20 percent increase in current handling capacity in comparison to previous products of the same volume.  more

Power capacitors: Space-saving link-circuit capacitors

The PCC series of Power Capacitor Chips, which is well suited for applications such as IGBT frequency converters, covers the capacitance range from 100 μF to 3000 μF at operating voltages between 100 V DC and 1000 V DC.  more

Film capacitors: Reliable space-saving solutions

The new compact Y2 EMI suppression capacitors from EPCOS are connected to protective ground between the neutral conductor and phase to suppress high-frequency interference and transients. They thus protect the equipment and allow it to operate reliably.  more

Varistors: Higher surge current capability

EPCOS has developed the LS41 and LS42 series of varistors with higher surge current capability for surge voltage protection in industrial and consumer electronics. Both series have retained the compact dimensions of the proven series LS40 of 37.5 x 46 mm² (W x H).  more

Arresters: World's smallest arrester

EPCOS has developed the world’s smallest leaded gas-filled 2-electrode arrester. With a length of 3.5 mm, it has a diameter of just 2.8 mm. The G3 arrester series is available with response voltages ranging from 75 to 600 V DC.  more

Barometric pressure sensors: Gel-protected sensors with calibrated interfaces

EPCOS has extended its series of gel-protected barometric pressure sensors to include new types that feature calibrated analog interfaces. And at only 4 x 4 x 2.5 mm³ they are the world’s smallest sensors of their kind. The heart of the new ASB1200V1 and ASB1200VR sensors is a piezoresistive sensor chip, which is mounted in hybrid technology together with the ASIC.  more

Barometric pressure sensors: Smallest sensor with digital interface

EPCOS has set a further milestone in the miniaturization of pressure sensors: with dimensions of only 2.2 x 2.6 x 0.9 mm³ the calibrated and temperature-compensated T5300 digital pressure sensor is the world’s most compact packaged sensor of its kind.  more

Pressure sensor elements: Rugged all-rounders

The sensor elements of the C32 family have dimensions of only 1.65 x 1.65 mm². EPCOS has equipped these new chips with optimized bond pads featuring offset test-pad structures for wafer probers. Like the successful C28 and C29 series, the miniaturized C32 variant allows the use of a glass substrate at chip level on both the upper and lower sides of the sensor elements.  more

DSL transformers: More room on DSL line cards

EPCOS has combined a transformer with a film capacitor in order to create the new T-Cap module. This reduces the space requirement on DSL line cards by about a third compared with the previously used discrete components.  more

Inductors: High-current series extended to 71 A

With its new standard ERU25 series, EPCOS now offers high-current chokes in surface-mount technology with current capabilities of up to 71 A. The ERU25 is based on improved ferrite cores and flat rectangular wires that allow a copper filling factor of almost 100 percent.  more

Inductors: Miniaturized high-current version

With its new high-current version, the SIMID 1210-H, EPCOS has made a significant step forward in the miniaturization of SMT inductors. The SIMID 1210-H features a volume reduction of 60 percent, while covering the electrical specifications of standard versions in the 1812 size.  more