Passive Components

Slimmer, smaller and feature-packed portable handsets have led to increased usage of various chip-type passive components, such as capacitors, inductors, and resistors, as they occupy less space and provide better performance than traditional lead-type products. This has led to local manufacturers increasing their production of chip-type components.



Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEM) has recently announced a full line-up for small high capacity MLCCs (multi-layer ceramic capacitors). The company introduced small, high capacity 2.2 µF MLCCs in 1005 (1.0 x 05 x 05 mm) case size last April, and developed 47 µF MLCCs in 2012 (2.0 x 1.25 x 1.25 mm) size last July. Rated for high voltages, the 1005 MLCCs can be used in various consumer electronics, such as cellular phones and notebook PCs, while 2012 MLCCs allow handheld devices to be slimmer and multifunctional while replacing traditional blocking capacitors. Last August, SEM also introduced 1608 (1.6 x 0.8 x 0.8 mm) 10 µF MLCCs.



“The small, ultra-high capacity MLCCs market will post double-digit growth this year and SEM will concentrate a lot more on these components,” says an SEM spokesman. Meanwhile, the company is also producing 100 µF MLCCs in 0603 (0.6 x 0.3 mm) case size, and plans to develop 220 µF MLCCs in 0603 by this year, which it claims will have the world’s highest capacity.



The strong demand for chip-type components is not only for capacitors, but also for inductors. ABCO Electronics has carried out its reorganization, and will focus its components business on mobile devices, such as power chip inductors for cellular phones, and LMC type inductors for DBM handsets. The company is now producing up to 3 million power chip inductors per month. The inductors are the core components used in DC/DC converters and maintain regular voltage with compensating voltage change of batteries in power circuits for mobile devices. The company has also begun mass production of its LPF 20 type ultra-small power inductors, which are used for power circuits in portable handsets.

“The market for chip-type inductors is growing,” says Park Jea Hwa, sales division director of ABCO. He forecasts that this growth will be gradual since many consumer electronics companies, especially those making white goods like refrigerators, still use lead-type inductors since space is not a constraining factor but for whom unit costs are an issue.



In the chip resistor sector, the overall technology gap between Korea and Japan is about three years. However, the gap between embedded and precise timing technology components has become narrower. HMR is expanding its production to provide chip resistors for display applications including PDPs. “Chip resistors account for about 30 percent of our total production,” says Kim Dae Young, assistant director of sales at HMR.



On the other hand, chip varistors protect IC circuits in mobile applications against static electricity and overvoltage. Typically 10 to 15 varistors are used in a cellular phone. As mobile handsets, such as camera phones, become smaller and integrate more features, the risk caused by static electricity increases leading to a growing demand for varistors.



Amotech is ranked second in revenue among the world’s chip varistor companies. The company currently has a dominating 70 percent market share in Korea, and plans to boost its global market share by up to 30 percent. The company is also developing new products and enhancing chip varistor technology using new ceramic material. Furthermore, Amotech is expanding their applications from portable electronics to telematics for automotive and consumer electronics.



Korea’s components manufactures are expecting higher revenue in second half of this year, and will focus more on new technology with new material development.