Kemet has expanded its portfolio of high-voltage, aluminum organic polymer capacitors (AO-CAPs) to include 12.5 V and 16 V offerings that now enable designers to use these capacitors with power rails up to 16 V. The AO-CAP is an attractive alternative to high-capacitance ceramics and a step up from other styles of aluminum-organic capacitors. The footprint of the capacitors allows for drop-in replacement of high-voltage, surface-mount tantalum capacitors and offers lower dc leakage when compared with other polymer-type solutions. In addition, the low-profile design — 2.0 mm maximum height — is suitable for use in applications where space restrictions must be considered — such as in portable electronics.

AO-CAPs are commonly used for microprocessor decoupling and for filtering in power management applications — such as hard drives, notebooks and flat panel displays. These latest releases extend the range of capability for AO-CAPs by allowing for integration of these components into 12 V and 15 V power input rails. They are also suitable for protected 14 V automotive application circuits.

In addition to increasing the voltage range of this series, Kemet has maintained low equivalent series resistance (ESR) values to ensure optimal performance in high-frequency applications.

The AO-CAPs exhibit excellent performance at high-frequencies while helping to reduce component count and to economize on circuit-board real estate. These AO-CAPs are available in the low-profile V-case size with capacitance values from 6.8 to 22 microfarads. ESR values range from 30 Ohms to 70 Ohms.