Addressing Performance Differences in Horizontal

and Vertical Orientation Mounting of Multi-Layer

Capacitors

H. Patel, L. Levesque, H. Morales, L. Dunleavy of Modelithics, Inc.

Tampa, USA
hpatel@modelithics.com

Abstract— An experimental analysis is presented spotlighting The examples presented show measurement data of 0805
the performance differences of horizontal and vertical mounting multilayer ceramic capacitors mounted in 2-port series
of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) on a PCB in electronic configuration in horizontal and vertical mounting orientation
design and simulation. The MLCC performance depends on the (Figure 2). The measurements are also plotted along with the
orientation of the electrode plates with reference to the ground corresponding Modelithics orientation selectable Microwave
plane. The measurement of capacitor vertically mounted Global Model™ [3] simulation for the same capacitor, with the
eliminates the odd-numbered parallel resonances. To avoid the model parameter set for both horizontal and vertical
parallel resonance in the frequency band of interest, one should configuration (Figure 3).
use vertical orientation over horizontal orientation of MLCC for
a selected part value. Mounting orientation is often difficult to
determine by the physical part dimensions for the capacitors
with same width and height, but the performance difference
identifies the orientation very clearly. This multilayer capacitor
behavior is important to consider in electronic design, so
orientation option is now offered as a feature in Modelithics
Microwave Global Models(TM) for many capacitor families.
Examples are presented to illustrate how the horizontal/vertical
differences of the capacitor measurements are accurately
addressed in these novel simulation models.

Keywords— passive model, horizontal vertical orientation,

multilayer capacitor, capacitor model.

I. INTRODUCTION
A multilayer capacitor typically consists of parallel
electrode plates aligned within a dielectric brick. In a
microstrip configuration, when the plates are parallel to the
plane of the substrate, this is considered horizontal orientation.
When the MLCC is mounted so that the plates are
perpendicular to the substrate plane, the capacitor is considered
to be in vertical orientation (Figure 1). The horizontally
mounted MLCC exhibits behavior similar to that of an open-
circuited transmission line, driven from its opposite end. The
vertically mounted MLCC exhibits behavior similar to that of a
transmission line open-circuited at each end, driven from the
center, and thus resonating at a higher frequency than in the
horizontal case. Therefore, to avoid the so-called “parallel Fig. 1. MLCC internal plate orientation compared to fixture pad
resonance” in a given frequency band, i.e., the circumstance metal in horizontal and vertical configurations.
where the open-circuited transmission line is a half-wave long
and creates a sharp increase in main-line insertion loss, one
should select the vertical orientation over the horizontal
orientation for a selected part value [1,2].

‹,(((
Fig. 2. Example capacitor mounted in horizontal (top image) and
vertical (bottom image) orientation.
Fig. 4. Measured S-parameter performance of 12pF 0805N series
capacitor in horizontal (H) and vertical (V) orientation on 4 mil
Rogers 4350B and 60 mil Rogers 4003C. Legend: Red line –
horizontal orientation of the part, Blue line – vertical orientation of
the part. H/V resonant behavior differences are circled.

Model Features/Capabilities
Broadband Validation
Equivalent Circuit Based
Substrate Scalable
Part Value Scalable
Land Pattern Scalable
Accurate Effective Series Resistance
*Orientation Selectable

Fig. 3. Capacitor model symbol (in ADS) showing orientation

selection parameter, and list of additional features and capabilities
available with the advanced simulation models.
II. PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ORIENTATION OF A
CAPACITOR
Fig. 5. Measured S-parameter performance of 33pF 0805N series
capacitor in horizontal (H) and vertical (V) orientation on 4 mil
Rogers 4350B and 60 mil Rogers 4003C. Legend: Red line –
horizontal orientation of the part, Blue line – vertical orientation of
the part. H/V resonant behavior differences are circled.

Passive Plus 0805N series 12pF and 33pF capacitors are

mounted on 4 mil Rogers 4350B and 60 mil Rogers 4003C
substrates in horizontal and vertical mounting configurations.
The same pad dimensions are used on the fixtures for both
horizontal and vertical orientation. It is observed from the
measurement data that the vertical oriented capacitor response
is missing a first parallel resonance that is seen in the
horizontal oriented capacitor response (See Figures 4 and 5).
III. MODELITHICS ORIENTATION SELECTABLE MODEL
VS MEASUREMENT
Modelithics developed a measurement-based substrate and
part value scalable, orientation selectable Microwave Global
Model for the Passive Plus 0805N capacitor series. Selection of
“Orient = 0” under the model properties gives the model
performance for horizontal mounting and “Orient = 1” gives
performance for vertical mounting of the part on the specified
substrate. The model performance is shown in Figures 6 and 7
along with measurement data on 4 mil Rogers 4350B and 60
mil Rogers 4003C substrates. Modelithics scalable capacitor
models adjust with user-provided inputs to predict accurate
series resonance and parallel resonances for horizontal and
vertical mounting orientations. The consistent pattern of first
and second-order parallel resonance (FPR and SPR) for the
horizontal and vertical orientations of the model for different
capacitance values is shown in Figure 8.
Fig. 6. S-parameter performance of Modelithics model vs.
measurement data of 12pF 0805N series capacitor in horizontal
orientation on 4 mil Rogers 4350 and 60 mil Rogers 4003C. Legend:
Red line – Modelithics model performance, Blue circles –
Measurement data of horizontal orientation of the part.
Fig. 7. S-parameter performance of Modelithics model vs.
measurement data of 12pF 0805N series capacitor in vertical
orientation on 4 mil Rogers 4350 and 60 mil Rogers 4003C. Legend:
Red line – Modelithics model performance, Blue circles –
Measurement data of vertical orientation of the part.
Fig. 8. Trend of first and second parallel resonance (FPR and SPR) by
capacitance value for the 0805N model in horizontal and vertical
orientation Blue squares – FPR horizontal, Pink squares – SPR
horizontal, Purple “x” – FPR vertical.
IV. SUMMARY
This paper highlights the differences in response of a
capacitor mounted in horizontal orientation in a design versus
response when mounted in vertical orientation. The most
notable effect seen is the extra resonance in the measurement
when the capacitor is mounted horizontally, or with internal
electrode plates parallel to the test fixture and ground plane. By
including the feature of horizontal and vertical orientation in
advanced simulation models, very detailed and precise
comparison and analysis of designs is made possible, including
accounting for possible performance issues that may arise due
to mounting configuration.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge the engineering
staff at Passive Plus, Inc. for the various subject-related
conversations we’ve had and the collaboration on capacitor
orientation testing we’ve done over the years.
REFERENCES
[1] “MLC Application Notes”, Dielectric Laboratories,
www.knowlescapacitors.com/dilabs/en/gn/resources/application-notes.
[2] M. Ingals, G. Kent, "Monolithic Capacitors as Transmission Lines",
IEEE MTT-35, No. 11, November 1987.
[3] S. Skidmore, L. Levesque, S. Muir (Modelithics), J. Boh, H. Yap
(Keysight Technologies), “Understanding S-Parameter Vs. Equivalent
Circuit-based Models For RLC Component Simulations In Keysight
ADS And Genesys”, Modelithics White Paper, December 2014.