Navigation for Capacitor Terms
"A",
"B/C",
"D",
"E",
"F",
"G",
"I/L",
"M/N/O",
"P",
"Q/R",
"S",
"T",
"V/Z"
'Da' to 'Dh', 'Di' to 'Dz'
DC leakage (DCL): Stray direct current of relatively small value which flows through or across the surface of solid or liquid insulation when a voltage is impressed across the insulation.
Decoupling Capacitor: Also called an IC By-Pass capacitor. A capacitor which decouples the effects of the power supply [for example] from an Integrated Circuit [IC]. By placing a decoupling capacitor next to an IC, the lead inductance to the power supply is reduced 'de-coupled by the near-by capacitor, which has far less trace inductance.
Derating: The act of selecting a device which has a higher voltage rating, temperature rating, or capacitance than required for the given application. How to Derate Capacitors.
DF: Dissipation Factor. The ratio of resistance to reactance as a percent.
Design Hint;
Take note of the via locations in the Decoupling Capacitor diagram. The via is always placed on the far side of the trace, away from the Integrated Circuit [IC]. The capacitor than discharges directly to the IC over the simple trace with out the need to transverse the via, which acts as a low pass filter.