Harnessing proprietary core technologies designed to provide energy and communicate information, the Hitachi Cable Group focuses R&D efforts on meeting client needs in the most effective way possible. Consisting of the Corporate Advanced Technology Group (Research & Development Laboratory) and the development sections of business groups, the Group's R&D structure is making rapid strides in developing pioneering technologies and products while also working in concert to ascertain market and technological trends in Japan and around the world and to refine and advance R&D staff capabilities.
By promoting joint research with clients and government R&D agencies when needed and maintaining close collaborative ties with R&D centers throughout the Hitachi Group, including those of Hitachi, Ltd., the Hitachi Cable Group effectively advances R&D efforts in advanced technology areas.
Outlined below are the R&D activities of the Hitachi Cable Group during this consolidated fiscal year by business segment and the results of these activities. R&D expenses this year totaled 10,526 million yen.
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Wires and Cables |
In this segment, R&D efforts focus on industrial wires and cables and transmission and connection technologies related to electronic devices. Primary results achieved in this consolidated fiscal year are outlined below. R&D expenses in this segment totaled 1,628 million yen.
In the industry and energy area, we developed multi-specification compatible PVC materials offering improved oil and water resistance and heat stability, designed for use in developing wires that satisfy multiple standards. This success has made it possible to meet machine tool wire (MTW) specifications and expand sales across a wide range of fields, including wires for use inside industrial electrical devices and power cords for electrical machines.
In the area of electronics equipment, we developed halogen-free flame-retardant electronic wire for 125°C-rated devices. Achieving higher heat resistance without reducing flame retardancy, this new line of wires is rated at 125°C. These wires are suitable for use in electronic equipment manufacture (primarily for manufacturers of office equipment and home appliances) at high temperatures outside the usable range of previous products.
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Information and Telecommunications Networking |
R&D efforts in this segment focus on information and telecommunications cables, including fiber-optic cables, sensors, various devices needed to develop Internet and mobile phone systems, components, and devices such as networking equipment and mobile phone base station antennas. R&D expenses in this segment totaled 4,363 million yen.
Primary results from this consolidated fiscal year include the development of chassis-type switching equipment with Standard-based Ethernet OAM and extended QoS features and the development of box-type switching equipment with VLAN multiplexing capabilities and VLAN translation equipment. These technologies can be used to provide telecommunications carrier clients with products that realize high-value-added services through functional enhancements and improvements rolled out in response to the RoHS environmental regulations.
In addition, through the development of a 10 Gbit/s class next-generation fiber-optic transceiver SFP+*, this segment has enhanced the lineup of fiber-optic transceivers by developing a package that restrains electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise and achieves both increased integration of high-speed circuitry and reduced power consumption.
*SFP+ stands for Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus.
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Sophisticated Materials |
R&D activities in this segment can be broken down into the three main areas discussed below. R&D expenses in this segment totaled 4,535 million yen.
A. Semiconductor Packaging Materials and Electronic Components
R&D efforts in this area focus on TAB tape and circuit boards, seeking to reduce dimensions and heighten the functionality of information-technology devices such as mobile phones and to increase the precision of liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), compound semiconductors such as those made of gallium arsenide (from the growth of single crystals to the development of epitaxial wafer semiconductor devices), and products that apply these technologies as well as related products.
One major result achieved during this consolidated fiscal year was the development of a technology for high brightness red metal reflector (MR) - LEDs. The development of new structures in this area makes it possible to realize LED structures with high reliability and light-extraction efficiency for application of LED technologies -until now used primarily in indicators- to products such as auto lamps, interior and exterior lighting, and power-conserving equipment.
B. Copper Products
R&D efforts in this area focus on the development of copper strips for electric components, heat-transfer tubes used in heat exchangers, and new processed copper products, as well as superconducting wiring and superconductors. Major results achieved during this consolidated fiscal year include the development of highly flexible rolled copper foil and the establishment of production technologies of dual-gauge copper strips for installation in automobiles. The first increases flexibility through optimized material crystallization controls, which in turn makes possible improved reliability and longer product lifespan in mobile phones and optical pickups. The latter materials promise to improve heat controls in HEV inverters and electronic-control device packages by enabling special production technologies, which in turn improve reliability, increase product lifespan, and reduce product dimensions.
C. Auto Parts
R&D efforts in this area focus on automotive hoses such as brake and power-steering hoses and electronic components and components used in information equipment. One major result achieved during this consolidated fiscal year was the commercialization of dual-layer separation rollers for scanners. Based on a new foam molding technology, these rollers improve separation and the reliability of paper supply in commercial scanners, regardless of paper type or size.
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