Dec 23, 2021 | Business
NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) today announced it has provided packet core (5GC) and base stations (5G RUs, CU/DU) for the 5G standalone (SA)-based services that NTT DOCOMO, INC. (DOCOMO) launched commercially on December 13, 2021.
NEC’s 5G Core for SA enables flexible operation for a variety of services thanks to its cloud-native architecture, featuring container and separation of Control and User Plane (CUPS)*. In addition, drawing on network slicing technology, NEC’s 5GC for SA helps create customized networks on demand according to the different requirements for 5G services that include eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband), mMTC (massive Machine Type Communication), and URLLC (Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications).
Moreover, NEC’s 5G CU/DU, which was previously operating as non-standalone (NSA) on DOCOMO’s commercial network, has been seamlessly migrated to 5G SA, simply by a software upgrade in conjunction with the aforementioned 5GC.
“5G SA enables the provision of networking solutions that can flexibly accommodate a wide variety of use cases,” said Hiroshi Kobayashi, Senior Vice President NTT DOCOMO. “Through its 5G SA, NTT DOCOMO will contribute to the creation of new value and the resolution of social issues, and promote the further advancement of its 5G network to make the lives of its customers more convenient and prosperous.”
“I am honored to have been able to contribute to the commercial launch of NTT DOCOMO’s 5G SA services,” said Atsuo Kawamura, Executive Vice President, NEC. “By providing high-quality and reliable 5GC and base station equipment, we will strongly support the expansion of DOCOMO’s 5G services, as well as contribute to the further development of next-generation mobile infrastructure throughout global markets.”
For more information on NEC 5GC read our blog “Discover the real 5G”
bit.ly/3mmoC7i
*A technology that provides a virtual operating environment with fewer computer resources by constructing an application execution environment on an operating system that is isolated from other processes on the OS.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.
Copyright ©2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network.
Nov 3, 2021 | Business
DENSO Corporation has been contributing to spreading the use of electric vehicles, extending their mileage, and reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles by developing SiC (silicon carbide) power semiconductors, which incorporate DENSO’s proprietary structures and processing technologies, and using them in its in-vehicle products.
A power semiconductor is like the muscles in the human body. It moves components, such as inverters and motors (limbs), based on commands from an ECU (brain). Typical power semiconductors used in in-vehicle products are made from silicon (Si). In comparison, SiC offers superior performance in high-temperature, high-frequency, and high-voltage environments, and helps significantly reduce the power loss, size, and weight of inverters. Thus, SiC devices have attracted attention because they accelerate the electrification of vehicles.
For example, a booster power module, which incorporates DENSO’s SiC power semiconductor, is about 30% smaller in volume with 70% less power loss than a conventional product with a Si power semiconductor. As a result, products have been made smaller and vehicle fuel efficiency improved.
DENSO calls these SiC technologies “REVOSIC,” conveying the idea of making “changes” in society through innovative technologies. The company has been developing a comprehensive range of technologies from wafers to power modules, and will continue R&D on REVOSIC SiC technologies and spreading their use in electric vehicles to help realize a decarbonized society.
Introduction of developers
Tomoo Morino / R&D.Dept.4, Power Module Eng. Div.
I was in charge of determining the specifications of the SiC power semiconductor with the power module design department and designing the device structure based on the specifications. SiC has a low resistance compared to Si and so electric current can flow more easily. Due to this property, a prototype SiC device was damaged by a sudden surge of a large electric current. We collaborated with other departments to discuss how to prevent damage to devices in the market while taking full advantage of the low-loss performance of SiC, and the issue was solved with an idea which our department could not come up with alone: high-speed cut-off of the electric current using a special driver IC.
For now, few products are equipped with SiC, but as electric vehicles spread, we will increase the number of products with SiC and thus reduce CO2 emissions.
Tomohiro Mimura / R&D.Dept.4, Power Module Eng. Div.
I was in charge of the process design for manufacturing SiC power semiconductor devices. The hardness of SiC is second only to diamond, so it is more difficult to process than Si. I struggled to design a mass production process that can stably deal with microstructures of less than one micrometer.DENSO has been researching SiC for many years, and so there are many predecessors and senior employees. To solve this problem with SiC, I frequently talked with senior employees to learn from their experience and know-how, and also took full advantage of existing technologies. This made it possible to commercialize the product.
I hope to further improve the performance and quality of the device and reduce its cost so that SiC can be used in many more products.
Satoru Sugita / Design Dept. 2, Power Module Eng. Div.
I was in charge of the mounting design. I was responsible for determining the requirements to ensure reliability (e.g., materials, dimensions, processing conditions) required for installing SiC power semiconductors in power cards. In the design process, mounting defects occurred due to the high Young’s modulus* (about triple that of Si), which is one of the characteristics of SiC materials. Such defects did not occur when Si was used. To cope with this unprecedented phenomenon, it was necessary to think laterally, beyond conventional ideas. To accurately understand the problem, I brought in an internal specialized department and external manufacturers of analysis instruments to gather different viewpoints and conducted genchi-genbutsu on-site verifications. This helped solve the problem and reflect the findings in the design requirements.
I hope to contribute to the use of electric vehicles and help create a decarbonized society by encouraging many customers to install SiC power semiconductor in various products.
*Young’s modulus: A numerical value that represents the hardness of a material. It is also known as coefficient of elasticity.
Copyright ©2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network.
Sep 6, 2021 | Business
TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), which is a subsidiary of TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd. and operates the TANAKA Precious Metals manufacturing business, announced today that TANAKA made an equity contribution to Ambix Life Science Fund I, L.P., a medical device venture fund managed by Ambix Venture Management, LLC, a U.S.-based venture capital management company (“Ambix Ventures”).
Through this equity contribution, TANAKA will reinforce its overseas business development in addition to its domestic business development and contribute to the development of a safe and secure healthcare industry.
Background to and Objectives of the Contribution
TANAKA provides precious metal components and materials to medical device manufacturers and participates in development projects, cooperating with and contributing to development in the healthcare field. In addition, the company has made equity contributions to multiple medical device venture funds in the past and made the decision at this time to make a contribution to the venture fund of Ambix Ventures, which is based in Silicon Valley, one of the centers of medical device innovation, in order to provide even greater support to the development of the healthcare industry. TANAKA seeks to strengthen its ties with the U.S. healthcare industry and contribute to the progress of cutting-edge healthcare through the use of precious metal components and materials in the healthcare field by making an equity contribution to the fund, which is managed by Aaron Berez, MD, a leading entrepreneur in the healthcare industry, and Peter N. Townshend.
Dr. Berez, a Manager of Ambix Ventures, made the following comment regarding the equity contribution: “The world has changed with the advent of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. However, it has also underscored the importance of the global healthcare infrastructure and challenges. We at Ambix are excited to be a small part of this ongoing challenge, in our case the continuing mission to make healthcare more efficient. We welcome TANAKA’s participation as part of the Ambix team.”
TANAKA’s Current Initiatives in the Healthcare Field
TANAKA is a precious metals professional organization with multiple products that boast top-level shares of global markets including bonding wires and fuel cell catalysts. The Group provides stable supplies of precious metals, which are valuable resources, using a recycling-oriented business from procurement to product development and recycling. TANAKA has long focused on the healthcare field as an area that can contribute to society while making use of the properties of precious metals. The company performs contract manufacturing of in-vitro diagnostic kits that use gold colloids and supplies precious metal components and materials to domestic and overseas medical device manufacturers.
Precious metal parts and materials that use platinum, gold, and other metals are used in many devices for treatment within blood vessels including balloon catheters, guidewire embolization coils, and stents. Precious metals including platinum and gold have biocompatibility and high specific gravity compared to other metals, which makes them highly opaque to X-rays. As a result, when inserting balloon catheters or other medical devices into blood vessels, the treatment can be performed while confirming the location of the device within the blood vessel by viewing the precious metal portion, offering an advantage over other metals.
About Ambix Life Science Fund and Aaron Berez, MD
Ambix Life Science Fund I, L.P. is a medical device venture fund managed by Ambix Venture Management, LLC, a U.S.-based venture capital management company. Operations began in May 2020.
Aaron Berez, MD, one of two managers of Ambix Venture Management, is the founder and CEO of Alembic LLC and a representative serial entrepreneur in the cerebral endovascular treatment field. He is known for development of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED), the first FDA approved flow diverter at Chestnut Medical Technologies, Inc. Other medical device companies he has worked with include Cathera, SMaRT Therapeutics, Inc., Endovasix, C2 Therapeutics, and Sapheon.
Peter Townshend, the other manager of Ambix Venture Management, is a lawyer, business advisor and leading authority on startups, angel and venture capital, commercial transactions and mergers and acquisitions. Peter has been advising life science startups since 1996. He launched Townshend Venture Advisors, LLP in 2017 after a long career as a senior partner for various technology law firms in Silicon Valley and San Diego, most recently Perkins Coie LLP. Peter’s career has included working with a number of life science companies, including Atrionix (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), Appriva Medical (acquired by ev3), Adeza Biomedical (IPO), Abunda Nutrition (acquired by Evolva), MitraLife (acquired by ev3), Chestnut Medical (acquired by ev3), ConforMIS (IPO), Cathera (acquired by Medtronic), Companion Medical (acquired by Medtronic) and existing startups Avails, ThrombX Medical, Alembic and all of Alembic’s portfolio companies including Palmera, and acting as lead investor counsel for the Alembic Syndicate’s investment in ABK. Peter has assisted his clients in raising more than $2 billion in private and public financing.
Overview of Ambix Life Science Fund I, L.P.
Fund name: Ambix Life Science Fund I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
Established: May 2020
The fund is a relatively new fund based around a long-standing syndicate of medical device investors. The fund was established to contribute to the global development of cutting-edge healthcare by investing in medical and healthcare startups.
Press release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/pdf/files/20210906.pdf
TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd. (Holding company of TANAKA Precious Metals)
Headquarters: 22F, Tokyo Building, 2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Koichiro Tanaka, Representative Director & CEO
Founded: 1885
Incorporated: 1918*
Capital: 500 million yen
Employees in consolidated group: 5,193 (FY2020)
Net sales of consolidated group: JPY 1,425,617 million (FY2020)
Main businesses: The holding company at the center of TANAKA Precious Metals responsible for strategic and efficient group management and management guidance to group companies.
URL: https://www.tanaka.co.jp/english/
* TANAKA Holdings adopted a holding company structure on April 1, 2010.
TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
Headquarters: 22F, Tokyo Building, 2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Koichiro Tanaka, Representative Director & CEO
Founded: 1885
Incorporated: 1918
Capital: 500 million yen
Employees: 2,453 (as of March 31, 2021)
Sales: JPY 1,251,066,897,000 (FY2020)
Main businesses: Manufacture, sales, import and export of precious metals (platinum, gold, silver, and others) and various types of industrial precious metals products.
URL: https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com
About TANAKA Precious Metals
Since its foundation in 1885, TANAKA Precious Metals has built a diversified range of business activities focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volumes of precious metals handled. Over the course of many years, TANAKA has not only manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry but also provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies within and outside Japan work together with unified cooperation between manufacturing, sales, and technological aspects to offer products and services. Additionally, to make further progress in globalization, TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo welcomed Metalor Technologies International SA as a member of the Group in 2016.
As precious metal professionals, TANAKA Precious Metals will continue to contribute to the development of an enriching and prosperous society.
The five core companies that make up TANAKA Precious Metals are as follows.
– TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd. (pure holding company)
– TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.
– TANAKA Denshi Kogyo K.K.
– Electroplating Engineers Of Japan, Limited
– TANAKA Kikinzoku Jewerly K.K.
Press Inquiries
TANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd.
https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/
Apr 28, 2021 | Business
North American automaker, Ford Motor Company and its new outdoor off-road Built Wild Bronco brand are reintroducing the brands iconic Bronco 2-door nameplate after a 25-year break from the market, as well as its first-ever Bronco four-door model and Bronco Sport.
Matching its signature Built Wild innovative design DNA, the team at HELLA has added another successful application of the modular lighting system to its portfolio with the bi-functional projector module for the all-new Bronco Sport vehicle. This fully modular LED design gives the all-new Bronco Sport SUV a new sleek look, for the 21st century. The first round of production of headlamps has already started in HELLAs lighting plant in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Working with the Bronco team, HELLA created a full LED projector headlamp that increased total lumen performance, resulting in a brighter lamp and better light distribution. HELLA knew how important it was to deliver on Bronco brands heritage-inspired looks, and worked with the team to deliver the iconic round headlamp design that dates back to the first-generation Bronco (1966-77). The Bronco Sport SUV includes a sleek connection of the headlamp and incorporates a signature Daytime Running Lamp, giving it the intense Bronco look.
The Bronco brands signature round lamps are part of its heritage and we wanted to ensure the all-new Bronco Sport only furthered the new off-road brands differentiation on the trails with a heritage-inspired design with innovative lighting performance, says President of HELLA Corporate Center USA Inc., Steve Lietaert. We are grateful to be a part of Fords history with the building of the new Bronco outdoor brand and with the success of this headlamp, we look forward to further joint development projects with Ford in the future.
We are very pleased to receive this award. HELLA has been dedicated to innovative lighting solutions for more than 100 years. This award is further proof for our leading position in this field, says Harpak Mozaffari Gilani, who is responsible for HELLAs headlamp business in the Asia-Pacific region. With our Light Design approach, we are able to meet the growing demand for complete lighting systems and add great value for our customers.
With the Light Design approach, HELLA is able to integrate all lighting and electronic components for complex lighting systems into an overall system based on a flexible, modular construction kit. HELLA also supports the specification of interfaces between the individual components and the development of the optimum light for the driver. In addition, automotive manufacturers receive innovative software solutions for the simulation of lighting functions (ALiSiA) or for the design of animations (GAIN).
