NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) has succeeded in developing the world’s first high-sensitivity uncooled infrared image sensor that uses high-purity semiconducting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the infrared detection area. This was accomplished using NEC’s proprietary extraction technology. NEC will work toward the practical application of this image sensor in 2025.
Infrared image sensors convert infrared rays into electrical signals to acquire necessary information, and can detect infrared rays emitted from people and objects even in the dark. Therefore, infrared image sensors are utilized in various fields to provide a safe and secure social infrastructure, such as night vision to support automobiles driving in the darkness, aircraft navigation support systems and security cameras.
There are two types of infrared image sensors, the “cooled type,” which operates at extremely low temperatures, and the “uncooled type,” which operates near room temperature. The cooled type is highly sensitive and responsive, but requires a cooler, which is large, expensive, consumes a great deal of electricity, and requires regular maintenance. On the other hand, the uncooled type does not require a cooler, enabling it to be compact, inexpensive, and to consume low power, but it has the issues of inferior sensitivity and resolution compared to the cooled type.
In 1991, NEC discovered CNTs for the first time in the world and is now a leader in research and development related to nanotechnology. In 2018, NEC developed a proprietary technology to extract only semiconducting-type CNTs at high purity from single-walled CNTs that have a mixture of metallic and semiconducting types. NEC then discovered that thin films of semiconducting-type CNTs extracted with this technology have a large temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) near room temperature.
The newly developed infrared image sensor is the result of these achievements and know-how. NEC applied semiconductor-type CNTs based on its proprietary technology that features a high TCR, which is an important index for high sensitivity. As a result, the new sensor achieves more than three times higher sensitivity than mainstream uncooled infrared image sensors using vanadium oxide or amorphous silicon.
The new device structure was achieved by combining the thermal separation structure used in uncooled infrared image sensors, the Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device technology used to realize this structure, and the CNT printing and manufacturing technology cultivated over many years for printed transistors, etc. As a result, NEC has succeeded in operating a high-definition uncooled infrared image sensor of 640 x 480 pixels by arraying the components of the structure.
Part of this work was done in collaboration with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). In addition, a part of this achievement was supported by JPJ004596, a security technology research promotion program conducted by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA).
Going forward, NEC will continue its research and development to further advance infrared image sensor technologies and to realize products and services that can contribute to various fields and areas of society.
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 www.nec.com.
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NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has developed a power amplifier that will serve as a key device for mobile access and fronthaul/backhaul wireless communication equipment to enable high-speed, high-capacity communications for 5G Advanced and 6G networks. This power amplifier uses GaAs technology that can be mass-produced and has achieved the world’s highest output power(*) of 10 mW in the 150 GHz band. Capitalizing on this, NEC aims to fast-track both equipment development and social implementation.
Newly developed D band power amplifier
5G Advanced and 6G are expected to deliver 100 Gbps-class high-speed, high-capacity communications, equivalent to 10 times the speed of current 5G. This can be effectively achieved through the use of the sub-terahertz band (100 to 300 GHz), which can provide a wide bandwidth of 10 GHz or more. In particular, early commercialization of the D band (130 to 174.8 GHz), which is internationally allocated for fixed wireless communications, is expected.
NEC continues to make advancements in technological development by leveraging its knowledge of high-frequency bands cultivated through the development and operation of radio equipment for 5G base stations and PASOLINK, an ultra-compact microwave communication system that connects base stations via wireless communication.
The newly developed power amplifier uses a commercially available 0.1-μm gallium arsenide (GaAs) pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) process. Compared to CMOS and silicon germanium (SiGe) used for the sub-terahertz band, GaAs pHEMTs have high operation voltage and lower initial costs for mass production.
In terms of circuit design, this power amplifier eliminates factors that degrade performance in the high-frequency band and uses an impedance matching network configuration suitable for high output power. This has resulted in the achievement of excellent high-frequency characteristics between 110 GHz and 150 GHz as well as the world’s highest output power for a GaAs pHEMT.
In addition to the realization of high-performance, low-cost radio communication equipment above 100 GHz, this power amplifier will accelerate the social implementation of 5G Advanced and 6G.
Going forward, NEC will continue developing technologies aimed at achieving high-speed, high-capacity, cost effective wireless communications for 5G Advanced and 6G.
This research is supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan (JPJ000254).
NEC will announce further details regarding this technology at IEEE Topical Conference on RF/Microwave Power Amplifiers for Radio and Wireless Applications (PAWR2023), an international conference scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA starting on January 22, 2023.
(*) According to NEC research as of January 19, 2023.
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 www.nec.com.
Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) and Hitachi Building Systems Co., Ltd. announced that they developed a touchless operating panel establishing an elevator without physical floor buttons(1) that allows users to experience a completely new sensation.
This newly developed touchless operating panel replaces the floor buttons normally found in an elevator car and enables elevator users to register a destination floor just by passing a finger over the floor displayed on the panel (LCD monitor), enabling the touchless use of the elevator.
This newly developed touchless operating panels have been adopted to elevators in Tokyo Midtown Yaesu completed in August 31, 2022.
Features of the Touchless Operating Panel
1. Enabling the Touchless Use of Elevators Just by Passing a Finger over the Panel
An elevator user can register the destination floor just by passing their finger over the floor displayed on the touchless operating panel’s monitor in an elevator car. An infrared sensor detects the finger’s position and registers the floor, enabling the touchless use of the elevator.
2. Realizing a Futuristic Elevator Design Without Floor Buttons(1)
While conventional operating panels must have as many floor buttons as the building has floors, the touchless operating panel enables the operating panel to be simplified and miniaturized, making unprecedented futuristic elevator designs possible as since it displays floors on an LCD monitor.
3. Panel Screens Increasing User Convenience
The panel has a direct registration screen including the frequently used floors, such as the lobby, that can display a set of up to six floors and information about them, and a keypad registration screen that allows users to enter their destination floor using the numerical pad. The direct registration screen is the initial screen to increase user convenience.
Additionally, the installation of a card reader in an elevator car linked to the panel enables the display of special floors that only people with registered card have access to on the screen to improve security and convenience at the same time.(2)
It is also possible to flexibly change the floors or floor information that is being displayed based on changes in the building’s tenants.
(1) Emergency buttons must be physical buttons. (2) When using a card which only grants access to one destination floor, there is no need to pass a finger over the touchless operating panel because the destination floor is automatically registered.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.
NaXum Online Referral Marketing Systems has developed a new payout configuration tool through Commission Engineer Sheira Man-awit’s artwork as a part of this year’s Project Lion upgrades.
The Payout Configuration Tool has the ability to switch between integrations and update the necessary API credentials as an admin easily through simple user interfaces.
Sheira Man-awit’s work also merged the Withdrawal Requests and Pay Commissions Tool into one admin tool now called the Payout Tool. This new payout configuration tool and payout tool be added to all new platforms.
NaXum also rebranded the NaXum Cart Template into a modern mobile-friendly structure as a part of the omni-device north stars.
NaXum continues to encourage its employees to reach for the stars and to always be improving.
To learn more about innovation in the referral marketing space, visit www.naxum.com.
NaXum Ben Dixon 713-867-7999 https://www.naxum.com
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