Business OverviewResearch and Development
TAIYO YUDEN’s research & development continues its focus on activities that are driven by one of the Company’s main objectives, which is to develop products that are rated highly by our customers, by means of enhancing the Company’s knowledge and technology positions and leveraging its skill set to allow for this development. The Company intends to further advance its materials technology, processing technology, design technology and production technology to meet the various needs of our customers, such as size constraints, digitization, multi-functionality and modulization of their products.
To this end, the Company is creating super-high-end products ranging from various types of chip components, circuit modules, high-frequency devices and electronic noise suppression components.
- Become a world leader in technology
Promote technological development ahead of product development and become a global leader in technology
- Devise general-purpose technologies
Devise technologies which can be applied not only to specific products but also to other areas useful to the markets we serve
- Develop economic and environment-compatible technologies
Develop technologies which can be economically applicable to our manufacturing process and meet critical environmental standards
- Create No.1 technologies
Persist to create the world's best and first technologies
SAW/FBAR components are primarily used in smartphones as well as other mobile electronics devices. These products are quickly becoming an essential component in mobile telecommunications products. EOMIN® is an embedded-parts multilayer wiring substrate. It uses a copper core to provide low noise and heat dispersion qualities. These EOMIN® modular devices can greatly reduce the overall size of conventional modules.
As smartphones incorporate increasing functionality and multiband capabilities, the number of individual components they require is steadily increasing. At the same time users are demanding that the handsets be smaller and thinner. TAIYO YUDEN’s SAW/FBAR devices and EOMIN® products can be used to create highly functional front-end modules which can respond to these market needs.
TAIYO YUDEN uses its advanced product development technology and production technology to supply a multitude of high value-added super-high-end products, and is expanding production capacity accordingly. R&D efforts will continue to focus on SAW/FBAR devices and EOMIN® products.
*Front-end Modules
Includes transmission/reception circuits in the antenna unit, to unify functions in a single module
During the fiscal year ended March 2012, R&D expenditures were ¥8,068 million. The following section outlines the Company's main R&D activities.
Capacitors
Multilayer ceramic capacitorsThe Company has improved its dielectric materials technology, thin-film and high capacity technology, and miniaturization capabilities to develop dielectric layers that are less than 1 micron in thickness and has mass-produced these products on a consistent basis. The Company’s multi-layering technology is approaching a 1000-layer capability, allowing TAIYO YUDEN to introduce and mass produce new capacitor products in the EIA 1206 size (3.2mm x 1.6mm) and EIA 1210 size (3.2mm x 2.5mm) range, both with a high capacitance of 220μF.
Looking ahead, we will apply these technologies to expand production of new products for the smartphone market.
TAIYO YUDEN has developed the world’s smallest polyacene capacitors, for use in smartphones and for backup purposes in digital cameras. The Company has begun mass production of a coin-type 3.8mm-diameter x 1.1mm device, the smallest in the industry, and a rectangular 3.2mm x 2.5mm device, and has also begun mass production of low-profile, low-impedance polyacene capacitors. With the utilization of a two-layered electric capacitor structure and a lithium ion-coated anode, the Company has developed a cylindrical lithium ion capacitor which offers improved energy precision. Development work on a low-profile lithium ion capacitor is continuing. The Company will continue to develop superior new products that meet market needs in the energy device market. This market is expected to enjoy strong growth in the future.
*From the fiscal year ending March 2013, TAIYO YUDEN changed the product segment to the "Other Electronic Components" segment.
Ferrite and Applied Products
Multilayer chip inductorsTAIYO YUDEN is expanding its lineup of multilayer choke coils for DC-DC converters used in the expanding mobile electronics market. The Company has begun mass production of miniaturized, EIA 0603 size (1.6mm x 0.8mm) products which have a low profile of just 0.33mm in height. In the market for high-frequency multilayer inductors, used in the high-frequency circuits of mobile phones, TAIYO YUDEN developed EIA 0201 size (0.6mm x 0.3mm) and EIA 01005 size (0.4mm x 0.2mm) products which offer the best Q-factor characteristics in the industry. These products are in mass production. As technology continues to progress, the Company intends to launch even smaller and higher-function products.
Surface-mounted coil inductors used in power supply circuits are another focus of development for TAIYO YUDEN. Of particular note is the choke coils used in DC-DC converters produced for the growing smartphone market. To address strong market demand for low-profile products, the Company has begun mass production of 2mm x 2mm products. In response to the demand for even smaller products with large power outputs, the Company has used its technological know-how in developing new materials and advanced production technology to develop and mass produce the MCOIL® metallic power inductor. In the future, the Company plans to expand its lineup of MCOIL® products and increase production to further enhance competitiveness and product breadth. The Company will also continue working to develop new products by vigorously expanding its product lineup to meet market needs.
Modules
Multifunctional modulesA strong market demand for power-conserving components has prompted TAIYO YUDEN to work on the development of power source technology which reduces power consumption. Meanwhile, the Company is developing LED technology for use in both lighting applications and as a backlight unit for flat screen television sets. This technology provides the Company with several competitive advantages. In the future, the Company will continue working to address power conservation needs, developing multifunctional modules that have superior compactness, a low profile and high efficiency. One way to further reduce power consumption is to reuse energy in circuits. TAIYO YUDEN is developing new applications for power sources, and its own in-house IC control technologies for power sources, creating a stronger and more competitive product lineup.
In the growing market for short-range wireless communications, TAIYO YUDEN has developed a multitude of products from small, low-profile modules and its own antenna modules, to meet customer needs with an emphasis to develop a wide range of products that reflect market demand. Recently, the Company developed a “combination module” which incorporates more than one separate wireless transmission standard—an example of this is our Bluetooth® and wireless LAN—in a single module product. We are currently making intense efforts to incorporate these modules in new products.
As communications networks incorporate more and more separate and diverse pieces of equipment, the Company has been working to develop and commercialize a module business that supports software requirements. The Company is now capable of proposing solutions in the new communications-related markets in fields such as digital home electronics and health care.
Other Electronic Components
Communication devices*SAW technology has become a key element in the devices that support the rapidly growing smartphone market, and TAIYO YUDEN is working hard to develop products in this segment. The Company already offers products that support both the global standard variety of 3G service (UMTS) and also the LTE standard which is likely to provide the backbone for next-generation networks and services. The Company is making proposals for miniaturized, low energy-consumption filter devices and front-end modules with value-added integrated circuits. TAIYO YUDEN is also focusing its efforts to develop products that use FBAR technology to support more highly functional devices. The market for telecommunications products is becoming increasingly complex. TAIYO YUDEN will propose and develop high-frequency devices that offer the most appropriate solution to market needs.
*From the fiscal year ending March 2013, TAIYO YUDEN changed the product segment to the "Integrated Modules and Devices” segment.
Optical media products
The Company has begun mass production and shipments of a 6x speed device in support of the market for BD-R LTH recording media. And, in response to mounting demand for long-term optical storage devices (for archiving purposes), TAIYO YUDEN is continuing efforts to develop high-quality products for various types of recording format—CD-R, DVD-R and BD-R.
The TAIYO YUDEN Group strives to make a positive contribution to reducing the Company's burden on the environment by pursuing “green products” and working to provide a stable supply of these items. Critical factors such as design and production, marketing, support for installation in final products, and disposal have all been considered as the Company endeavors to reduce muda (waste), mura (inconsistency) and muri (overburdening the environment). To this end, the Company is committed to developing products which offer value to employees, customers and local communities alike.
TAIYO YUDEN has implemented product quality and environmental management systems and has leveraged the Occupational Health & Safety Systems to meet the task to develop “green products” that reduce waste, inconsistency and overburdening the environment. The TAIYO YUDEN Group will maintain its level of dedication to the development of superior green products through its involvement in the “green processes” and development of “green products.”
