TDK wins CEATEC AWARD 2020 in two categories

TDK Corporation (TSE:6762) announces that it has won the CEATEC AWARD 2020 in two categories. “InWheelSense^TM” has won the CEATEC AWARD 2020 Grand Prix in the Digital City Planning of the New Normal Age category, and the “Ultra-small full color laser module for AR glasses” has won the Semi Grand Prix in the Elemental Technologies/Devices in the New Normal Society category.

The CEATEC AWARD judging committee examines and evaluates the technologies, products, and services exhibited at CEATEC, from academic and technological perspectives, assesses their potential and marketability, and recognizes the particularly excellent among them.

TDK’s InWheelSense^TM, is an energy harvesting module utilizing a piezoelectric element to enable sensing without a battery within wheels and tires, where otherwise it was difficult to supply power. It is a product that improves the safety and comfort of next-gen autonomous vehicles. Currently samples are available. Mass production has not yet started. InWheelSense^TM received the award because of the committee highly evaluated it as follows. “InWheelSense^TM facilitates the acquisition of new types of data important for autonomous driving, thus helping to ensure improved safety and comfort. Using piezoelectric elements, which have already proved themselves as in-vehicle components, this highly economical sensing solution is expected to contribute to ”tire intelligence“. It will contribute to tire/wheel IoT applications that are environmentally friendly.”

TDK’s Ultra-small full color laser module for AR glasses was created using high-speed, high-precision alignment and bonding technology together with the visible light planar light-wave circuit (PLC) co-developed with NTT. The operation of the module was verified using actual AR glasses with the cooperation of QD Laser, who obtained favorable results. In addition, the production technology cultivated by TDK through the manufacturing of HDD heads has enabled higher productivity to be achieved with the modules. Samples will be availbale in 2021 Q1. When giving the product this award, the judging committee said, “it is expected to be able to realize the AR glass market is expected to grow to 10% of the size of the smartphone market, and TDK believes that the productivity gains and product miniaturization it has achieved will make these AR glasses highly competitive. In addition, the company’s high-speed laser alignment and bonding technology makes it possible to reduce the size of optical components (which have proved difficult to miniaturize) to the size of electronic components, thus significantly contributing to the development of wearables. This technology is also anticipated to be of use for silicon photonic devices, which will play a major role in the high-speed optical communications that will become necessary with widespread 5G.” Moving forward, TDK will earnestly advance development for commercialization.

TDK has served customers through its focus on electronic components based on magnetic material technologies. Recently, TDK captured a trend in new markets centered on Digital Transformation (DX) and Energy Transformation (EX), expanding businesses to sustainably improve its corporate value. To continue contributing to the development of society in the new normal society and to the resolution of social issues, TDK will advance its technological development and expand the products it provides.

• Product: InWheelSense^TM (in-wheel self-contained sensing using piezo energy harvesting)
  Award: Grand Prix in the Digital City Planning of the New Normal Age category
• Product: Ultra-small full color laser module for AR glasses
  Award: Semi Grand Prix in the Elemental Technologies/Devices of the New Normal Society category

TDK Corporation is a world leader in electronic solutions for the smart society based in Tokyo, Japan. Built on a foundation of material sciences mastery, TDK welcomes societal transformation by resolutely remaining at the forefront of technological evolution and deliberately “Attracting Tomorrow.” It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK’s comprehensive, innovation-driven portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in automotive, industrial and consumer electronics, and information and communication technology. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2020, TDK posted total sales of USD 12.5 billion and employed about 107,000 people worldwide.

• InWheelSense^TM (png: 3.72 MB; 350dpi)
• Ultra-small full color laser module for AR glasses (jpg: 1.15 MB; 350dpi)

You can find more information about the products at

• InWheelSense^TM
  https://www.tdk.com/en/featured_stories/entry_023.html
• Ultra-small full color laser module
  https://www.tdk.com/en/featured_stories/entry_022.html