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EPTE Newsletter: JPCA Show 2019, Part 2

Editor’s Note: This is part two of Dominique Numakura’s coverage of the JPCA Show. Click here to read Part 1.

Many new technologies and products related to flexible circuits were introduced by mid-sized manufacturers at the JPCA Show 2019. Oki Cable displayed several unique technologies that included stretchable and transparent circuits. They are proactive with introducing new materials for base materials as well as conductors and coverlay. Oki Cable also provided many circuit examples that featured balances between the materials. Further, they featured spiral flexible circuits for 3D stretchable wiring using both traditional materials and new elastic materials.

Taiyo Industrial, another mid-sized flex circuit manufacturer, also displayed transparent flexible and stretchable circuits using new copper laminates and coverlay materials. Taiyo Industrial has a supplemental business that uses machines to inspect flexible circuits. Moreover, they featured a universal handling robot that can handle thin flexible materials developed for its own manufacturing processes. The robots are capable of managing thin, fragile projects in the manufacturing and assembling process, especially in small-volume and prototype productions.

Low-loss circuits are a growing category for the flex circuit manufacturers (assuming 5G devices will be available this year). Kuraray, a major material supplier in Japan, introduced liquid crystal polymer (LCP) films and its copper laminate. Yamashita Materials, a prototype flex circuit manufacturer in Japan, displayed many examples of flex circuit examples with LCP materials designed for mobile devices.

All of these companies have reported an increase in inquiries due to the potential market from 5G devices.

Headlines

1. Micron (Semiconductor company in the U.S.) 6/12

Completed the construction of the new manufacturing plant building in Hiroshima, Japan, which could be a great milestone for its global strategy.

2. JR East (Railway company in Japan) 6/12

Plans to develop a new hybrid train of hydrogen fuel cell and batteries. Its field test will be conducted in 2021.

3. Stanley (Device manufacturer in Japan) 6/19

Commercialized a new device of a “super-high-power infrared LED” for driver monitoring system (DMSs). It has 70% higher emission compared to traditional devices.

4. Toshiba (Electric and electronics company in Japan) 6/21

Successfully achieved a 23.8% conversion rate with a tandem structure photovoltaic cell of transparent copper oxide.

5. Oki Cable (Cable manufacturer in Japan) 6/24

Commercialized expandable flexible circuits for wearable devices using a rubber-type substrate. Copper base conductors make stable conductance.

6. Tokyo University (Japan) 6/25

Discovered the bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) of Wolfram sulfide (WS2) nanotube. It will be valuable to increase conversion rate of photovoltaic cells.

7. Tokin (Component supplier in Japan) 6/26

Commercialized a new grade of polymer tantalum capacitor with high-volume efficiencies for automatic driving systems in automobiles.

8. Murata (Component supplier in Japan) 6/26

Developed a new SMT-type, all-solid secondary battery for wearable and IoT devices (capacity: 2~25 mAh, width: 5~10 mm, height: 2~10 mm).

9. Kyocera (Electronics company in Japan) 6/27

Will start the volume production of new lithium-ion batteries in 2020. It has a higher energy density by a lower cost.

10. JEITA (Electronic industry organization in Japan) 6/27

Published the Electronics Packaging Roadmap 2019 (43,200 yen for non-members).

11. Yaskawa Electric (Equipment manufacturer in Japan) 6/28

Released a new version for multi-joint robot “MOTOMAN-GP” with long arms up to 3124 mm for automobile assembling lines.

12. Sony (Electronics company in Japan) 6/28

Released a series of small size CMOS image sensors with 4K resolution for security cameras (package: 12.0 x 9.3 mm ceramic LGA).

Dominique K. Numakura is the managing director of DKN Research LLC. Contact haverhill@dknreseach.com for further information and news.