The future of automotive electronics

Driving automotive advances as a partner for comprehensive solutions

Whether in autonomous or electric vehicles, automotive advances rely on electronics technologies.
Murata pursues a vision essential to tomorrow's vehicles.

* Job titles reflect those at the time participants were interviewed in 2018.

Executive Vice President
Head of Global Sales & Marketing Unit
Director

Satoshi Sonoda

 

The role that the next generation of automobiles play in the marketplace

Growing steadily, particularly through demand in emerging nations, the automobile market is continuing to see an ever-increasing evolution in vehicles. In recent years, focus has been not just on hybrid and fully electric vehicles, but also in particular on the ‘connected car' as the next generation of automobiles.

The connected car is an automobile that assists the driver by making use of external communications, accumulating a variety of data about not only the state of the vehicle but also road conditions. V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything Communications) looks to form a traffic system that is both efficient and prevents accidents from occurring. It achieves such aims by way of making direct communications between one's vehicle and external elements such as traffic lights (V2I: Vehicle to Infrastructure) and other vehicles (V2V: Vehicle to Vehicle). Looking toward the future, V2X is predicted to be a vital technology in achieving fully self-driving vehicles.

With such trends taking hold in the automotive industry, the market is naturally firming up for electronic components markets – which are the backbone of advanced in-vehicle products and devices.

 

Steps being taken by Murata in the automotive industry

Murata's business of automotive products all began with car radio components. The company boasts a history of more than 45 years of supporting the high functionality and computerization of automobiles – as well as gradually increasing sales while anticipating market trends.

For example, the company's piezoelectric ceramic technology is used in the ultrasonic sensors that are critical to parking assisted systems (PAS). Also, in tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), which have been legislated in the US, shock sensors have been adopted in order to preserve battery power and extend the lifespan of systems.

In an automobile industry that has been relentless in its pursuit of improving comfort and safety, Murata likewise has continued to take many a step in this pursuit.

Capacitors supporting innovative technology

In the domain of the flagship field that is capacitors, April 2016 saw the first-ever developments of high Q monolithic ceramic capacitors (MLCC) aimed at V2X. V2X is a technology that prevents accidents from occurring, by way of making direct communications between the vehicle and external elements such as traffic lights and other vehicles.

As the core component in making self-driving cars a reality, V2X is a new technology that is receiving much attention. Moreover, calls are being made for the clearance of advanced communications standards in capacitors that utilize it.

Responding to such voracious demand, Murata has deepened its establishment as the No. 1 manufacturer of ceramic capacitors. At the same time, the company is putting great effort into research and development that solve newly arising needs.

With Murata's provision of electronic components that connect the driver and passengers with in-vehicle elements, as well as its contribution to V2X technology that connects the driver and passengers with a car's external environment, the company is not here just to make up numbers in a growing market. Rather, Murata aspires to be a significant figure in supporting the further advancement of automotive technologies.

 

Electronics are the key to the cars of tomorrow

Due to the smartification of vehicles, specifically multi- and high-functionalization that is supported by data pools and communication features, the automotive market is teeming with such potential that is not constrained by mere increases in vehicle demand.

Bolstering its flagship technology of sensors and capacitors, Murata has added communication technology that has been cultivated in the mobile field. The company seeks to be a total solutions partner who, working with automobile manufacturers, produces the key to the cars of tomorrow.

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