Collaboration for IIoT Connectivity Solutions.

Advantech, Behr Technologies (BTI), Hitachi Solutions America, and Microsoft are collaborating to deliver wireless communications solutions with unmatched scalability, reliability, and security for private industrial internet of things (IIoT) networks. Since no single technology provider can enable IIoT alone, this joint effort will provide the first mass-market, end-to-end wireless gateway solution to ensure connectivity with sensors for production-level industrial and commercial applications. The solution will deliver massive scalability, the deepest possible building penetration, integration and interoperability with legacy systems, along with extremely long battery life for nodes.

PIC: Enterprise IT World

This collaboration aims to meet growing demand in the marketplace for robust and comprehensive out-of-the-box wireless IIoT communications solutions to connect the various sensors used by industrial and commercial customers in their business intelligence efforts. The foundation for the joint effort is BTI MIOTY™, a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) communications solution that is the first and only to use the ETSI standard telegram splitting ultra-narrow band (TS-UNB) technical specification for low throughput networks, enabling organizations to deploy private IoT sensor networks with unprecedented capacity, high Quality-of-Service (QoS), and low total cost of ownership. Using industry-standard Advantech gateways, BTI MIOTY will transmit up to 1.5 million messages per day within a radius of five to 15 kilometers, with no carrier requirements. Layered atop this infrastructure, Hitachi Solutions’ IoT Service Hub will enable organizations to connect and monitor devices and analyze the data in real time to dramatically improve operational efficiencies.

First application focused on workforce safety The first application resulting from this collaboration is a new and unique approach to workforce safety using the BTI MIOTY LPWAN wireless solution on an industry-standard gateway. Using a wearable device to monitor the heart rate of workers in industrial high-risk environments, data on the health of hundreds of workers is transmitted over unlicensed, sub-gigahertz frequencies via BTI MIOTY to a single Advantech base station. From there, it is communicated to the Microsoft Cloud, where Hitachi Solutions’ IoT Service Hub can provide actionable insights on workers’ health and send alerts when workers are in danger. Employers, such as mining site operators, can deploy this end-to-end solution to protect their workforce with unprecedented responsiveness at a fraction of the cost of previously available technologies. “Through this collaboration with Microsoft, Hitachi Solutions, and BTI, we are working to deliver an integrated IIoT solution,” said Stephen Huang, associate vice president of Advantech’s Embedded IoT Group. “Our Edge Intelligence Server provides a device-to-cloud solution at the edge. With WISE-PaaS EdgeSense IoT software built into the gateway, we can provide connectivity and manageability at the edge to simplify IIoT applications.” “The BTI MIOTY contribution to the overall, end-to-end ecosystem with Microsoft, Hitachi Solutions, and Advantech gives customers an out-of-the-box IIoT solution that provides critical machine data and telemetry in areas they cannot currently access,” said Albert Behr, chief executive officer of Behr Technologies Inc. “BTI MIOTY has been specifically developed for massive and lowest-cost LPWAN communications and is poised to be the commercial standard for wireless IIoT connectivity. The use cases are endless and it will deliver a wireless IIoT solution that is unparalleled in the market.” “Through this collaboration, we can add our unique and advanced analytics-based business value to the solution,” said Craig Burbidge, senior vice president of Hitachi Solutions America. “With our IoT Service Hub as the platform, customers will be able to aggregate and analyze equipment telemetry data in real time. The actionable insights provided will allow them to be more predictive and proactive, ensuring a safer and more productive environment with more efficient and cost-effective operations.” “With Azure services and BTI MIOTY, customers can implement cost-effective and highly scalable solutions to facilitate the “last mile” of communication for messages delivered from sensors to the Cloud,” said, Rashmi Misra, general manager, IoT Solutions at Microsoft. “Working with our broad partner ecosystem, we are ushering in a new era of IoT communication that will enable organizations around the world to realize the promise of industrial automation in ways that were not previously possible.”

#IIoT #PAuto @AdvantechIA @BTIMioty @HitachiSolUS @Microsoft

Cybersecure testing suite recognised!

The Raven Product Security Testing Suite for Embedded Systems (hereafter called “Raven ES”) Test tool provided by Hitachi Systems Ltd. has been formally recognised for official use by certification bodies in the ISASecure industrial automation and control system (IACS) cybersecurity certification program.

Communication robustness testing (CRT) is one of four dimensions of the the embedded device certification. CRT tools are also used for network stress testing during system level certifications. With recognition of the Raven ES Test tool, Hitachi Systems joins the growing list of industry leaders supporting the ISASecure IACS cybersecurity certification scheme.

The Raven ES is a tool used to perform security testing (fuzz testing) for network-based embedded devices and network server products. This tool allows you to run a test case required for ISA Secure Embedded Device Security Assurance (EDSA) Certification.

The ISA Security Compliance Institute publishes CRT test tool recognition requirements used for evaluating CRT test tools submitted by suppliers for use in the ISASecure certification program. CRT test tools that have been formally recognized by ISCI may be used by ISASecure certification bodies for use in the CRT portion of the ISASecure EDSA and ISASecure SSA certifications.

TheISASecure® tool recognition process confirms that the product’s test suites meet the ISASecure CRT requirements and are capable of consistently executing ISASecure certification tests.

ISCI recomends that suppliers use ISCI recognized CRT test tools during the product development and testing phases to identify and correct network-based security vulnerabilities. Using recognized CRT tools during the development process also aids suppliers in preparing for the formal ISASecure EDSA certification assessment.

A new type of cold field emitter SEM

Hitachi High-Technologies has released of the new SU8200 series FE-SEMs – a range of high-performance instruments which provides the perfect fusion of high resolution imaging and analysis. Employing a new type of cold field emission (CFE) gun the SU8200 combines the inherent high resolution and brightness of conventional CFE with previously unseen beam stability and probe currents.

The latest trends in advanced materials research mean increasing requirements to image and analyse light-element and beam-sensitive materials such as those used in lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, catalysts or novel electronic devices. Characterising these modern materials requires extended SEM capabilities beyond pure resolution. Quality imaging at low and ultra-low acceleration voltages is critical to mitigate beam damage and reveal the true material properties. Highly sensitive elemental analysis is also required to fully understand the materials. The SU8200 addresses these needs better than any previous instrument.

The heart of the new SU8200 series is the innovative CFE source. This novel CFE gun employs a new vacuum system and a Hitachi patented technique to greatly reduce gas molecule deposition on the emitter tip. The emitter always operates in a “clean” state, and emission current and beam stability are significantly improved. The result is the ultimate SEM electron source offering high S/N ratio, high stability and incredible resolution performance at all accelerating voltages. The enhanced stability and probe current provides opportunities for enhanced low voltage elemental microanalysis. The SU8200 series supports a variety of large-diameter silicon drift detectors (SDDs) for high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, and high speed X-ray detection.

The new dual-in-lens detector system offers the most sensitive and flexible electron detection system available. Fine contrast differentiation is now achieved by selectively filtering inelastic scattered electrons and directly detecting specific energy back scattered electrons. This selective filtering is particularly powerful for enhancing material contrast at low acceleration voltages.

Careful attention to detail during the instrument design, including measures for vibration control and enhanced optical stability contribute to the high resolution performance.

The SU8200 series includes three models (SU8220, SU8230, and SU8240) offering various stage, chamber and detector configurations for a wide range of imaging and analytical applications.

More powerful TEM!

Hitachi's advanced HT7700 120kV TEM becomes more powerful!

The introduction of the new objective lens option and a new STEM (Scanning transmission electron microscope) version makes Hitachi’s HT7700 the most powerful 120 kV TEM currently available, as well as the most intuitive. Now the ground-breaking HT7700 is just as well suited to the low accelerating voltage, high resolution examination of engineered light element materials as the advanced biomedical and biological samples for which it is already known.

The new high resolution pole piece option for the HT7700 utilises Hitachi's unique double-gap objective lens technology, together with minimised spherical aberration to provide enhanced resolution – the best in class for a 120 kV instrument. This makes it especially suited to high resolution imaging of light element materials where lower voltages provide improved contrast and reduced damage. Exceptional imaging is possible even at voltages as low as 40 kV.

The HT7700 continues to offer fully digital imaging, with a wide range of fully integrated and semi integrated CCD camera systems to ensure that the best camera is available for the application. A high sensitivity real-time digital CCD camera enables all microscope operations to be performed through the graphical user interface - including setup, alignment, image adjustment and image acquisition.

An optional high performance Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) system further enhances the analytical capabilities of the HT7700. This integrates seamlessly with HT7700 operation and provides powerful brightfield and darkfield imaging. The high magnification and large Field-Of-View STEM is ideal for high-resolution lattice imaging, bulk crystal structure, and nanoparticle analysis. With an intuitive STEM GUI and automation capabilities, spatially resolved EDX, analytical imaging and thick section analysis are all made routine. All STEM images are instantly archived in Hitachi’s EMIP database software.

New entity established for displays

Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics (KOE) has been formed to continue the design, development and manufacture of market leading TFT LCD display modules previously established by Hitachi.

The creation of Japan Display Inc has seen the integration of the display businesses of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba to create the world’s largest manufacturer of small to medium sized LCD modules. This business merger has resulted in the formation of Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics who will focus on the development and production of high quality, high performance TFT display modules for industrial and high reliability applications.

The KOE Europe Team!

In Europe, a new re-branded and re-structured organisation, KOE Europe will replace Hitachi’s Display Products Group (DPG). KOE Europe will supply and support a wide range of standard passive STN and colour TFT displays from 3.5” to 21.3” offering high quality, cost effective display solutions. Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics will also offer a highly flexible approach to producing bespoke, custom STN display solutions.

Mark Stanley, General Manager, KOE Europe, explained “The legacy of Hitachi will enable KOE Europe to enter the European market as a strong and confident, premium brand display supplier. KOE Europe will support a large, established European customer base through an existing distribution sales channel and regional sales teams. To maximize support for the European market, KOE Europe aims to ensure a balanced mix of design focused distribution partners working alongside our direct OEM sales force.”

Raymond Sun, Sales and Marketing Group Manager, Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics commented “Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics inherits an established industrial LCD heritage from Japanese manufacturer Hitachi. With continued investment in research and development our aim is to ensure that newly founded Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics remains at the forefront of evolving LCD technology. It remains essential that we continue to develop and produce displays that our global customers demand.”

Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics has an established design and manufacturing facilities in Taiwan. In house design, production and procurement of key components such as LCD glass, colour filters, LCD drivers and backlights, enables Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics to provide an extensive range of optimised and rugged display solutions. Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics plans to increase its product portfolio to capture a greater market share in both TFT and custom STN displays. Kaohsiung Opto-Electronics will maintain the renowned Japanese dedication for the design and manufacture of high quality products.

New display demanding monitoring applications

IPS-Pro technology evolution enables high resolution, small pixel pitch displays

Hitachi Display Products Group (DPG) has announced the introduction of a new IPS (in-plane switching) 9.0” TX23D86VM0BAA TFT display module. The WXGA display features a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels and uses the latest enhancement of Hitachi’s IPS display technology, IPS-Pro New Process.

Optical performance, contrast, uniformity and brightness are excellent and the display module is ideally suited to broadcast or medical monitoring applications where the information represented on the display image must be accurate and easily interpreted. IPS-Pro provides a very stable display image over a very wide viewing angle of 176° making it ideally suiting to multi-viewer applications

Steve Donohoe, Technical Manager, Hitachi DPG, commented, “IPS-Pro New Process has been developed to enable higher resolution display panels with smaller geometry pixels. The new process implemented in the LCD cell also ensures good light transmittance from the backlight through to the front of the display. This is the most recent enhancement of IPS technology and has enabled Hitachi to ensure that the new 9.0” TFT display has excellent black level uniformity, high colour saturation and an exceptional contrast ratio of 1000:1.”

A long life LED backlight provides a brightness of up to 350cd/m². An integrated LED controller enables the backlight to be dimmed making it possible for the viewer to fine tune the backlight brightness to suit a particular viewing environment.

A 6-bit data interface featuring FRC (frame rate control) enables up to 16.7million colours to be displayed via the single channel 30-pin LVDS data interface. The TX23D86VM0BAA display module features mechanical dimensions of 216mm (w) x 142mm (h) x 11.7mm (t) and an extended operating temperature range of -20°C to +70°C.

High performance TFT displays for demanding applications

Hitachi Display Products Group (DPG) will be represented at the Embedded World trade fair in Nuremburg, (D 28/2 - 1/3/2012) by local distributors Data Modul, Glyn and MSC. The three day Embedded World exhibition represents an opportunity to view the latest Hitachi Rugged+ TFT display solutions aimed at extreme industrial and embedded applications.

Designed and developed to operate in demanding and exacting environmental conditions, Rugged+ TFT displays deliver exceptional optical performance, through the use of Hitachi’s IPS technology, which delivers exceptional contrast, wide viewing angles and vivid, stable colours. All Rugged+ displays feature industrial operating specifications with high brightness LED backlights and will provide reliable, fault-free operation between -30°C and +80°C. Rugged+ TFT displays are designed for high reliability medical, marine, aerospace, automotive and industrial applications.

Hitachi’s Rugged+ TFT product line-up includes the following display modules: 3.5” QVGA TX09D04VM3CAA, 5.0” VGA TX13D04VM2CAA, 5.8” WQVGA TX15D02VM0CAA, 7.0” WVGA TX18D35VM0AAB, 7.0” WVGA TX18D37VM0AAA, 8.0” WVGA TX20D26VM0AAA and 12.3” WXGA TX31D38VM2BAA. Also on show a new 4.8” QXGA IPS Pro Rugged+ concept panel.

Rugged TFT display

High brightness and high contrast for harsh environments

Hitachi Display Products Group (DPG) have announced the latest addition to its growing range of Rugged+ TFT display modules. The new 7.0” TX18D35VM0AAB is designed and manufactured to function in challenging and harsh environmental conditions. IPS (in-plane-switching) TFT technology provides exceptional colour saturation, colour stability, contrast and black levels with a 170° wide vertical and horizontal viewing angle.

The 15:9 wide aspect ratio TX18D35VM0AAB features WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixels). The display implements a LED backlight which provides a brightness of 800cd/m² and a half brightness lifetime of 70K hours. A contrast ratio of 600:1 ensures display images are clear, concise and easily viewed.

Mark Stephenson, Product Marketing Manager, Hitachi DPG commented, " Reliable and consistent operation under extreme temperature, mechanical shock and vibration are a necessity in many harsh environments. All of Hitachi's Rugged+ industrial displays are designed to operate under the severe and rigorous conditions found in some industrial applications and still provide exceptional optical performance.”

The ruggedized 7.0” TFT features an industry standard 40-pin, 6-bit RGB, CMOS interface which enables a colour palette of up to 262K colours. The display module has dimensions of 165.0mm (w) x 104.0mm (h) x 12.8mm (d) and an operating temperature range of -30°C and +80°C.

Hitachi recently announced the new line-up of Rugged+ TFT LCD display modules which are specifically intended for use in extreme environment applications. The entire range of Rugged+ displays feature industrial environment operating specifications with high brightness, long-life LED backlights and will provide dependable operation between -30°C and +80°C. Hitachi's Rugged+ TFT displays are designed for high reliability medical, marine, aerospace, automotive and industrial applications.

Wide Video Graphics Array!

New 7.0” WVGA TFT extends product line up

Hitachi Europe Ltd, Display Products Group (DPG) has announced the introduction of a new 7.0” WVGA TFT display module. The new TX18D44VM2BAA features a 15:9 wide aspect ratio, a display resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and delivers excellent optical performance in a compact and slim mechanical package.

The TX18D44VM2BAA features a uniform and bright 400cd/m² LED backlight providing a 40K hour half brightness lifetime and a contrast ratio of 400:1 which enables bright, clear images and information to be displayed. Electrically compatible with existing Hitachi WVGA TFT display modules, the TX18D44VM2BAA features an industry standard 40-pin 6-bit RGB CMOS interface which enables a colour palette of up to 262K colours.

Mark Stephenson, Product Marketing Manager, Hitachi DPG, “The new TX18D44VM2BAA display module extends Hitachi’s 7.0” TFT product line up to provide product designers with an extensive choice at this popular screen size. Hitachi is able to offer a wide choice of standard ‘off-the-shelf’ display modules for a variety of different applications. The new TX18D44VM2BAA provides a very cost effective solution for engineers seeking a reliable, high performance 7.0” WVGA TFT display.”

The TX18D44VM2BAA display module has compact dimensions of 165.0mm (w) x 106.0mm x (h) x 8.0mm (d) and weighs 126g. The display module, which employs COG (chip-on-glass) construction to enhance long term reliability, can be safely operated at temperatures between -20°C and +70°C and is fully RoHS compliant. User interfaces can be easily supported with the TX18D44VM2BPA which features an integrated touchscreen.

French & Spanish markets strengthened!

Hitachi Display Products Group (DPG) has strengthened its sales management team to enable continued sales growth in Southern Europe. Vincent Levigoureux has been appointed to the position of French and Spanish account manager and will provide sales support to key OEM and distribution accounts.

Vincent Levigoureux

Vincent joins Hitachi DPG from NEC Electronics where he spent 4 years as French distribution account manager supporting displays, semiconductor and RF products. Previous positions within the electronic components industry include 3 years as a field applications engineer with distributor Eurocomposant and 3 years with NEC Electronics Smart Card application centre. Vincent will support and promote Hitachi’s full LCD product portfolio and will be based near Paris.

Mark Stanley, Sales and Marketing Manager, Hitachi DPG commented, “We are very pleased to have Vincent join the Display Products Group. He brings with him a wealth of valuable industry knowledge and experience. He will be a strong asset to the European sales team.”

A further appointment for Hitachi DPG is that of Jason Tsai as European technical liaison engineer. Jason has been with Hitachi’s LCD design and development department in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for 11 years as a design engineer. He will provide technical support for OEM and distribution customers and will be based in Maidenhead.

TFT display module

LED backlight provides user brightness control

Hitachi Europe, Display Products Group (DPG) has announced the introduction of a new compact 8.0" wide aspect ratio TFT display module. The new TX20D28VM2BAB has a display resolution of 800 x 480 pixels (WVGA), an integrated LVDS data interface and delivers excellent optical performance.

The new transmissive display continues Hitachi’s integration of robust high brightness LED backlights in medium size TFT display modules. The white LED backlight helps to provide excellent image uniformity and delivers a brightness of 550nits with a half brightness lifetime of 40K hours. A contrast ratio of 600:1 ensures display images are clear and bright.

Ideal for applications in high brightness environments where the lifetime of the backlight is not a critical requirement, the user has direct access to the LED backlight driving circuit. By driving the LEDs with a current of 20mA, a higher brightness of 900nits can be achieved. This will however reduce the half brightness lifetime of the backlight to typically 20K hours.

Commenting Mark Stephenson, Product Manager for Hitachi Display Products Group said “Excellent image uniformity and high colour saturation make the new TX20D28 display module ideal for applications such as in industrial user interfaces, domotics, marine navigation and media entertainment systems” He continued, “The 15:9 wide aspect ratio format of the TX20D28 is increasingly popular, allowing graphical user interfaces to be designed for many different application environments while the LVDS interface aids ease of integration with single board computers.”

The TX20D28VM2BAB display module features compact dimensions of 189mm (w) x 120mm (h) x 7.5mm (d) and weighs 170g. A 20-pin LVDS data interface supports a colour palette of up to 262k colours. The display module will operate safely and reliably at temperatures between -20°C and +70°C.

Electron microscopist to win iPad

There will be plenty of activity at Hitachi’s Stand at EMAG (6-8 Sept 2011 Birminghan GB), where the new-concept HT7700 digital TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) will be exhibited for the first time in Britain. There will also be a chance for a conference delegate to win an iPad2. The open-access hands-on micrograph competition will provide a perfect opportunity to ‘test drive’ the HT7700’s fully-digital TEM for yourself.  Or you can see how quick and easy it is to take advanced imaging and chemical mapping data on the TM3000 tabletop SEM. In either case we want you to take a break from the conference and get “hands-on” at Hitachi for your chance to win an iPad2.

The HT7700 follows the company's core aim of making ever more advanced microscopy techniques easier and quicker to use – enabling you to concentrate on the science of your materials. The HT7700 is a research grade 120kV TEM which features fully integrated CCD cameras to complement the fully-digital imaging system – making TEM more ergonomic, faster and more powerful. It is ideally suited to imaging and analysis of light element materials and features Hitachi’s patented dual focal-length objective lens – ensuring you get the best contrast and resolution all in one instrument.

Hitachi’s Tabletop microscope technology has established itself in a host of applications and industries worldwide by simplifying electron microscopy and making it accessible to all. But that simplification hasn’t come at the expense of advanced capabilities like variable pressure operation or EDX mapping which is now faster than ever.

Hitachi will also be previewing the latest advances in sample preparation with the new ZoneCleaner - a novel instrument for gentle cleaning of even the most sensitive SEM and TEM specimens. Using a UV/Ozone cleaning process to remove surface hydrocarbons from samples in a controllable fashion higher contrast and resolution can be achieved, along with improved analytical data.

Applications specialists from Europe and Japan will also be sharing the latest research data from Hitachi’s HD2700 Cs-corrected STEM (including atomic resolution secondary electron imaging) and SU9000 In-lens SEM/STEM during the lunchtime theatre sessions.

European distributor awards presented in Dublin

Hitachi Europe Ltd, Display Products Group (DPG) presented awards to four of its distributors for their outstanding contributions in delivering growth and design win opportunities in a challenging  but re-energized European marketplace that saw Hitachi DPG increase its market share and launch its new Rugged+ TFT display line-up.

The awards were made at its recent European distribution sales conference held in Dublin (IRL).  At the conference, MSC Germany was awarded best overall distributor for strong growth and consistently good performance in finding new designs and pushing for success. In addition, Anglia received the accolade for greatest business growth, Arrow Nordic achieved the award for best new design opportunity performance.

Mark Stanley, sales and marketing manager, Hitachi DPG said, “The distribution sales channel is an extremely important route to market for Hitachi DPG. It is essential we have strong, committed and motivated European distribution partners.” He continued, “During the past 12 months our leading distributors have excelled in developing and converting new design in and sales opportunities in what has been a challenging marketplace.” 

Accepting the overall Distributor of the Year award, Frank Dettweiler, product marketing manager, MSC GmbH said, "We are very happy to accept this award recognising MSC's continued outstanding performance promoting Hitachi displays.  One of the keys to our success has been our ability to offer customers genuine value added features and solutions, which solve their design challenges and difficulties.  Customers also reward our exceptional technical and commercial project support. MSC will continue to invest and focus on design in and product promotion activities with Hitachi DPG."

Commenting on Anglia’s award for business growth, David Potts, divisional marketing manager at Anglia, said, “The whole team at Anglia Embedded is proud to be recognised as the fastest growing Hitachi Display distributor in the European network. Hitachi is known around the world as a leader in displays for the industrial market, and we believe that the support offered by Anglia’s team especially the design in work by the FAEs has made a significant difference to their success in the UK market.”

Receiving the best design opportunity award, Steve Dyson, supplier business manager at Arrow, responded, “We are very happy to receive recognition from Hitachi for our new project performance. We are fully committed to support our customers from concept to production and beyond with the most appropriate Hitachi display solution. With the current revolution in the graphical user interface, Hitachi industrial panels and world leading IPS technology meet every possible optical requirement.”

Rugged displays

Ruggedized, high performance TFT displays suitable for extreme environments

Hitachi DPG (Display Products Group) has announced the introduction of a new line-up of Rugged+ TFT LCD display modules specifically intended for use in extreme environment applications. The Rugged+ display modules have been designed and developed to operate in demanding industrial and harsh environmental conditions. Some of the new modules feature Hitachi’s IPS-Pro TFT technology which provides outstanding image quality when viewed at any viewing angle. IPS-Pro also provides exceptional colour saturation, colour stability, contrast and black levels with a 176° wide vertical and horizontal viewing angle.

The new Rugged+ TFT product line-up currently includes the following display modules: a 3.5” QVGA TX09D04VM3CAA, a 5.8” WQVGA TX15D02VM0CAA, two 7.0” WVGA modules TX18D35VM0AAA (CMOS interface) and TX18D37VM0AAA (LVDS interface), an 8.0” WVGA TX20D26VM0AAA and a soon to be introduced 5.0” VGA module. (Maybe we should hold an competition for the most meaningful part numbers sometime in the future! Ed)

Mark Stephenson, Product Marketing Manager, Hitachi DPG commented, “All of Hitachi’s industrial displays are designed and manufactured to function in challenging and harsh environmental conditions. Reliable and consistent operation under extreme temperature, mechanical shock and vibration are a necessity in some harsh environments.” He continued “Hitachi Displays has used knowledge and experience gained in high reliability automotive applications to develop and design the new series of Rugged+ TFT display modules. These new modules are capable of enduring operation under the severe and rigorous conditions found in some industrial applications while still providing exceptional optical performance.”

The entire range of Rugged+ displays feature industrial environment operating specifications with high brightness, long-life LED backlights and will provide dependable operation between -30°C and +80°C. Hitachi’s Rugged+ TFT displays are designed for high reliability medical, marine, aerospace, automotive and industrial applications.

Highest resolution FE-SEM!

Hitachi Launches World’s Highest Resolution FE-SEM

The new SU9000 Field Emission  (FE) Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) from Hitachi High-Technologies features novel electron optics which allow 0.4 nm resolution to be achieved at an accelerating voltage of 30 kV, with a usable magnification up to 3 Million times. This is believed to be the highest resolution-performance currently achievable on a commercially available instrument.

Featuring a new type of cold FE electron source with excellent stability and brightness and utilising Hitachi’s 25 year experience of in-lens detection technology, the SU9000 also provides outstanding ultra-low current and low voltage imaging of sensitive materials. This excellent all-round performance, combined with fast specimen exchange times and the optional scanning transmission (STEM) modes, makes the SU9000 the ideal choice for use in applications ranging from semiconductor devices, electronics, and advanced nanotechnology materials, to life sciences and medicine.


The new, cold FE electron source delivers probe current that is approximately double that of earlier models, giving high quality images with superior S/N and exceptional stability from the moment the electron beam is switched on. The high performance electron optics allow a resolution of 1.2 nm at an accelerating voltage of 1 kV to be achieved without the need for beam deceleration technology. This greatly simplifies low energy imaging and significantly increases sample throughput.

Hitachi’s unique dual through-the-lens detection system allows filtering of electrons of different energies, to give the capability for simultaneous multi-signal imaging. This provides extraordinary versatility for the imaging of structures and surface properties.

Using the scanning transmission (STEM) option, the SU9000 guarantees STEM resolution that can allow the lattice structure of graphite (C (002) d=0.34 nm) to be imaged at 30 kV accelerating voltage. The unique STEM detection system allows simultaneous bright field and dark field imaging and annular DF detection with selectable scattering angle. Up to 4 signals can be simultaneously displayed.
The SU9000 features side-entry sample insertion and can be ready for high resolution imaging in as little as 6 minutes or less; the fast exchange times benefiting from the high stability of the electron beam.

An order of magnitude better vacuum around the sample minimizes contamination, enhancing resolution and eliminating the need for an additional cold trap for cryo work on biological samples.

Ease of use is guaranteed through a new user interface, while a large 24.1-inch widescreen monitor offers a comfortable environment for both operating the instrument and viewing images.

Display suitable for SBCs

Hitachi Display Products Group (DPG) now offers a family of medium size TFT display modules featuring LVDS (low-voltage differential signal) data interface which are suitable for single board computer (SBC) and embedded applications. Hitachi’s LVDS TFT display line-up includes the following screen sizes; 5.7” VGA, 6.5” VGA, 7.0” WVGA, 8.0” WVGA, 9.0” WVGA and 10.4” SVGA. Integrating a LVDS data interface onto a TFT display module allows high speed digital transmission of the image data with low power consumption, excellent tolerance to transmission line effects and exceptional noise immunity which ensures a clear, crisp display image is displayed at all times.

Commenting Mark Stephenson, Product Marketing Manager, Hitachi DPG, said, “The market for easy to use embedded computing products and industry standard SBCs is continuing to grow significantly. LVDS is already common place across a variety of applications particularly in industrial and  consumer  markets and further adoption of LVDS in embedded applications will continue. Hitachi DPG can now offer six TFT display modules, from 5.7" up to 10.4", with an integrated LVDS data interface. This simplifies the task of display integration for the customers using single board computers for embedded and industrial applications requiring a graphical user interface.”

The line-up of Hitachi TFT display modules with LVDS interface includes the 5.7” VGA TX14D10VM1BAA, 6.5" VGA TX17D02VM2CAA, 7.0” WVGA TX18D37VM0AAA, 8.0” WVGA TX20D28VM2BAA, 9.0" WVGA TX23D38VM0CAA and 10.4"  SVGA TX26D12VM0AAA. Other standard display features include IPS (in-plane-switching) wide viewing angle TFT technology, long lifetime white LED backlights, extended operating temperature ranges and compact mechanical dimensions.

Display technology migrates from demanding OEM applications

Hitachi DPG introduces high performance 5.8” TFT

Hitachi Display Products Group (DPG) has announced the introduction of a new 5.8” TFT display module featuring IPS-Pro technology. IPS-Pro is the latest derivative of Hitachi’s established IPS (in-plane-switching) display technology which enables a 176 degree viewing angle in all directions. The new compact TX15D02VM0CAA display module features WQVGA (400 x 240 pixels) resolution and compliments existing Hitachi wide format aspect ratio displays whilst providing a market leading product specification.

Commenting Mark Stephenson, Product Marketing Manager Hitachi DPG said, “The addition of the new 5.8” TFT display module with IPS-Pro technology provides exceptional optical performance and further enhances our medium size display offering. The TX15D02VM0CAA also implements display technology enhancements that have been developed for harsh industrial environments and automotive applications. The introduction of this display reinforces the advantage Hitachi maintains working within demanding OEM market sectors and ensures benefits that can be passed on to industrial customers.”

The compact TX15 features a mechanical footprint of 145mm (w) x 90mm (h) x 12.5mm (d) while the design in process is aided with the implementation of an industry standard 40-pin 18-bit RGB CMOS interface supporting up to 262K colours. Market leading optical performance is achieved with a contrast ratio of 800:1 and LED backlight featuring a specified lifetime of 70Khours and a brightness of 450cd/m². Extreme environment operating conditions are ably supported with an operating temperature range of -30°C to +80°C.

The new 5.8” TX15D02VM0CAA display is available immediately through Hitachi Display Products Group distribution partners across Europe.