Tokyo, January 31, 2012 – Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT / TSE: 6501, Hitachi) and Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation ( TSE: 8036, Hitachi High-Tech) today announced they had received the IEEE Milestone for Hitachi’s pioneering development of the world’s “First Practical Field Emission Electron Microscope , 1972” from the IEEE 1 , the world’s largest professional association in the electrical, electronics, information and communications engineering fields.
Established in 1983, the IEEE Milestone honors historical technica l achievements from among innovations in the electrical, electronics, information and communications engineering fields that have contributed substantially to the advancement of industry and society. The IEEE Milestone is awarded only after at least 25 years have passed since development.
Hitachi created a practical field emission (FE) electron beam source together with the late Dr. Albert Crewe (former professor of the University of Chicago), the original developer in 1968. Subsequently in 1972, Hitachi installed the FE electron beam source in a scanning electron microscope (SEM), marking the successful development of the HFS-2 model, the world’s first commercial FE-SEM2. The HFS-2 model could be easily operated to observe stable and reliable ultra-high resolution images. Thereafter, Hitachi applied this technology to the development of a Critical Dimension (CD)-SEM model used for process control in semiconductor manufacturing lines, which contributed to the miniaturization of semiconductor devices at the time. At the same time, Hitachi contributed to the advancement of the healthcare and biotechnology fields through such achievements as the world’s first observation of an SEM image of the AIDS virus using Hitachi’s FE-SEM. Furthermore, Hitachi’s FE-SEM has played a vital role in research and advancement in science and technology. Notably, the Aharonov-Bohm 3 effect was demonstrated using electron beam holography generated by a Hitachi FE-TEM4 fitted with an FE electron beam source.
Hitachi High-Tech was formed through the integration in 2001 of Nissei Sangyo Co., Ltd., a Hitachi Group trading company specializing in technology, and the Instruments Group and Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Group of Hitachi, Ltd. The Hitachi High-Tech Group is currently responsible for electron microscope manufacturing, sales and services. The IEEE Milestone has been jointly conferred on Hitachi and Hitachi High-Tech.
Hitachi Pioneered Development of the World’s First Practical FE -SEM:the HFS-2 Model (Launched 1972)
Looking ahead, the Hitachi Group will continue to develop outstanding proprietary technologies and products in fields including electron microscop e, where it received the IEEE Milestone, with the view to contributing to the establishment of a safe, secure and comfortable society and the advancement of industry worldwide.
IEEE Milestone
At present, the IEEE Milestone has honored around 120 technical achievements worldwide. Of this number, 16 technical achievements have honored in Japan, including this receipt.
1995 Jun. Directive Short Wave Antenna, 1924
2000 Mar. Mount Fuji Radar System, 1964
2000 Jul. Tokaido Shinkansen (Bullet Train), 1964
2004 Nov. Electronic Quartz Wristwatch, 1969
2005 Dec. Pioneering Work on Electronic Calculators, 1964-1973
2006 Oct. Development of VHS, a World Standard for Home Video Recording, 1976
2007 Nov. Railroad Ticketing Examining System, 1965-1971
2008 Nov. The First Word Processor for the Japanese Language, 197 1-1978
2009 May Yosami Radio Transmitting Station, 1929
2009 Oct. Development of Ferrite Materials and Their Applications, 1930 -1945
2009 Nov. Development of Electronic Television, 1924-1941
First Transpacific Reception of a Television (TV) Signal vi a Satellite, 1963
2010 Apr.Kurobe River No. 4 Hydropower Plant, 1956-63 Commercialization and Industrialization of Photovoltaic Cells, 1959 -83
2011 Nov. First Direct Broadcast Satellite Service, 1984
2012 Jan. First Practical Field Emission Electron Microscope, 1972
Note:
1. IEEE: Headquartered in the U.S.A., the IEEE is the world’slarg est professional association of electrical, electronics, information and communications engineers, with more than 400,000 members in more than 160 countries worldwide.
2. FE-SEM (Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope): Refers to an SEM that enables ultra-high resolution observation through a built-in FE electron beam source, which provides a smaller wave dispersion and higher intensity than electron beam sources (thermal electron sources) used in conventional SEMs.
3. Aharonov-Bohm Effect (AB Effect): In 1959, Yakir Aharon ov and David Bohm stated that a potential was itself a fundamental physical entity, and would affect a charged particle even in a region in which there was no electric or magnetic field.
4. FE-TEM (Field Emission-Transmission Electron Microscope): Refers to a TEM that enables high-resolution observation, chemical analysis in ultra-fine domains and related features through a built-in FE electron beam source.
ABOUT HITACHI
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2010 (ended March 31, 2011) consolidated revenues totaled 9,315 billion yen ($112.2 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
ABOUT HITACHI HIGH-TECH
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (TSE: 8036), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, conducts wide-ranging operations from a worldwide network of bases, employing approximately 10,000 e mployees globally. Hitachi High -Tech reported consolidated net sales of 653.4 billion yen ($7.9 billion) and operating income of 27.9 billion yen ($335 million) in fiscal 2010 (ended March 31, 2011). With core strengths in electronic device systems, fine technology systems, science and medical systems, and industrial and IT systems, Hitachi Hig h-Tech aspires to become a global leader in high-tech solutions as a business creation company by leveraging synergies between its trading and manufacturing capabilities. For more information on Hitachi High-Tech, visit the Company’s website at http://www.hitachi-hitec.com.
Contacts:
Hitachi, Ltd.
Japan
Masayoshi Yamaji
[email protected]
U.S
Mickey Takeuchi
Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi America, Ltd.
+81-3-5208-9324 +1-914-333-2987
[email protected]
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
Katsuhiro Akita,
Aiko Matsumoto
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
+81-3-3504-3258
[email protected]
[email protected]