Japanese Chinese

Contact us
 > Sensors  > Part 1 of a Series
     
Part 1 of a Series

K. Tochihara
Sales & Marketing Headquarters
New Business Create Dept.
Senior Manager
The new value of sensors developed by Alps Electric


Alps Electric leads the new market of sensors with a wide variety of product lineups
Sensors, which detect temperature, pressure, magnetism, and so on, instead of human sensation, are currently incorporated in various kinds of equipment, and support daily life and society. Alps Electric has been engaged in the development of sensors for more than 20 years, and now offers a wide variety of sensors including the most up-to-date non-contact highly reliable magnetic sensors, capacitance type pressure sensors, and also traditional resistive sensors.

Our cutting-edge technology has been devoted to develop non-contact highly reliable magnetic sensors
Particularly, our highly reliable magnetic sensors, which we intend to develop further as strategic products, have a wider detection range and lower variation in performance in the high sensitivity region compared to the conventional magnetic sensors intended for open/close detection. This increases the flexibility of board design and sensor layout, and contributes greatly to miniaturization and multifunction performance of equipment. In addition, our highly reliable magnetic sensors realize the greatest degree of miniaturization in the industry, as well as low current consumption, stable temperature operating characteristics, and so on, enabling them to be used in a wide range of applications such as cell phones, personal computers, information equipment, AV equipment, intelligent home appliances, white goods (home electric appliances), automobiles, and so on.
Highly reliable magnetic sensors will open up a new world of sensors. K. Tochihara, a senior manager of New Business Create Department of Business Headquarters of Alps Electric talks about the advantages of these sensors which Alps developed for the new era.
"Alps highly reliable magnetic sensors were created using the latest technology we had been developed for magnetic heads of the hard disk drives. We unstintingly employed high sensitivity, high accuracy and high reliability technologies in a magnetic heads, and take pride in the fact that this technical know-how is foremost in the industry."
These sensors are based on our core technology related to materials, design and evaluation, MEMS, nano-machining, and nano-materials fostered over many years.
Highly Reliable Magnetic Sensor
Analog Linear Output Type

Alps developed capacitance type pressure sensors and now under development of piezo-resistive sensors
We have also developed a capacitance type pressure sensor that detects changes in electrostatic capacitance between a fixed electrode and a diaphragm (a movable electrode which deforms under pressure) due to bending of the latter. We are also engaged in the development of a piezo-resistance type sensor.
A capacitance type sensor is characterized by low power consumption and high sensitivity, so it is suitable for such applications as an automobile TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) and a blood pressure gauge. Also, the piezo-resistance type can be made compact and slim, so it is suitable for a variety of applications such as in small equipment. In the future, we are planning to widen the range of applications by giving full play to the characteristics of both types.
Capacitance Type
Pressure Sensor

Various resistive sensors, a starting point of Alps Electric's sensors
In addition, the widely used contact type resistive sensor has excellent chemical stability and environmental durability, so we will continue to make efforts to increase the range of applications including automotive applications.
The resistive sensors, which have the longest history in our sensor business, have been highly evaluated for its long life, high heat resistance, and reliability. Its technology, which is based on resistor element and contact technology fostered over many years for manufacturing variable resistors for AV equipment, have been developed to meet the stringent demands of the market.
Particularly, for sensors for automotive equipment, in 1977 we developed and manufactured our first register boards for airflow meter which is used in electronic fuel injection systems. Since then, we have developed and manufactured products suitable for a wide range of applications, including throttle valve position sensors that detects the on-off valve of the air intake valve, EGR valve position sensors which is used in an EGR (exhaust gas recovery) system to reduce oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust gas, accelerator pedal sensors, steering axle sensors, brake pedal sensors which sense the intention of the driver, chassis height sensors which detects the height of the vehicle body, the lengthwise direction tilt, and so on.
These automotive sensors introduce safety, comfort and environmental friendliness which are required by vehicles.

Alps challenges developing sensors that combine different functions
"Alps Electric manufactures a wide variety of sensors." Tochihara spoke of his strategy concerning.
"We will make further efforts to have our customers use our various sensors. At the same time, I would like to take up the challenge developing new devices combining functions such as highly reliable magnetic sensors and pressure sensors. Also, I would like to give the new value 'that only Alps Electric can create' to our many customers."
Alps Electric has put a great variety of electronic components on the market over many years, and has created many powerful products that have become bywords for the company. We have started to move in earnest in order to make sensors a new byword.
Alps' resistive sensors which are used in a wide range of applications from vehicles to consumer equipment

Inquiries about Products
Inquiry
For more information please contact: Sales or Products Information Center.
1-7, YUKIGAYA-OTSUKA-CHO, OTA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN 145-8501 PHONE : +81 (3) 5499-8154
 
 
COPYRIGHT© 1995-2008 ALPS ELECTRIC CO.,LTD. *Terms of use