Supplier Spotlight - Murata | Symmetry Blog

Each week, we'll be showcasing one of our suppliers from our line card and what distinguishes them from the competition. This week's supplier is Murata, a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of advanced electronic materials, leading edge electronic components, and multi-functional, high-density modules.

Who is Murata?

Murata is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of advanced electronic materials, leading edge electronic components, and multi-functional, high-density modules. Murata innovations can be found in a wide range of applications from mobile phones to home appliances, and automotive applications to energy management systems and healthcare devices.

Murata contributes to the advancement of society and the electronics industry by creating innovative products and solutions, in close cooperation with their customers and other stakeholders. Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, they service their customers with a global network of manufacturing facilities and sales support.

Murata’s product offering is comprehensively stocked by a leading network of authorized distributors committed to following the Murata philosophy and vision of earning the trust of customers through open collaboration and delivering reliable support. 

A close alignment with their sales channel partners enables Murata Americas to assure you of receiving a stable supply of products and obtaining the service and value you need to grow your business.

How are they different?

Murata contributes to the advancement of society by innovating, designing and supplying components and solutions for a variety of markets and applications, and the markets for Murata’s electronic components continue to grow. 

Smartphones currently account for 75% of the mobile phones sold worldwide, and it is predicted that the need for multiband LTE-compatible units will spread even further.

Advancements in electrification is forecast for the field of automotive electronics along with improved safety features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the growth of built-in vehicle communication functions like infotainment. The overall demand for electronic components is also trending toward smaller sizes, thinner higher performance, and higher reliability... At Murata, in addition to component products, sales of the multilayer ceramic capacitors and piezoelectric components that are their core products, as well as of communication modules in which numerous parts are embedded using multi-component, multi-layer technology are growing more and more.

What are their most popular products?

Sensors

Murata pursued sensing functions making full use of MEMS and processing technology, and magnetoresistive elements including ceramic material technology in order to develop highly efficient and highly reliable devices, modules and systems.
A lineup of various sensors respond to the sensing needs of various applications for automobile, wearable, medical care and health care.

Termperature Sensor

Capable of sensing heat, temperature sensors are widely used to protect equipment and circuits.
NTC thermistors are elements whose resistance falls with an increase temperature, while PTC thermistors display an increase in resistance as temperature rises. Their characteristic temperature-resistance curves allow them to be used as temperature sensors.
NTC thermistors find a wide range of uses since they feature high precision and good thermal response. PTC thermistors are employed in many applications that detect certain temperature levels using extremely simple circuits.
Murata thermistors come in chip and lead types.

Ultrasonic Sensors

Ultrasonic sensors emit ultrasonic waves in the air that reflect off of objects. The reflected sound is then received by the sensor. This technology is used for detection of objects in burglar alarms and automatic doors as well as for range measurement in automotive parking assistance systems. 

Infrared Sensors

Pyroelectric infrared sensors detect infrared rays using the pyroelectric effect of pyroelectric ceramics, a kind of piezoelectric ceramics.

Shock Sensors

Based on long unique piezoelectric ceramic technology in-house, Murata shock sensors are developed unique and high performance acceleration sensors used for detecting vibration and impact (mechanical shock).

Accelerometers

Murata is the global market leader in low-g acceleration sensors for automotive applications. The extensive accelerometer product range includes high performance digital and analog accelerometers for both safety critical automotive and industrial applications. Murata accelerometers are based on the company's proprietary 3D MEMS technology and they offer a number of excellent product features and benefits for the most demanding applications. The sensing element and the measuring ASIC are assembled in a dual-in-line or dual-in-flat-line plastic package with pins for surface mount and re-flow soldering. They are environmentally protected with silicone gel resulting in excellent performance and reliability in a humid environment and at temperature cycling. In addition, the robust sensing element design with over damped frequency response enables excellent performance even in harsh and vibrating environments. The measuring direction is parallel or perpendicular to the mounting plane. The ASIC includes an on-chip EEPROM memory with the calibration coefficients for unit interchangeability. Murata accelerometers include enhanced failure detection: digitally activated self-test, calibration memory parity or check sum check and continuous connection failure detection. The products are intended for horizontal or vertical measurements.The zero point temperature dependence is less than 1mg/°C.

Inclinometers

Murata inclination sensors are an optimum choice for high accuracy leveling and inclination measurement instruments. The highest accuracy is available with SCA103T series that use differential measurement principle to compensate all common mode error and noise effects.

The best shock durability of the MEMS market provides trouble-free measurements in moving machines, vehicles, airplanes, construction machines and hand held devices.

Gyro Sensors

Murata Electronics develops and manufactures gyroscope components and combined sensors (including gyroscope and accelerometer) based on the company's proven 3D MEMS technology and highly integrated electronics.

Industrial gyroscopes offer a performance level that typically has been available only for expensive module products. Sensing elements and the measuring circuitry are assembled into a pre-molded plastic dual-in-line (DIL) package, protected with silicon gel and covered with a stainless steel lid. All products are RoHS compatible and suitable for lead free reflow soldering.

Rotary Position Sensors

A category of position sensors, rotary position sensors can measure rotational angles from output voltages. The principle: The rotation to be measured is linked to the motion of a slider to cause changes in resistance, which the sensor circuit converts into changes in output voltage. Unlike trimmer potentiometers, rotary position sensors are extremely durable due to their high rotational life characteristics.

AMR Sensors (Magnetic Sensors)

These products are magnetic sensors using AMR elements whose resistance varies according to the strength or direction of the magnetic field. Combination with a magnet permits non-contact rotation detection or position detection.

Wireless

Through their Wireless Connectivity Platforms, Murata is continuously innovating the how to connect and network devices, equipment, and processes.

Murata Wireless Connectivity Products and Platforms Include:

• RF Modules
• Wireless Connectivity Platforms
• Ultra Low Power Short-Range RF ICs
• SAW-Based Components

WiFi Modules

Select from a wide range of Wi-Fi modules featuring various Murata innovations to address your unique design requirements, such as:

• Modules for MPU-based applications to meet high through-put demands and modules for MCU-based applications demanding low through-put
• Embedded software available in some modules that enable you to quickly connect to the cloud during design and prototyping stages
• Module-level FCC, IC, and/ or ETSI certifications available in some modules to reduce design cycle and speed up time-to-market

Bluetooth

As the Bluetooth® system continues to expand exponentially, Murata ensures that the latest advancements in Bluetooth technology are available to you.

Module offering dual mode device and single mode device.

Dual mode device is compatible with both Classic Bluetooth (BR/EDR) and Bluetooth LE. Host processor will be connected via standard HCI UART interface.

Single mode device supports Bluetooth LE. Small application can run on the module including Bluetooth Host Stack.

LPWA Modules

Murata joined the LoRa Alliance™ and worked together with STMicro and Semtech, to design a cost-effective, small form factor LoRaWAN™ module, capable of supporting a wide range of sensors and a long range wireless protocol. Murata CMWX1ZZABZ module has pre-certified radio regulatory approvals for operating in the 868 and 915 MHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) spectrum in most geographical regions of the world. Well verified hardware and software of this module for developers are available on LoRa platform.
Learn more about LPWA

Ultra Low-Power Short-Range RF ICs

Integrated PLL, IF and Baseband Circuitry to minimize external component count and simplify / speed design cycle, and:

• Single- and multiple-channel applications
• Wide operating supply voltage;
• FHSS capability;
• Available in 863-960 MHz frequencies;
• Provisions for FSK / OOK modulations;
• 200 kb/s data rate.

Timing Devices (Ceramic Resonator / Crystal Unit / Oscillator)

Timing devices are passive component which creates clock signal by the piezoelectric effect. This device is used for various applications, including for mobile phones, wearable devices and AV/PC.

Crystal Units

Crystal units are made of high stability piezoelectric quartz crystal that function as a mechanical resonator.
Crystal units can generate clock signals which are essential for ICs and LSIs to operate, achieving high stability, adjustment-free performance and miniaturization.
At present, crystal units find a broad range of applications such as communication satellites, mobile communication devices, automotive electronics, TVs, personal computing and home information appliances such as DVD equipment.

Ceramic Resonators

Ceramic resonators (CERALOCK^®) are made of high stability piezoelectric ceramics that function as a mechanical resonator.

CERALOCK^® find a broad range of applications such as automotive electronics, communications, personal computing, and medical/healthcare equipment.

Crystal Oscillators

TCXO (Temperature compensated crystal oscillator) is a type of crystal oscillator. TCXOs provide a stable clock signal with a temperature compensated circuit and a Crystal unit with good performance over a wide temperature range. TCXOs are commonly being used for Business Radios, Small cells, and Wireless devices.

Looking to integrate Murata products with your design? Our Applications Engineers offer free design and technical help for your latest designs. Contact us today!