everything PE recently interviewed Satoshi Hanazawa, Senior Vice President, Product Development at ABLIC. ABLIC manufactures analog semiconductors, offering a diverse range of products that include power management integrated circuits (ICs), memory solutions, sensors, amplifiers, timer ICs, automotive ICs, and healthcare ICs.
Q. Can you provide some information about ABLIC? When was the company founded, and how has it developed over time?
Satoshi Hanazawa: ABLIC is an analog semiconductor specialist that became independent from the SEIKO Group in 2018 under the new company name, “ABLIC Inc.”, and its history dates back to 1968, when it developed CMOS ICs for the world's first practical quartz watches. Since then, ABLIC has continued to provide small, low-power consumption, and high-precision analog semiconductor products for over 50 years—not only for watches but also for a wide range of consumer electronics, mobile devices, automotive applications, and healthcare equipment. ABLIC became part of the MinebeaMitsumi Group in April 2020 and continues to enrich lives worldwide, guided by our vision of inspiring customers with 'Small, Smart, Simple' analog semiconductor solutions.
Our company name 'ABLIC' is a coined word derived from 'ABLE' (possible) and 'IC' (Integrated Circuit), reflecting our passion for making the impossible possible through semiconductor technology.
Our logo combines an upward-pointing arrow (↑), symbolizing growth, and a square diamond (◆), representing ICs. Together, they form the letter 'A,' the first letter of our company name, embodying our corporate stance of fostering societal growth through semiconductors.
ABLIC is an Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM), capable of working consistently and cooperatively at every stage from product planning and design to manufacturing and quality assurance. Our strength lies in our ability to accurately identify potential market needs, create innovative products, and respond to customer requests with precision, speed, and thoroughness.
With our integrated production system, ABLIC delivers solutions that pave the way for the future while offering new value, earning high recognition from customers worldwide.
Q. Can you tell us more about your product portfolio?
Satoshi Hanazawa: ABLIC has deep expertise in analog semiconductor products, with the following as its main product portfolios.
Q. Which market segments do you cater to? Which segment is the largest for you?
Satoshi Hanazawa: Through these products, ABLIC delivers high-performance and highly reliable solutions across a wide range of market segments, including industrial equipment, automotive equipment, healthcare equipment, telecommunications equipment, and home appliances.
Traditionally, our focus has been on industrial equipment and home appliances. However, we are increasingly focusing on healthcare and automotive equipment, driven by the growing need for highly reliable products.
Q. What are the unique features of automotive PMICs offered by ABLIC?
Satoshi Hanazawa: ABLIC's automotive PMICs are distinguished by several unique features, including ultra-low current consumption, ultra-low voltage operation, high-accuracy detection through laser trimming, and ultra-small, thin packages. These innovations stem from our expertise in CMOS IC development for quartz watches.
Automotive PMICs from ABLIC
For example, our product lineup includes linear regulators with the industry's lowest current consumption, which help reduce EV electricity costs by reducing ECU standby current through advanced power-saving technology. Additionally, by leveraging our expertise in miniaturization technology, our step-down switching regulators are the smallest in the industry, enabling the downsizing of camera modules.
Q. What are battery protection ICs?
Satoshi Hanazawa: Battery protection ICs are integrated circuits used in lithium-ion battery protection circuits to ensure the safe operation of lithium-ion batteries. These protection circuits serve four key functions:
- Overcharge protection
- Over-discharge protection
- Protection against overcurrent and short-circuit conditions
- Protection against high-temperature conditions
When these conditions are detected, the protection circuit automatically stops charging or discharging the lithium-ion battery.
Q. What is Electric Power Steering (EPS)?
Satoshi Hanazawa: Electric Power Steering (EPS) is an automotive steering system that uses an electric motor to assist with steering operation. Unlike conventional Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS), which relies on a hydraulic pump and fluid, EPS utilizes an electric motor and sensors to provide precise and efficient steering assistance.
Electric Power Steering
Q. What is ZCL Hall Effect IC? How does ABLIC's ZCL (Zero Crossing Latch) Hall Effect IC enhance the BLDC motor design?
Satoshi Hanazawa: ZCL Hall Effect ICs detect the switching of magnetic poles—from S-pole to N-pole and vice versa—at a magnetic flux density of 0 mT. ZCL Hall Effect ICs enhance the power efficiency of BLDC motors because they can detect 0 mT and rapidly relay the rotating position of the motor's rotor magnet to the motor control driver.
Q. What is CLEAN-Boost Technology?
Satoshi Hanazawa: CLEAN-Boost is ABLIC’s unique energy harvesting technology that can accumulate, boost, and transform small amounts of energy derived from subtle moisture, electricity-producing bacteria, body heat, vibration, and other natural phenomena, which has conventionally been discarded, and convert it into electricity for radio transmission and other electrical energy. Being wireless and battery-free, this technology will help to facilitate IoT cloud services that are simple to set up and require no battery changes.
Q. How does ABLIC's thermal simulation service benefit EV development?
Satoshi Hanazawa: The “Thermal Simulation Service” supports EV development by providing thermal resistance values and recommended wiring ratios based on information supplied by the customer, such as the intended circuit board and usage conditions. This service helps reduce the development workload, time, and cost of various ECUs used in EVs.
Q. What are ABLIC's key goals for 2025? Will the company expand its product lineup?
Satoshi Hanazawa: ABLIC's key goals for 2025 include expanding its product lineup by developing new, higher-added value products while strengthening its existing focus areas to become a global niche leader. The company plans to introduce:
About Satoshi Hanazawa
Satoshi Hanazawa started by joining Hitachi, Ltd. in 1994 where he was primarily in charge of developing IC for communication and medical devices. Satoshi joined SII Semiconductor Corporation (currently, ABLIC Inc.) in 2016. His place of employment changed following the transfer of Hitachi's IC business for medical devices, and he continues to be in charge of developing IC for medical devices. In 2023, he was appointed as an executive officer in charge of the development domain, responsible for product development, and up to the present.
