Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
January 31, 2012
![[photo]Hitachi Pioneered Development of the World's First Practical FE-SEM:the HFS-2 Model (Launched 1972)](120131.jpg)
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 technical 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-SEM*2. 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-TEM*4 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.
Looking ahead, the Hitachi Group will continue to develop outstanding proprietary technologies and products in fields including electron microscope, 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.
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, 1971-1978 |
| 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 via 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 |
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 thecompany's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (TSE: 8036), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, conducts wide-ranging operations from a worldwide network of bases, employing approximately 10,000 employees 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 High-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/global/
