Events

Fourth Seminar held (members only)

　Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m., May 23 (Tue), 2017

　Place: Shufu Kaikan Plaza-F, Yotsuya, Tokyo

Lecturer: Tamotsu Ninomiya

Title:“Merging Reliability Science and Reliability Engineering

—– Aiming a New Method of Reliability Design

for Nega-Watt-Cost Reduction —– “

Setting for the Fourth Seminar

Lecturer Tamotsu Ninomiya

Fourth General Meeting held (members only)

Agenda

1. Report items

   ・Fiscal 2016 business report and accounts settlement

   ・Membership information

   　Admissions and withdrawals

   　Senior academia member acknowledgments

2. Discussion items

   ・Fiscal 2017 business plan (draft)

   ・Fiscal 2017 budget (draft)

   ・Personnel matters (draft)

3. General Meeting summary

   ・Approval of fiscal 2016 activities report and settlement of accounts. Executive approval of fiscal 2017

   　business plan plus budget-related questions and answers.

   ・Recognition of Tamotsu Ninomiya joining the governing board.

   ・Introduction of 2 part-time researchers.

4. Membership

   ・Corporate members: 12 companies

   ・Academia members: 8 senior members, 21 regular members( 14 affiliated institutions).

 

Setting for the Fourth General Meeting

Get-together after the Fourth General Meeting

Second Training Camp held (members only)

Date: March 17-18, 2017

Place: Kikai Shinko Kaikan, Kamiyacho, Tokyo

Objective: To generate lively discussion for drafting the fiscal 2017 business plan based on fiscal 2016
activities. Scientific society trends centered on international conferences were introduced along with
approaches to investigative activity and engineering drafts of research FS (feasibility studies). information
was exchanged through topics presented by members as well as mutual exchanges between corporate
and academia　members at a gathering held after the training camp.

(Part 1 of Program, 1 to 5 p.m., March 17)

1. Engineering department reports

   ・Fiscal 2016 activity report by each WG (working group)

   ・Reports and analyses of international conferences

   ・Basic investigative policy for fiscal 2017.

2. General affairs-related reports

   ・General affairs

   ・Regulation changes

   (Part 2 of Program, 9 a.m. to noon, March 18)

3. Project reports

   ・NEDO Project:

   　Si-IGBT（Omura）

   　Y-router（Kado）

   ・Shared outside coordination:

   　Reports by ECPE、CPES、Japan Society of New Metals、Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers,

   　and universities

   Investigative proposal status for METI updated.

4. Feasibility studies research

   ・FS research overview according to the NPERC-J budget

   ・Proposals explained by materials/devices WG

   ・Proposals explained by extreme converter WG.

Setting for the Second Training Camp

Participants at the Second Training Camp

Third Japanese-German Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Research Meeting With ECPE(members only)

Time:Jan. 18, 2017, 10:00 to 13:00
Place:Nihonbashi, Tokyo, NPERC-J office

Participating from ECPE were board chairman Leo Lorenz and one other. The NPERC-J side comprised core members of the wide bandgap semiconductor working group.

Main discussion topics:

1. Coordination of presentation titles and contents for the March 6, 2017, Japanese-German workshop at Nuremberg.
2. Preparation for the March 7-8, 2017, “ECPE SiC&GaN User Forum.”
3. Fiscal 2017 activity plans, post-project developments, and other subjects.

The team responsible
for ECPE and Japanese-German wide bandgap semiconductor research.

Midterm Reports Wrap up (members only)

Time:Jan. 17, 2017, 10:00 to 12:00
Place:Shufu Hall, Yotsuya, Tokyo

Main discussion topics:

1. Fiscal 2016 activity summary.
2. Budget implementation status.
3. Member trends.
4. Fiscal 2016 activities and fiscal 2017 prospects.
5. Training and other subjects.

Fourth Seminar (members only)

Time:Jan. 17, 2017, 13:00 to 15:00

Program

1. Driving safely when connections configured for power supply inverters bring about electrical distribution system changes. – Energy Internet WG leader Junichi Arai (Kogakuin University).
2. Extreme conversion example: multilevel converter with a semiconductor breaker. – investigative activity manager Yukihiko Sato (Chiba University graduate school faculty).

Scene at the Fourth Seminar

Investigative Activity Wrapup (members only)

Time:Jan. 17, 2017, 15:00 to 16:30
Place:Shufu Kaikan Hall, Yotsuya, Tokyo

Program

1. Material-device WG report: WG leader Shinichi Nishizawa (NPERC-J).
2. Extreme converter WG: WG leader Keiji Wada (NPERC-J).
3. Energy Internet WG: WG leader Junichi Arai (NPERC-J).
4. ECPE-core members conference report: WG leader Shinichi Nishizawa.

First International Workshop on NPES (open to public)

This is NPERC-J’s fourth workshop since its establishment, and its first international workshop on New Generation Power Electronics and Systems. The workshop was cohosted with the Kitakyushu Environmental Electronics Institute (GRIK). Discussion followed presentations by seven Japanese and foreign experts on the future role of reliability science in ubiquitous power electronics.

Time:Jan. 16, 2017, 10:30 to 16:40
Place:Hatsumei Hall, Tokyo

Objective:

　Society of the future will consume 50% of its ultimate energy needs in the form of electric power. Since saving energy and creating energy are recognized as producing the same effect, the technological development and spread of power electronics (PEL) equipment have become essential. With the expansion and spread of PEL equipment, the introduction of cost indicators defining the quantity of energy saved, or “negawatt cost,” is considered key. The workshop has provided another closeup of developments in material-device technology aimed at improving negawatt cost and in the technologies of system integration, mass production, as well as reliability science with applications to total design.

　NPERC-J was established in 2014 as an industry-university collaborative body for building an internationally accepted place of innovation with the objective of pushing forward a new generation of PEL research. The Kitakyushu Environmental Electronics Institute was set up in 2015 as an electronics study base conducive to a low-carbon society. This city-controlled research institute is the first of its kind in Japan. For this occasion, since the two organizations share views on negawatt cost, they jointly agreed to hold an international workshop on new-generation PEL and related systems. An outline of the workshop proceedings follows.

 

Program

 

Guest Speakers

 

Scene at the First International Workshop on NPES.

 

Shown at the get-together following the First International Workshop on NPES are workshop chairman Ichiro Omura (second from right), Prof. Nando Kaminski (next to Omura), and Deputy Director General of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hoshino (third person over from Kaminski).

Past Events

With ECPE Second Japanese-German Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Research Meeting (members only).

Date:Sept. 7, 2016

Place:Nihonbashi, Tokyo, NPERC-J Office

Board chairman Leo Lorenz and two others from ECPE, with the counselor to the German Embassy in Japan, set the following meetings.

1. Discussion of 2016 activity (members only).
2. March 6, 2017, cooperative workshop program (members only) at Nuremberg between ECPE and Japan (NPERC-J and Osaka University).
3. March 7-8 “SiC&GaN User Forum” at Nuremberg (open to public)

and other venues of exchange.

Japanese-German Wide Band Gap Semiconductor Research Team with ECPE President Leo Lorenz (front row at right).

NPERC-J and ECPE had a meeting on the Japanese-German WBG semiconductor system integration program.【Task force only】

Date: June 6th and 7th, 2016
Location: NPERC-J Nihonbashi Office
The activities of both were introduced, and discussion was held on the joint-project “Wide band gap semiconductor system and its applications,” where each other’s intentions were shared.

3rd NPERC-J Workshop [Open to public]
[Breath and smart application of power electronics system integration]

The workshop was held with the cooperation of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan, ECPE, and CPES and ended with much participation and lively discussion.

May 27, 2016 (Fri.)
Tokyo Yotsuya Shufu Hall Plaza F (7th floor)

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Program

13:30～13:40	Opening remark
13:40～13:50	Guest speech
13:50～14:30	“Power Semiconductor – Trends in System Integration and Future Application Aspects Contribution from ECPE Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Peter Zacharias Chair of Electric Power Supply Systems Center of Competence for Distributed Electric Power Technology
14:30～15:10	“High efficiency, high density power converter with WBG devices for data center, battery charger applications” Prof. Dr. Qiang Li CPES: Center for Power Electronic SystemsVirginia Tech
15:10～15:20	Break
15:20～15:45	“Power Electronics from Perspective of an LSI Designer” Prof. Makoto Takamiya: Institute of Industrial Science University of Tokyo
15:45～16:10	“Challenges for Field Programmable Power Supply Array” – multiple-input multiple output digital controlled POL- Prof. Satoshi Matsumoto: Kyushu Institute of Technology
16:10～16:35	“Fundamental Technologies for integrated Servo Motor” Dr. Hideki HaraYasukawa Electric Co. Ltd
16:35～17:00	“GaN Power Devices for High Speed Switching Applications” Dr. Hidetoshi Ishida Panasonic Corp.
17:00～17:05	Closing remark

3rd workshop in action

Guest lecturer Prof. P. Zacharias of the University of Kassel, representing ECPE
“Power Semiconductor-Trends in System
Integration and Future Application Aspects”

Guest lecturer Prof. C. Li of Virginia Tech, representing CPES
“High Efficiency, High Density Power Converter with WBG
Devices for Data Center, Battery Charger Applications”

Post-workship social gathering

2nd seminar held [Members only]

Date: May 28, 2016
Location: Yotsuya Shufu Hall
Program

(a) “R&D for new-generation of Si-IGBT and applied basic technology”

Since 2009, NEDO has been promoting R&D projects for the field of power electronics for the next-generation of power electronics projects to realize a low-carbon society. Among them, the NPERC-J proposed R&D item, the “Development of the next-generation of Si power device technology,” started in 2014. The outline and the results for 2015 were reported.
[Consignees] The University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kyushu Institute of Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Kyushu University, Meiji University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Electric

(b)”R&D for Y power router basic cells using SiC and GaN power devices for realizing various power interchange systems”

Since 2015, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has been promoting cutting-edge research for discovering new application areas for creative and innovative high-power electronics. Among this research, the NPERC-J drafted above-mentioned theme. The results for 2015 were reported.
[Consignees] Kyoto Institute of Technology, Tokyo Metropolitan University

Presentation at seminar [Members only]

1st seminar held [Members only]

Date: March 19, 2016
Location: NPERC-J Conference Room
Seminar Titles
(1) In addition to FEPPCOM report, Hiromichi Ohashi of NPERC-J
(2) In addition to ISSCC report, Ichiro Omura of Kyushu Institute of Technology

Meeting on ECPE and NPERC-J’s research partnership

Date: March 7 and 8, 2016
Location: ECPE headquarters (Nuremberg)
President Hiromichi Ohashi, Executive-Director Omura, and General Manager Shimizu visited the ECPE headquarters and had a meeting on research plans with President Lorenz, General-Manager Harder, Researcher Mr. Rechberger.

Meeting on Japanese-German partnership based on MOU agreement of ECPE and NPERC-J

Date: Dec. 16, 2015
Location: Tokyo
ECPE President Dr. Lorenz, NPERC-J President Ohashi, and General-Manager Shimizu had a meeting to discuss next year’s plans with the joint-promotion of the German-government funded “Next Generation Power Electronics-Wide Band Gap Power Semiconductor Devices and System Integration,” starting in January 2016, and issues to cooperate on.

President Ohashi was a guest speaker at a symposium held at a conference at the office of the EU delegation in Japan [Open to public]

Date: Dec. 16, 2015
Delegation of the European Union to Japan (Tokyo)
Participated in a session for “WBG Power Devices with Advanced Interconnects for Green Technology.”

NPERC-J 2nd Workshop [Open to public]

“Toward Green Electronics Creation”
NPERC-J maps out the power electronics of 2025
Date: November 16, 2015
Location: Yotsuya Shufu Hall

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Program

13:35 – 13:40	Opening remarks: Takeo Hoshino, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
13:40 – 13:55	Greeting from President Hiromichi Ohashi
13:55 – 14:15	Ichiro Omura (Kyushu Institute of Technology) Vision for cutting-edge power semiconductors for 2025
14:15 – 14:35	Keiji Wada (Tokyo Metropolitan University), Yukihiko Sato (Chiba University) The future of converters: multi-level or two-level?
14:35 – 14:55	Yuuichi Kado (Kyoto Institute of Technology) Networked power electronics for three-port power router basic cell
14:55 – 15:15	Break
15:15 – 15:35	Hirohito Yamada (Tohoku University) Conceiving micro-grid power networks: for living stably off the grid
15:35 – 15:55	Noriyuki Miyazaki (Kitakyushu Environmental Electronics Institute) Reliability of PE from viewpoint of mechanical engineering
15:55 – 16:25	Youichi Oshima (Tohoku University) The present and future of power devices and materials as seen from patent searches
16:25 – 16:45	General Q&A, Chairman: Yuuichi Kado, Technical Director

1st technology exchange meeting with members of academia and industry [Members only]

Date: Nov. 11, 2015
Location: Yotsuya Shufu Hall
There were eight poster presentations from Chiba University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, and Kyushu Institute of Technology, and the activities of college research laboratories were understood through lively discussion with industry and academia members.

1st NPERC-J introductory workshop held [Open to public]

Theme:”Toward Green Electronics Creation”
Date: May 27, 2015
Location: Yotsuya Shufu Hall

13:30 – 13:35	Opening remarks: Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ★Takeo Hoshino,
13:40 – 13:55	Greeting from the President, background and basis of establishing NPERC-J ★Hiromichi Ohashi
13:45 – 14:05	Technical activities and basic direction of NPERC-J and concrete measures, ★Vice President Atsuo Kawamura
14:05 – 14:20	(Break)
14:20 – 14:40	NPERC-J technical activities (energy internet) ★Yuuichi Kado
14:40 – 15:00	NPERC-J technical activities (cutting-edge power converters) ★Keiji Wada
15:00 – 15:20	NPERC-J technical activities (materials and devices) ★Ichiro Omura (Guest lecture)
15:20 – 15:50	The CPES Experience ★CPES Prof. Dushan Boroyevich
15:50 – 16:20	The European Power Electronic Center – Impact on Industry and Academia ★Dr. Leo Lorenz of EPCE