TDK named 2019 best of sensors award winner in multiple categories

• TDK named 2019 “Company of the Year”
• Chirp Microsystems, a TDK group company recognized for “Most Innovative Technology of the Year”

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TDK Corporation (TSE: 6762) has been named a 2019 “Best of Sensors” Award winner. In addition to being named “Company of the Year,” Chirp SonicTrack, a hardware/software solution that provides six-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) controller tracking for all-in-one (AIO) virtual reality (VR) systems was recognized as the “Most Innovative Technology of the Year,” which highlights cutting-edge advancements and achievements that are moving the sensors industry forward. The prestigious awards were presented by the Sensors Expo Event Director during Sensors Expo & Conference 2019 (#Sensors19), held this week in San Jose, California.

Since its start in 1935, TDK has created and provided the market with a solid foundation of passive components and ferrite-based products and core technologies. On the basis of ferrite and material science, TDK has developed various material and component technologies that have consistently contributed to industry innovation. Throughout its 84-year history, TDK has continued to innovate on this foundation to better serve an ever-changing society by developing new products that answer the industry’s current and future needs. Today, TDK’s expanding sensor portfolio covers sensing temperature, pressure, currents, and magnetic fields, as well as position, angles, and acceleration rates. This includes the product brands TDK, Chirp, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas and Tronics.

Chirp’s SonicTrack is the only tracking system for the VR/AR/MR market that is based on sonar, an ultralow power, ultraprecise 3D tracking technology. The SonicTrack solution is an inside-out tracking system that fuses ultrasonic and inertial sensor data to provide 6-DoF position and orientation tracking of a hand-held controller with sub-millimeter precision over a field of view (FoV) of over 240 degrees. The position tracking system utilizes sonar by transmitting ultrasonic pulses between Chirp’s CH-101 sensors inside the VR system’s head-mounted display (HMD) and the hand-held controllers, providing 3D position information of the controllers relative to the HMD. Competing camera-based solutions have only 2D image data, requiring computation-intensive image processing from multiple cameras to estimate 3D position information. TDK’s true 3D ultrasonic sensing advantage results in a solution that is much lower power and better optimized for the mobile processors used in all-in-one VR/AR/XR systems. The CH-101’s omnidirectional response makes it easy to track controllers over an extremely wide field of view, another advantage over camera-based systems.

Sensors Expo & Conference is the industry’s premier event dedicated to sensors, connectivity, and IoT. The winners of the 2019 Best of Sensors Awards represent the advances in innovations and real-world applications of sensors as well as the teams and individuals who demonstrate commitment to engineering excellence and overall ingenuity.

“For more than three decades Sensors Expo has been bringing together the most exciting technological advancements and cutting-edge applications from across the industry. The winners of this year’s Best of Sensors Awards underscore just how far-reaching the impacts of these innovations have become. TDK personifies the commitment to engineering excellence and overall ingenuity we look for and we are thrilled to recognize their efforts in an extremely competitive field,” noted Cal Groton, Event Director, Sensors Expo & Conference.

To learn more about the speakers, innovators, and technologies featured at the event, visit www.sensorsexpo.com.

About TDK Corporation

TDK Corporation is a leading electronics company based in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK’s comprehensive portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and automotive, industrial and consumer electronics. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2019, TDK posted total sales of USD 12.5 billion and employed about 105,000 people worldwide.

About Sensors Expo & Conference

Sensors Expo & Conference is widely known as one of the world’s largest and most important gatherings of engineers and scientists involved in the development and deployment of sensor systems. For more information, visit www.sensorsexpo.com. Sensors Expo & Conference is produced and managed by Questex.

Contacts

TDK

Ms. Sara M. LAMBETH

TDK Corporation of America

Richardson, TX

+1 972-409-4519

sara.lambeth@us.tdk.com

TDK

Ms. Kim LIANTHAMANI

Karbo Communications

San Francisco, CA

+1 415-255-6512

TDKUSA@karbocom.com

EPCOS

Ms. Debbie MARTIN

TDK Electronics Inc.

Fountain Hills, AZ

+1 732-906-4364

debbie.martin@tdk-electronics.tdk.com

InvenSense/Chirp

Mr. David A. ALMOSLINO

InvenSense/Chirp Microsystems

San Jose, CA

+1 408-501-2278

pr@invensense.com

Micronas

Ms. Julia ANDRIS

TDK-Micronas

Freiburg, Germany

+49 761 517 2531

media@micronas.com

Tronics

Mr. Karl BIASIO

Tronics Microsystems

Crolles, France

+33 (0)4 76 97 94 59

karl.biasio@tronicsgroup.com