Enhancing industrial competitiveness through innovative technologies that lead varying manufacturing

We are contributing to enhancing industrial competitiveness by developing advanced electronic and optical device technologies that enable both performance enhancement and significant energy savings of IT equipment, and innovative manufacturing technologies that enable energy savings, resource savings, and low cost. Moreover, we are building a highly efficient production system by combining innovative manufacturing technologies and sensing technologies based on the advanced devices.

New Research Results

Absorbers to Realize Efficient and Fast Detection of Terahertz Waves with Frequency Range in 6G

AIST researchers have developed a terahertz absorber with high absorptance and fast thermal response, as well as superior productivity.
Terahertz power sensors determine the absolute power of incident electromagnetic (EM) waves through temperature rise in an absorber which coverts EM energy into heat. Therefore, an absorber with high absorptance and fast thermal responsivity enables us to realize accurate power measurement with fast response time. However, in the frequency range in the 6th generation mobile communication systems (6G), how to achieve both high absorptance and fast rise in temperature remains an open challenge. In this study, we proposed a three-dimensional hollow structure that achieves both high absorptance and fast temperature rise, and fabricated an absorber using a 3D printing and electroless plating technique. Its evaluation result showed that absorptance more than 99% was achieved in the frequency range in 6G, and the temperature rise time was more than twice in comparison with conventional absorbers. This technology will allow us to develop terahertz power sensors with high accuracy and fast response time. The highly efficient power sensors help us to spread next-generation communication technology using terahertz waves.

Microscopy image of developed terahertz absorber (left) and comparison of specifications with previous absorbers (right).

Development of Neural Network Computing Technology that Operates Using Only a Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuit

Researchers in AIST developed neural network computing technology that has ultra-low latency and low power consumption and uses a silicon photonic integrated circuit instead of an electronic circuit with Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, with the support of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
This technology performs machine learning computations using a photonic integrated circuit. The electrical signals of multidimensional data to be analyzed are input to different input ports of a photonic integrated circuit and converted to optical signals, and computations are performed when the converted optical signals pass through the large number of optical interferometers built into the photonic integrated circuit. The computation results are then output as the light intensity distribution of multiple output ports.
This technology was used to realize neural network computing by only a photonic integrated circuit without passing through an electronic circuit. In this neural network computing, computations are completed simply by propagating light in a photonic integrated circuit with fixed parameters. This means that sequential switching such as with digital electronic circuits is not needed, enabling computations with a latency time of 1/1000 or less and power consumption a few percent of that of an electronic circuit. In addition, photonic circuits can be clocked at speeds ten times or faster than electronic circuits, so the amount of data processed per unit of time can also be increased. With these features, this technology is expected to be applied to AI accelerators that complement digital electronic circuits.

Nonlinear projection type optical neutral network computing circuit devised by this research, and Iris classification results by petal shape using the devised circuit.

Other research organizations

Research Laboratory

• Nanometronics lab for structural materials

Open Innovation Laboratory

Since FY 2016, as a part of the “Open Innovation Arena concept” promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), AIST has created the concept of “open innovation laboratories” (OILs), collaborative research bases located on university campuses, and has been engaged in their provision. We are planning to establish more than ten OILs by FY 2020.

AIST will merge the basic research carried out at universities, etc. with AISTʼs goal-oriented basic research and applied technology development, and will promote bridging research and evelopment and industry by the establishment of OILs.

Cooperative Research Laboratories

In order to conduct research and development more closely related to strategies of companies, we have established collaborative research laboratories, bearing partner company names.

Partner companies provide their researchers and funding, and AIST provides research resources, such as its researchers, research facilities, and intellectual property. The loaned researchers of companies and AIST researchers jointly conduct research and development.

By setting up cooperative research laboratories, we will accelerate the commercialization of our goal-oriented basic research and application research with partner companies.