Hitachi Cable wins order for Tokyo Sky Tree® broadcasting antenna system
Hitachi Cable has been commissioned by six Tokyo broadcasters to supply the terrestrial digital broadcasting antenna system for the Tokyo Sky Tree tower. The project will involve the manufacture and full installation of a multi panels antenna, the primary power supply cables, and power supply components.
The Tokyo Sky Tree is terrestrial digital broadcasting tower currently under construction in Tokyo's Sumida city. When completed, it will have a height of 634 meters and be the world’s tallest free-standing broad cast tower. The terrestrial digital broadcasting antenna system that we have received the order for will be installed in the antenna gain tower at the very top of the Tokyo Sky Tree.
Hitachi Cable is already Japan's number-one manufacturer of primary power supply cables, and aims to become the country’s top producer of antennas for terrestrial digital broadcasting master stations and relay stations as well as antennas for next-generation mobile phone communications networks.
Tokyo Sky Tree® under construction
Superfine copper alloy wire earns awards
We have received several awards relating to the invention, development, and mass production of superfine copper alloy wire, which is used in advanced medical devices such as ultrasound diagnostic equipment and communication devices such as mobile phones. The prizes are the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Invention and the Distinguished Invention Service Award under the 2009 National Commendation for Invention (administered by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation) and the 56th Okochi Memorial Technology Prize (administered by the Okochi Memorial Foundation).
With optimized ratios of copper, tin, and indium, the latter two of which are added to the copper in minute quantities, Hitachi Cable Group’s superfine copper alloy wire is both highly flexible and an excellent conductor of electricity, and is also extremely thin, having a diameter of 16 micrometers. Moreover, it can be produced in a straightforward and cost-effective fashion using a continuous casting and hot rolling system that integrates melting, casting, and hot rolling. These awards are recognition of the superior functionality and workability of this copper alloy wire and the low cost of producing it.
Ceremony for conferring the Okochi Memorial Prize
Hitachi Cable develops of high-strength, high-temperature-resistant rolled copper foil for next-generation lithium-ion secondary batteries
Hitachi Cable has developed high-strength, high-temperature-resistant rolled copper foil for use as the negative-current collector in next-generation lithium-ion secondary batteries that use alloys as the negative-electrode active material.
In addition to being highly conductive and resistant to heat, the negative-current collector in next-generation lithium-ion secondary batteries needs to be strong enough to withstand volumetric changes in the negative-electrode active material caused by charging/discharging and demonstrate a high level of adhesion to this material. By adding zirconium to copper alloy foil to make it stronger and more resistant to heat, and treating the surface of the foil to make it more adhesive, we succeeded in making the batteries last longer than ordinary ones employing electrolytic copper foil in the negative-current collector 1.
Demand for next-generation lithium-ion secondary batteries is expected to grow as they find new uses, for example as power sources for hybrid vehicles, so going forward we intend to continue developing rolled copper foil that is optimized for these batteries.
1 A battery lifespan 10% longer or more was confirmed through tests on a prototype battery.
Structure of a lithium-ion battery
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