Tsuneo Murata was born in Kyoto in 1951. In 1974, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Doshisha University and joined Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. In 1988, he became Geschaftsfuhrer, or Managing Director at Murata Europe Management GmbH. After being appointed to the Murata MFG. Co., Ltd. Board of Directors in 1989, he served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Senior Executive Vice President, and Executive Deputy President, and became President, Statutory Representative Director in 2007.
In his free time, Tsuneo Murata enjoys raising orchids and photography.
The dawn of digital electronic devices in the 1980s set the stage for the worldwide presence of PCs and flat-screen TVs in the 21st century, a phenomenon that was kicked off by the popularity of wireless communications devices typified by mobile phones and smartphones. Recent years have witnessed the rapid penetration of electronic devices into not only developed markets but also emerging markets as well, driven by commoditization and by highly efficient device designs and manufacturing processes. Additionally, the growth of the Internet and wireless communication networks has imparted even greater momentum to inter-device networking that enables information acquisition. Collected and sorted, the acquired information is poised to facilitate a society of convenience, safety, and prosperity in many aspects of our lives.
Clearly, electronic devices have become increasingly embedded in our lives; hence in this issue we have chosen to focus on timing devices, the component essential to the internal configuration of electronic devices. A timing device continuously outputs a specific and accurate frequency that results from an applied voltage to a ceramic or quartz crystal piezoelectric material. The timing device is a critical component chiefly used as a local oscillator in communications devices or as a signal source in digital processing circuits. Although the timing device is not a particularly conspicuous component, it is embedded in a wide variety of devices, spanning applications in consumer-level communication devices (typified by the smartphone) and automotive/industrial devices. I would not be exaggerating if I said that this component is the hidden driving force in devices, since it initiates all the motions of the electronic device.
Murata has previously brought to market CERALOCK, a ceramic resonator that applies piezoelectric ceramic technology. CERALOCK has gained wide market popularity, especially in automotive applications. Further, in 2013, Tokyo Denpa Co., Ltd., a company that specializes in crystal devices and with whom we have developed a fine, long-standing relationship, became a wholly owned Murata subsidiary. Through the integration of both companies' technologies, we have been able to deliver even more compact and higher-precision timing devices.
Last year we celebrated Murata's 70th anniversary, but we will go forward to resolutely take on many and varied challenges as we look ahead to our 100th anniversary. We are also steadfastly committed to the continued creation of innovative products as we contribute in partnership with our customers to bring about a bright future society. It is my sincere hope that our message of commitment is loud and clear in the pages of this issue.