History

Foundation purpose

In February 1975, three companies, Seikosha, Daini Seikosha, and Suwa Seikosha invested in the commercialization of CMOS ICs that Daini Seikosha had been researching, and Nippon Precision Circuits Inc. was founded as a semiconductor specialized maker.
It started out as a young, small company with a total of 22 people, including Toshio Tanaka as Representative, and 16 new employees. Shortly thereafter, the firm developed ICs for clocks (crystal oscillator ICs) and achieved success in commercialization, with adoption by Seiko and many other watch manufacturers.
The world's first clock IC with a built-in liquid crystal driver that enabled both analog and digital display on a single chip became the basic technology for subsequent oscillators (crystal oscillator ICs) and RTCs (real-time clock ICs).
In 2005, it became a wholly owned operating company of Seiko Group, and in 2006, the company name was changed to the current Seiko NPC Corporation.

1970s
1975

1975

  • Nippon Precision Circuits Inc. is established
    2-inch production line (current S Building) is completed
  • Development of the world’s first PLL CMOS IC for CB (citizen’s band) radio

1976

  • Development of the world’s first quartz lock IC for record players

1978

  • Development of CMOS LSI for a clock running at 1V

1979

  • Capital is increased to 250 million yen

Application by era

1980s
1980

1983

  • Multi-layer molybdenum-gate CMOS process is commercialized
    Development of the PLL for 200-MHz CMOS LSI

1984

  • Development of the world’s fastest 121-order linear phase FIR digital filter LSI for CD players
1985

1987

  • The Nikkei Excellent Service Award is received for the digital filter IC for recording and playback
  • Development of world’s first digital filter IC for DAT

1989

  • 6-inch production line (H Building) is completed
  • “Radio Technology Magazine” Award for the high-performance 20-bit 8fs digital filter ICs for CD players, the “SM5803AP ”
  • Development of melodies IC for telephone device and home appliances

Application by era

1990s
1990

1990

  • Development of the 1-bit DAC (Σ DECO) for audio

1992

  • Development of the PLL for pagers running at 1V and 90MHz

1993

  • Development of the asynchronous sample rate converter IC for audio

1994

  • ISO9001 certification regarding quality management system is acquired
  • Development of the world’s first compression type shock-proof memory controller
1995

1996

  • ISO14001 certification for Environmental Management System is acquired

1997

  • Development of the EL driver IC

1998

  • Development of the world’s first digital filter IC for high-resolution audio

1999

  • QS-9000 certification, the standard for quality system requirements in the automotive industry, is acquired-9000」

Application by era

2000s
2000

2000

  • Development of the multi-purpose high-frequency clock generator
  • Development of the quick charge control IC for NiMH/NiCd batteries
  • Development of the high-frequency BiCMOS oscillator IC

2002

  • Development of the high-speed target tracking vision chip

2003

  • A Director of Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Encouragement Prize is won in relation to the crystal oscillator IC at FY2003 Kanto Region Invention Award hosted by Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.
  • Development of the radio-controlled clock receiver IC
  • Development of the white LED driver IC and the video filter/buffer IC

2004

  • High speed object tracking vision chip won a Technology Prize and Tomoda Prize from the Society of Instrument and Control Engineers
  • Development of the FSK Transceiver IC for Specified Low Power Radio Stations
2005

2005

  • Nippon Precision Circuits Inc.’s equity ownership shifts to Seiko Corporation (present Seiko Group Corporation).
  • Development of driver IC for gyro sensors

2006

  • Company name is changed from Nippon Precision Circuits Inc. to Seiko NPC Corporation.
  • Capital is increased to 1 billion yen.
  • ISO/TS16949 certification is acquired.

2007

  • Taiwan Liaison Office is opened.

2008

  • Thermopile Infrared Sensor chip with built-in amplifier is announced at the ISSCC 2008 international conference

2009

  • High-precision crystal oscillator IC with built-in frequency adjustment function is developed

Application by era

2010s
2010

2011

  • Mass production and shipment of compact, high-precision Optical Encoders is started

2012

  • Development of optical sensor IC with ultra-small package,
  • Development of voltage-controlled crystal oscillator IC with low phase noise

2013

  • Patent for VCXO IC with built-in varicap is acquired

2014

  • Corporate slogan “With precision, New moments” is established
  • Development of the magnetic sensor module
2015

2015

  • Patent for multi-band receiver IC for radio clock is acquired
  • Development of the 50dpi magnetic line sensor module

2016

  • Development of the COB type Infrared Sensor module

2017

  • IATF16949 certification is acquired

2018

  • Dual output type crystal oscillator IC “7701” is developed

2019

  • Crystal Oscillator ICs in “7101 series” for automotive use is developed

Application by era

2020s
2020

2020

  • Telework at sales offices in Tokyo, Osaka, and Taiwan depending on the number of people infected with COVID-19 is started.
  • Temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) IC is developed

2021

  • Research and development of crystal oscillator circuit for post 5G information communication system with the adoption of a national subsidy project is started.
  • A basic patent on production technology using a gold black layer that realizes high sensitivity in infrared sensors is obtained.
  • IC testers and handlers with external appearance inspection for latter process accompanying increased production of SPXO, TCXO and sensor products are enhanced
  • Development of a new package for optical encoders for servo motor control

2022

  • Developed a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) with small size and low phase noise with built-in new varicap.

Application by era