Source: RF Design Online.

Advantest Corporation, a company known for its semiconductor test systems, has entered a new business segment: It announced the launch of a solutions business for diesel emission after-treatment analysis systems. The service relies on the Advantest¡¯s proprietary technology used in its TAS7000 terahertz (THz) wave 3D imaging analysis system.

The new business avails remote services for engineering and analysis of exhaust particulate matter to manufacturers of diesel engines, enabling a higher level of emissions after-treatment system development, as well as performance evaluations of the Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) and catalyst products used by the automotive and heavy machinery industries.

Regulators around the globe are increasingly placing tighter controls on exhaust emissions from diesel-powered vehicles, as substances such as nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) generated by internal combustion engines are known contributors to atmospheric pollution and health problems. To help manufacturers of diesel engines comply with these new regulations, Advantest has applied its proprietary THz wave technology to the design and development of an after-treatment system that performs non-destructive 3D analysis and inspection of the PM deposited by exhaust gas in DPFs.

A non-destructive analysis tool effective in design and development relating to engine control, catalysts, DPFs and exhaust flow, Advantest¡¯s TAS7000 imaging analysis system has demonstrated the ability to optimize the DPF performance for cleaner diesel engines and reduced emissions, leading to better fuel economy, higher after-treatment system performance and cost reductions, Advantest promises. A company spokesperson said the system is already in use by automotive OEMs in the US and Japan as pilot customers.

In September 2009, Advantest announced that it had successfully developed the TAS7000, the world¡¯s first terahertz wave 3D imaging system. The system, which relies upon Advantest¡¯s proprietary THz wave technology and performs non-destructive 3D analysis and inspection, was the first product to be offered within the framework of the company¡¯s New Concept Product Initiative, a cornerstone of its business strategy. Since that time, Advantest has also leveraged its THz technology to develop a system for pharmaceutical drug analysis, and anticipates future applications for THz wave technology, in such fields as industrial materials, medicine, biotechnology and security.