Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Yokogawa Electric Corporation announced they will cooperate in the development of communication modules for field wireless devices used in plants. Under the terms of this agreement, Yokogawa will license its technology to Murata and Murata will develop the communication modules.
Through this alliance, Murata will be able to expand its communication module business to wireless devices for use in plants and Yokogawa will be able to promote wider acceptance of its field wireless systems based on the ISA100 Wireless standard, the announcement said.
Field wireless devices require communication modules that can convert sensor data into signals that conform with specific field wireless protocols for transmission to field wireless networks. Under this agreement, Yokogawa will license its ISA100 Wireless communication module technology to Murata, and Murata will use this to develop wireless communication modules and driver software.
Murata, which designs, manufactures and sells ceramic-based passive electronic components and solutions, communication modules and power supply modules, has a history of developing wireless communication modules for use in mobile phones, PCs, and other devices. Yokogawa, a provider of Industrial Automation and Test and Measurement solutions, has developed a number of technologies for use with ISA100 Wireless devices and systems. By making combined use of these technologies, the two companies aim to quickly develop and provide new communication modules to field wireless device manufacturers and sensor manufacturers around the world, according to the announcement.
ISA100 Wireless, or ISA100.11a, is an industrial wireless networking technology standard developed by the International Society of Automation (ISA). Yokogawa released the world’s first ISA100 Wireless system devices and wireless pressure and temperature transmitters in July 2010.
