Murata Develops World’s Lowest DC Resistance in 0201 Size - New Ferrite Beads Offer 50 Percent Reduction in DC Resistance and Component Power Consumption

Smyrna, GA, March 2, 2010 - Murata Electronics North America, a world-leading innovator in electronics and the largest global supplier of ceramic passive components, today introduced the BLM03AX series, a high-performance chip type ferrite bead that provides the world’s lowest DC resistance in the EIA 0201 (0.6mm x 0.3mm x 0.3mm) size category. By reducing the DC resistance 50 percent, the corresponding power consumption of the component also declines by half to lengthen the battery operation time of hand-held devices.

Chip ferrite beads, developed for noise suppression, are an increasingly critical component in the effort to extend battery power. As a result, Murata made enhancements to the materials and improved the manufacturing process to reduce DC resistance and component size.

“Murata’s unyielding efforts to extend battery power has resulted in the high-performance, DC resistance cutting, BLM03AX series,” said Tomohiro Tanaka, senior planning analyst for Murata Electronics North America. “What makes this product so unique is that it not only lowers resistance, but it does so in a small package without sacrificing other key characteristics.”

The BLM03AX series comes in a wide range of impedance lineups between 10Ω@100MHz and 1,000Ω@100MHz at very large rated currents (up to 1,000mA). Murata also reduced impedance variance to increase reliability when exposed to environmental stress, such as thermal shock and high temperature load. The advanced ferrite bead series’ impedance characteristics at these low frequencies make it ideal for general signal lines and power lines.

The BLM03AX series is available for $0.056 and lead times are approximately seven weeks.

Aside from the BLM03AX, Murata offers numerous EMIFIL™ products that are designed for use on signal lines and in power supply and general electronic circuits. The product range includes ferrite beads, ferrite cores, common mode chokes and a variety of other components to effectively suppress noise. Murata also provides technical support and guidance based on years of experience operating in the field of noise suppression. The technical support includes design kits, application manuals and a comprehensive set of software tools to simulate virtually any circuit condition.