Risun Expanse Builds Micro DC Brushless Motors Driven by Grand Vision

The maker has so far spent so

Risun Expanse Corp. has pulled out all stops since its establishment in 1999 to develop what it calls coin-type DC brushless vibration motors that do more than single function, aiming to live up to its philosophy of “making motors an integral part of people's daily life.” Such belief has led the maker to build a universal-application but micro-scale dynamo, about 9mm in diameter and 4mm in height, that has been used to drive micro-cooling fans as the thermal solution in many mobile gadgets, including mobile Internet devices (MIDs), game consoles, global positioning systems (GPSs), mobile phones, laptop computers, LED lamps, closed-circuit TVs (CCTVs).

Industry watchers point out that miniaturized cooling solution is crucial to addressing heat build-up that is increasingly undermining these handheld applications as they are fed more power to perform more functions in increasingly smaller housing.

To make products meet different application specifications, the company is partnering with manufacturers of such applications.

Citing recently released statistics, Risun Expanse says all these applications face promising outlook. E-book, for instance, is projected by the Taiwan government to generate for the island revenue of NT$100 billion (about US$3.1 billion) by 2013. Global LED-lighting market is estimated by Strategies Unlimited to rise to US$1.65 billion by 2012 from 2007's US$330 million.

ABI Research forecasts that global shipments of ultra-mobile devices (UMPCs), netbooks, mobile Internet devices (MIDs) combined to reach 124 million units by 2011.

For the mini projector segment, the company, based on statistics released by Pacific Media Associates (PMA), projects the market for pocket mini projectors and projectors doubling as mobile phones to increase to 4.4 million units by 2011 from 2.34 million units projected for 2010, with mobile phone types alone estimated to top 3-3.2 million units.

Also, the maker, over the next few years, will target the wearable air-quality monitor segment, embedded with such fan motor to actively draw in the air for sampling and analysis. Industry watchers point out that the United Kingdom plans to make effective new air quality regulation in 2015, likely to force makers in the sector to build in micro-fans to comply with stricter regulations. The company says that current monitoring systems do not draw in air actively, being a passive system that relies on natural convection, which is inefficient. Also, the company is eyeing other potential applications, for example, embedding tiny fans inside goggles for defogging.

Over the past 10 years, the company has been mostly focused on R&D and introduced wide-ranging items, including coin-type brushless single shaft motor, coin-type brushless dual shaft motor, coin-type brushless vibration motor, DC atomic cooler, single micro blower, dual micro blower, and bracket blower; while its plans for the next decade is focused on shooting for a slice of the market for mini cooling solutions used in lighting, 3C (consumer electronics, communications and computer) products and any applications requiring energy-efficiency.

Among its patented products is the brushless micro-electronic magnetic vibration DC motor, reportedly the world's first of this kind and patented in 2004, as well as a patented sleeve bearing with several grooves lubricating the shaft housing. Risun Expanse notes that such design is unprecedented, enabling the bearing to be durable by preventing contamination that may damage the rotating shaft, as well as lubricant loss. Its vibration cooling solution, based on the micro vibration motor technology, is reportedly the first such American patent winner in Asia.

Besides being micro-scaled, Risun's products are high-output but energy-efficient: Its smallest model consumes only 0.008A and can be powered up by two 1.5-volt batteries for 20 hours of continuous operation at an average rotation speed of 12000 RPM, compared to only 10-hours for typical micro-motors.

Definitely a departure from typical business practice, Risun also offers total thermal- solution design, a part of the company's efforts to help manufacturers upgrade product value.

The company points out that micro technology's rapid progress has made possible equally fast advances in building micro-motors, which are essential to upping quality of life for all.

More significantly, Risun's motors, being resistant to electromagnetic-interference and electrostatic as well as conforming to RoHS standard, are also fit for healthcare applications. Specifically, the graying population and its needs can be better addressed with such micro-motor technology, enabling the building of, for example, vibration motors in belts, chairs etc. that can be used in massagers to help improve circulation, which is essential to better quality of life for seniors.

With no precedents to follow and no inspection instruments designed for such light-weight motors, Risun has had to develop the driver IC, the inspection techniques, and manufacturing apparatus in-house.

Also, with no existing QC standards to follow, the company has had to develop its own set of rules. Currently, the company examines each item during process and once again before shipping, with the final inspection covering product outlook, RPM, and power consumption. Application temperature is also a crucial factor since the micro motors are shipped to nations with extreme climatic conditions, such as sub-zero temperatures. The motors are designed and tested to work normally under temperatures ranging -25C~65C.

The company's existing inspection instruments are capable of testing electrical, material, and performance characteristics, including Guass meter, resistance meter, Ammeter, voltmeter, RPM counter, and vibration-measurement hardware/software.

For future, the company's vision is starting out from Taiwan into global market and inspiring itself to make the most of leading-edge energy technologies to develop light-weight, slim, sophisticated, and miniaturized coin-type brushless voice-coil motors, vibration motors, cooling fans series, and healthcare products to make personal life more convenient, improve quality of life, and extend human life.

As personalized applications continue to be more miniaturized and multiplexed, the demands for effective cooling in the extremely limited space will be growing stronger. The market prospect and the profitability for the company's micro-cooling products are growing proportionally brighter.

RISUN EXPANSE CORP.

1st Fl., No. 22, Lane 24, Hwanshan Rd., Sec. 1, Taipei City 114, Taiwan

Tel:+886-2-8797-3990

Fax:+886-2-8797-3989

http://www.risun.com.tw

http://www.risunmicrotec.com

E-mail:c.c.huang@risun.com.tw, risun@risun.com.tw

Factory: Hwan-Shan Road, Taipei, Taiwan