Milestone-Proposal talk:Thin Film Hall Elements

Advocates and reviewers will post their comments below. In addition, any IEEE member can sign in with their ETHW login (different from IEEE Single Sign On) and comment on the milestone proposal's accuracy or completeness as a form of public review.

-- Administrator4 (talk) 12:14, 7 July 2025 (UTC)

Advocates’ Checklist (Read Only; Do Not Edit)

Is the proposal for an achievement rather than for a person? If the citation includes a person's name, have the proposers provided the required justification for inclusion of the person's name?
Was the proposed achievement a significant advance rather than an incremental improvement to an existing technology?
Were there prior or contemporary achievements of a similar nature? If so, have they been properly considered in the background information and in the citation?
Has the achievement truly led to a functioning, useful, or marketable technology?
Is the proposal adequately supported by significant references (minimum of five) such as patents, contemporary newspaper articles, journal articles, or citations to pages in scholarly books? At least one of the references should be from a peer-reviewed scholarly book or journal article. The full text of the material, not just the references, shall be present. If the supporting texts are copyright-encumbered and cannot be posted on the ETHW for intellectual property reasons, the proposers shall email a copy to the History Center so that it can be forwarded to the Advocate. If the Advocate does not consider the supporting references sufficient, the Advocate may ask the proposer(s) for additional ones.
Are the scholarly references sufficiently recent?
Does the proposed citation explain why the achievement was successful and impactful?
Does the proposed citation include important technical aspects of the achievement?
Is the proposed citation readable and understandable by the general public?
Will the citation be read correctly in the future by only using past tense? Does the citation wording avoid statements that read accurately only at the time that the proposal is written?
Does the proposed plaque site fulfill the requirements specified by the Milestones Guidelines? (i.e. publicly accessible, appropriately related to the achievement, secure, etc.)
Is the proposal quality comparable to that of IEEE publications?
Are any scientific and technical units correct (e.g., km, mm, hertz, etc.)? Are acronyms correct and properly upper-cased or lower-cased? Are the letters in any acronym explained in the title or the citation?
Are date formats correct as specified in Section 6 of Milestones Program Guidelines? Helpful Hints on Citations, plaque locations
Do the year(s) appearing in the citation fall within the range of the year(s) included at the end of the title?
Note that it is the Advocate's responsibility to confirm that the independent reviewers have no conflict of interest (e.g., that they do not work for a company or a team involved in the achievement being proposed, that they have not published with the proposer(s), and have not worked on a project related to the funding of the achievement). An example of a way to check for this would be to search reviewers' publications on IEEE Xplore.
Are the GPS coordinates correct and in decimal format?
Is the proposed achievement controversial because of various reasons including but not limited to: ecological, environmental, social impact, political scandal, etc.? (A relatively simple Google search on the achievement by the advocate, combined with words such as "protest", "scandal", "environmental impact" should be sufficient to alert the advocate.)

Independent Expert Reviewers’ Checklist

Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?
Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?
Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?
Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?
Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?
Are the supporting reference texts credible? Are there reference texts which ought to have been included in support of the proposal, but which are missing?
If personal name(s) in the plaque citation, has proposer(s) demonstrated unassailably that the criteria for name inclusion in criteria have been met? The criteria are described in Section 6 of the IEEE Milestones Guidelines https://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestone_Guidelines_and_How_to_Propose_a_Milestone#Citation

In answering the questions above, the History Committee asks that independent expert reviewers apply a similar level of rigor to that used to peer-review an article, or evaluate a research proposal. Some elaboration is desirable. Of course the Committee would welcome any additional observations that you may have regarding this proposal.

Re: Independent Expert Reviewers’ Checklist -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 11:58, 1 September 2025 (UTC)

The checklist for the Expert Review Report, comprising seven questions, was revised and published on August 29.

Prior to this update, I, as the Advocate, had submitted a request to the Expert Reviewer on August 21 using the previous five-question format.

Submission and Approval Log (For staff use only)

Submitted date: 21 August 2025
Advocate approval date: 12 September 2025
History Committee approval date:
Board of Directors approval date:

Expert Reviewer's Report_1_Toshiyoshi uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 02:34, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

2025-08-26

IEEE Milestone Proposal Review for “Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983”

Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Ph.D.
Professor, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo

(1) Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes.

(2) Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?

Yes. I have reviewed the provided papers and technical notes and found that they support the significance of this invention. I also confirmed that the US translation accurately reflects the original Japanese.

(3) Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes. The invention of the thin-film Hall element has contributed to the widespread adoption of brushless motors, which in turn underpins the current boom in electric vehicles. Moreover, the shift to brushless motors has significantly reduced the frequency of failures of motors, allowing for a reduction in the inspection frequency of railway vehicles and other equipment. The resulting economic impact is quite substantial.

(4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of any technology related to this invention. As noted in the proposal, there were bulk semiconductor versions of Hall sensors. Compared with the thin-film Hall element developed in this work, those bulk versions were unsuitable for mass production and incompatible with compact packaging.

(5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Definitely yes. All of today’s factory automation systems, electric vehicle, high-speed trains, flying drones, HDD spindles, and emerging humanoid robots rely on this invention. Simply listing these applications is sufficient to convince people of the historical significance of the thin-film Hall sensors invented in 1983.

Conclusions:
Rotary mechanisms (excluding biological nanomotors) do not exist in nature and were a remarkable invention of humankind. The transformation of rotary mechanisms into a source of power through the steam engine, followed by their replacement with electric motors, was also a significant human achievement. However, no advanced “intelligence” had been introduced into the motor-driven mechatronics before the invention of thin-film Hall elements. This invention should be recognized as a technological heritage of the world.

Thank you very much for your nice Review Report. Dr.I.Shibasaki

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_1_Toshiyoshi uploaded by Advocate -- Ichiro Shibasaki (talk) 13:00, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for your nice Review Report. Ichiro Shibasaki Ph.D

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_1_Toshiyoshi uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 23:23, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. We sincerely appreciate your valuable comments. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_2_Ishida uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 06:56, 26 August 2025 (UTC)

In my capacity as Advocate, I am submitting the attached Expert Review Report, which was received on August 26, 2025, from Dr. Makoto Ishida, Professor Emeritus of Toyohashi University of Technology.

Review Report: Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983

(1) Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes, the proposed inscription is accurate.

(2) Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?

Yes, the content described under Historical Significance and its supporting references have been thoroughly reviewed and confirmed.

(3) Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

To achieve a thin-film magnetic sensor with high sensitivity and high reliability suitable for industrial applications, they established a proprietary InSb film manufacturing process, developed a sensor structure that achieved enhanced sensitivity, and improved temperature characteristics by an order of magnitude through constant-voltage operation enabled by the high resistance of InSb films. Furthermore, they realized mass production using integrated circuit technology, maintaining the industry's highest shipment volume to date.　These high-sensitivity magnetic sensors enabled the development and mass production of ultra-compact, quiet, and highly precise rotational control motors that were essential for VTRs and personal computers, creating an entirely new generation of motor technology. This innovation also opened an era of virtually unlimited applications for magnetic sensors, driving widespread adoption beyond the electrical and electronics industries into everyday life, academia, technology, culture, and society as a whole.
Asahi Kasei's high-sensitivity Hall element HW Series, which addressed expectations for the future of sensor technology, has become the most widely used magnetic sensor globally, with cumulative shipments exceeding 40 billion units over 40 years since its launch, contributing significantly to the realization of technological advancements. This remarkable social contribution clearly merits recognition as an IEEE Milestone.

(4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

Prior to this achievement, no thin-film high-sensitivity magnetic sensor existed. The proposer was the first to develop a proprietary vacuum deposition method to grow high-mobility InSb thin films, establish an industrially viable process, and deliver magnetic sensors featuring exceptional sensitivity, outstanding thermal stability, compact size, low power consumption, and scalability for mass production—without any comparable competing technology.
These breakthroughs were made possible through the development of dedicated InSb thin-film growth equipment, optimization of growth conditions, and innovations in sensor device architecture that ensured both high sensitivity and superior thermal stability. Additionally, a robust, high-reliability mass-production system suitable for industrial deployment was successfully established. These achievements represent a level of innovation that is truly without precedent.

(5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

For the first time, a comprehensive development and production system was established to manufacture thin-film magnetic sensor devices suitable for industrial applications, delivering significant benefits to society. The HW Series Hall elements were widely adopted in consumer electronics such as VTRs and personal computers, firmly establishing thin-film Hall elements as practical magnetic sensors and creating a profound impact on the industry. Their application quickly expanded from magnetic sensors for small DC motors in VTRs and floppy disk drives to CD/DVD-ROM drives, resulting in a rapid increase in production.
Furthermore, these sensors were extensively used in cooling fans for personal computers, air conditioners, and servers, contributing to device miniaturization and energy efficiency. In recent years, their application has continued to grow, notably in drive motors for electric tools such as power screwdrivers, enabling miniaturization and battery-powered operation. This continuing expansion of applications remains a remarkable testament to the enduring impact of this technology.

In conclusion, the 'Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983' represents a technological and historical achievement of exceptional value and is strongly recommended for recognition as an IEEE Milestone.

Makoto Ishida, Ph. D.
Professor Emeritus, Toyohashi University of Technology.

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_2_Ishida uploaded by Advocate -- Ichiro Shibasaki (talk) 12:36, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for your nice Review Report. Ichiro Shibasaki Ph.D

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_2_Ishida uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 23:24, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. We sincerely appreciate your valuable comments. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_3_Kuriyama uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 06:02, 27 August 2025 (UTC)

I am uploading the following Review Report, which I received today (August 27, 2025) from Professor Kuriyama.
Dr. Tomohiro Hase, IEEE Fellow.
Advocate, IEEE History Committee.

Review Report: Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983

(1) Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes, the inscription can be regarded as reliable and accurate.

(2) Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?

Yes, the content of the above-mentioned inscription has been verified by primary documentary evidence (see [references]), although there are few third-party evaluations such as academic papers.

(3) Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes, it can be corroborated that this work (Thin Film Hall Elements) represents a significant technical achievement such as high performance, mass production, and widespread adoption of brushless DC motors.

(4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

No. To the best of my knowledge, there were no similar or competing achievements. This conclusion is supported by the absence of contemporary records or evidence indicating comparable technical accomplishments.

(5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Yes, the proposers have demonstrated a clear and tangible benefit to humanity through their technological achievement. The high-sensitivity magnetic sensors allow for more precise motor control, reducing energy loss and improving overall system efficiency.

This technology holds significant value as a technical and historical asset, and therefore deserves strong recommendation as IEEE milestone in human progress.

==============================================
Toshihide Kuriyama, Dr.
Japan Society of Next Generation Sensor Technology, Board Member
MarronTech, Owner
Kinki University, former professor
Waseda University, former visiting research scholar
University of Pennsylvania, former visiting research scholar
==============================================

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_3_Kuriyama uploaded by Advocate -- Ichiro Shibasaki (talk) 12:56, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for your nice Review Report. Ichiro Shibasaki Ph.D

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_3_Kuriyama uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 23:24, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. We sincerely appreciate your valuable comments. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_4_Sandhu uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 05:32, 30 August 2025 (UTC)

Review Report: Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983

Reviewer: Prof. Adarsh Sandhu, the University of Electro-Communications.

==
(1) Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes.
The wording is accurate, concise, and within IEEE guidelines. It clearly conveys the technical achievement (commercialization of thin-film Hall elements), the innovation (InSb thin film with ferrite sandwich structure), and the impact (enabling brushless DC motors and widespread adoption in consumer and industrial electronics). The only possible refinement would be shortening to ~60–65 words for readability, but the current text is factually correct and well written.
________________________________________
(2) Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?

Yes.
The proposal provides extensive and well-documented evidence: patents, scholarly publications, company records, production data, and recognition by Japanese national awards. The documentation is both technically detailed and historically precise, showing how the 1983 commercialization was achieved and why it matters. The evidence strongly supports the claims made in the plaque citation.
________________________________________
(3) Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes.
The achievement transformed Hall elements from fragile laboratory devices into robust, mass-produced sensors used globally. Innovations in thin-film deposition, ferrite magnetic amplification, constant-voltage driving, and packaging enabled a reliable, scalable product. This breakthrough directly enabled brushless DC motors in VCRs, floppy drives, PCs, cooling fans, and later many industrial tools—making it a landmark technical advance with enduring significance.
________________________________________
(4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

Yes.
The proposal acknowledges earlier thin-film Hall element research in the 1960s–70s, which suffered from low sensitivity, poor temperature stability, and inability to scale. It contrasts these with Asahi Kasei’s breakthroughs in InSb thin-film deposition, ferrite sandwiching, and packaging. This comparison clearly shows why earlier attempts did not succeed commercially, and why the 1983 HW-series Hall elements were unique and decisive.
________________________________________
(5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Yes.
The proposal convincingly demonstrates benefits: enabling consumer access to video recording and personal computing, supporting global IT infrastructure (servers, cooling fans), improving energy efficiency, reducing noise and wear via brushless motors, and fostering miniaturization in power tools. Over 40 billion devices sold attest to their global and societal impact. The benefit to humanity is clearly established.
________________________________________
Final Recommendation
The proposal is thorough, well supported, and compelling. The plaque citation is accurate and justified. This achievement represents a true IEEE Milestone in the history of electronic devices and sensor technology.

My conclusion:
This proposal deserves approval, and the Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983 should be recognized with an IEEE Milestone plaque.
==

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_4_Sandhu uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 23:26, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. Your insightful comments are truly appreciated. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_5_Okuyama uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 02:38, 1 September 2025 (UTC)

I am uploading the following Review Report, which I received today (September 1st, 2025) from Dr. Masanori Okuyama, Professor of the Osaka University.
Dr. Tomohiro Hase, IEEE Fellow.
Advocate, IEEE History Committee.

Review Report: Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983

1) Is the suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes, the suggested wording of the Plaque Citation is accurate.

2) Is the evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Citation?

Yes, the evidence is presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Citation. It has been confirmed through the papers and reviews which were published by third parties such as academic societies and international conference. The patents and awards also support achievement of the proposal.

3) Does the proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes, I agree the proposed milestone represents a significant technical achievement. First, good-quality InSb thin films available for magnetic sensor were successfully prepared by vacuum deposition although only single crystalline semiconductors were useful for the electronic devices then. Second, fabricated Hall elements showed excellent performance in comparison with the other magnetic sensors. Third, performance of the Hall elements has been improved drastically and continuously for spreading widely brushless DC motors required in many electronic instruments and devices.

4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

No, there were no similar or competitive achievements. The performances of the proposed thin film Hall elements such as large value and thermal stability of sensitivity, low price, small size and mass production, are much superior to the other magnetic sensors.　　From these excellent merits, the brushless DC motors are adopting the proposed element.

5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Yes, proposers show a clear benefit to humanity. The proposed Hall elements are used in the brushless DC motors which are useful in many familiar electronic instruments and devices such as VTR, CD-ROM, pc, washing machine and air conditioner, inevitable for our everyday lives.

In conclusion, Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Element, 1983 is quite valuable as technological and historical achievement, and strongly recommended as an IEEE Milestone

Masanori Okuyama, PhD
Professor Emeritus, The University of Osaka
Guest Professor, R3 Institute of Emerging Science Design, The University of Osaka

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_5_Okuyama uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 08:05, 2 September 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. Your insightful comments are deeply appreciated. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_6_Esashi uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 05:10, 1 September 2025 (UTC)

Milestone-Proposal: Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983

Reviewer: Dr. Masayoshi Esashi
Senior research fellow, Micro System Integration Center (μSIC), Tohoku University
514-1176 Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-0845, Japan
CTO, MEMS CORE Co. Ltd.
3-11-1 Akedohri Izumi-ku, Sendai, 981-3206, Japan

Reviewers’ Checklist

(1) Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes, the Plaque Citation is accurate.

(2) Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?

Yes, I checked following papers and confirmed the accuracy of the Plaque Citation. Another papers in Japanese transmitted in English were confirmed as well.

[5] I. Shibasaki, "High-Sensitivity InSb Thin-Film Hall Elements with Ferrite Sandwich Structure and Their Extensive Commercial Application（Invited paper）", J. Jpn. Soc. Powder Metallurgy vol. 61 Supplement, No. SI, PP. S335-S339, March 2014
[6] I. Shibasaki, "High Sensitive Hall Elements by vacuum deposition", Technical Digest of 8th Sensor symposium, pp.211-214,1989
[7] I. Shibasaki, "The practical Hall Elements as magnetic sensors by thin film technology (Invited paper)", IEEE Lasers and Electro Optical Society,1995
[8] I. Shibasaki, "InSb and InAs Hall Elements from Asahi Chemical", Compound Semiconductor, September/October,1996

(3) Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes. this was first thin film Hall element made by InSb vacuum deposition technology on mica substrate. The thin film was made by peeling off the film and adhering it to a ferrite substrate. The first Hall element “H-400A” production started using soldering in this company. Improved Hall element “HW Series” was developed using Au-wire bonding in place of the soldering. The mass production of the “HW Series” started in 1983. The Au wire bonding method on three metal layers (Au coated Ni on Cu) was innovative and since then, this technology has been used for the HW-series Hall elements.

(4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

The Hall element developed in Asahi Kasei Electronics are revolutionary high performance and high productivity. Many advanced technologies as ferrite sandwich structure and Au wire bonding were developed and applied.

(5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Yes, these hall elements became a fundamental component of DC brushless motors, The motors offer longer life, lower noise, and smaller thinner components. They have been used for VCRs, CD-ROMS, cooling fan etc. Total of 40 billion Hall element had been sold.

In conclusion, the thin film Hall elements developed by Ichiro Shibasaki and other members in Asahi Kasei Electronics Co. Ltd. is suitable for the IEEE Milestone.

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_6_Esashi uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 08:17, 2 September 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. We sincerely appreciate your valuable comments. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_7_Takezawa uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 09:42, 5 September 2025 (UTC)

Review Report:
Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983

(1) Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes, the suggested wording is accurate. It clearly and concisely communicates the technical achievement and its historical significance.

(2) Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?

Yes. The proposal provides strong and accurate supporting evidence. Key technological breakthroughs are documented in [Ref. 3], which details the vacuum-deposition method for InSb thin films and related sensitivity improvements, and in [Ref. 2], which describes developments in driving methods, magnetic amplification structures, and packaging that enabled mass production. Additionally, the award of the Ōkouchi Memorial Production Prize is clearly indicated as [A1], confirming industry recognition of the achievement. I have personally verified these specific references and awards, and they convincingly support the claims made in the proposal.

(3) Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes. The commercialization of thin-film Hall elements in 1983 marked a major breakthrough, turning laboratory devices into dependable, mass-produced sensors. The development of InSb thin-film deposition, ferrite sandwich structures, packaging, and reliability enhancements represented a significant technical advance with broad applications.

(4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

Yes. Earlier efforts to develop thin film Hall elements in the 1960s and 1970s faced low sensitivity and temperature instability. The proposal explains how the 1983 achievement overcame these issues through innovative fabrication methods and packaging techniques, distinguishing it from earlier attempts.

(5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Yes. Thin film Hall elements provided clear and lasting benefits to society by enabling compact, reliable, and energy-efficient sensors that became widely used in consumer electronics, industrial equipment, and energy-saving devices, including VTRs, personal computers, HDD cooling fans, air conditioners, and battery-powered tools. Their successful commercialization was not only a technical advancement but also a major innovation for modern industrial applications, laying the groundwork for many automation and control technologies that are still essential today. Furthermore, this achievement should be recognized as a significant technological and historical milestone.

Conclusion
The commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements in 1983 marks a significant technological and historical milestone. It meets all IEEE Milestone criteria—accurate plaque citation, sufficient supporting evidence, technical importance, clear differentiation from previous work, and real benefits to humanity.
I strongly support that this achievement be recognized as an IEEE Milestone.

Masaaki TAKEZAWA
Professor, Kyushu Institute of Technology,
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_7_Takezawa uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 04:28, 8 September 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. Your insightful comments are deeply appreciated. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_8_Suzuki uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 07:00, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

Below are the answers to the checklist based on the IEEE Milestone Application:

Review Report: IEEE Milestone-Proposal: Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983
Reviewer: Hiroaki Suzuki
Professor Emeritus, University of Tsukuba
________________________________________
1. Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes.
In the manuscript for the Plaque Citation, the year of implementation (1983) and the name of the company (Asahi Kasei) are mentioned first. Then, the critical structure of the successful Hall device using InSb sandwiched between ferrites is mentioned. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of this device in consumer and industrial electronics is mentioned. The contents are consistent with those mentioned in the proposal. In conclusion, the manuscript explains all that should be included in the Plaque Citation briefly within a limited word count.
________________________________________
2. Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation？

Yes.
The evidence is accurate and clearly mentioned in “Historical Significance” and “Social & Industrial Impact” sections. According to the descriptions, the convincing evidence can be seen in the commercialization of the Hall elements in 1983. Fig. 1 demonstrates the steady and rapid increase in the number of the Hall elements sold in the market. In addition, Fig. 2 also demonstrates that commercial electric and electronics equipment that use the Hall elements have also showed steady increase. In addition, the proposal mentions that over 40 billion Hall elements have been sold in total up to now.
________________________________________
3. Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes.
The technical achievement is described in “Historical Significance” and “Development and Commercialization” sections. According to the proposal, the big success of this device is a result of breakthroughs including the multi-source thin-film deposition, unique structure for magnetic amplification, constant voltage drive, and packaging technology. Based on these technologies and their superior practical characteristics, the Hall elements have actually been used in numerous commercial products. In this sense, the achievement is significant. The group has received some awards, which demonstrates that the achievement has been highly evaluated.
________________________________________
4. Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

Yes.
Similar or competing achievements are described in “What Features Set This Work Apart from Similar Achievements” section. When Asahi Kasei started the R&D of Hall elements, they were primarily used to measure magnetic fields. However, at that time, Hall elements developed by the other company were handmade. Consequently, productivity was low and the Hall elements were expensive. Although there were other Hall elements fabricated by thin-film InSb, their sensitivity was low and there were problems in practical applications and mass-production.
In contrast, Asahi Kasei has achieved breakthroughs addressing the above-mentioned issues. As a result, Asahi Kasei realized the compact, heat-resistant, highly sensitive InSb thin-film Hall elements (HW-series), which significantly contributed to the development of DC brushless motors. Nowadays, the DC brushless motors are widely used in VCR, PC memory drive, and so on.
________________________________________
5. Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Yes.
The proposal mentions the history of the application and commercialization of the Hall elements developed by Asahi Kasei. Initially, the device was used in VIRs and FDDs of PCs. Although such devices are no longer used nowadays, the applicable fields steadily expanded to cooling fans in air conditioners, servers, and motors for power tools. All of these applications clearly demonstrate that the device have provided a clear benefit to humanity. As a solid data, Fig. 1 of the proposal actually shows the steady increase in the number of the device sold in the market, which verifies that the necessity of the device is steadily increasing and the Hall elements is becoming indispensable in communities and industries all over the world. Furthermore, Fig. 7 demonstrates that the Hall elements have been used continuously and contributed to the modern society.

Conclusion
The achievements described in the proposal deserve recommendation as a Milestone with regard to technical and societal impact.

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_8_Suzuki uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 08:12, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. We sincerely appreciate your valuable comments. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Expert Reviewer's Report_9_Ohshima uploaded by Advocate -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 07:14, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

Review Report
IEEE Milestone Proposal: Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983

Dr. Masaki Oshima,
Oshima Research Laboratory, Representative,
Ethics Committee of the Institute of Electrical Engineers,
Domestic Committee of IEC TC77.

(1) Is suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Yes, it is accurate and within IEEE guidelines.

(2) Is evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Plaque Citation?

Yes, it is accurate.
The proposal described a detailed description of technological innovations, and the annual shipping of Hall elements is shown in Figure 7 indicating long and big contribution of hall elements to human society.
. Additionally, there are highly regarded academic papers such as the invited paper presented at the 8th International Ferrite Conference cited in reference 5, and the invited paper from the 1995 IEEE Laser and Electro-Optics Society Annual Meeting cited in reference 7. Furthermore, it has received various awards as significant technological achievements, providing sufficient evidence.

(3) Does proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Yes.
This is a groundbreaking achievement in magnetic sensor technology that has overcome the challenges of conventional Hall elements, achieving both mass production and high performance simultaneously. It has ushered in an era were Hall elements, as non-contact sensors, can be freely utilized. Consequently, the new DC brushless motor (Hall motor) technology, as shown in Photo 7, which enables compactness and portability, electronic control of rotation has been put into practical use, contributing to the development of home VCR’s, memory drives of PC’s, and other electrical, and electronic equipment, as illustrated in Figure 2. Furthermore, in recent years, it has been widely applied in inverter drives of power motors used in household appliances and various industrial equipment. Now, non-contact current sensors using Hall elements are essential sensors in the inverter drives of power motors.

(4) Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

Yes.
The application clearly shows a comparison with conventional Hall elements (bulk type, low sensitivity, poor temperature characteristics), and explains how Asahi Kasei's innovation technology surpasses them. The differences and advantages over competing technologies are sufficiently described.

(5) Have proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

Yes.
The Hall elements developed and commercialized by Asahi Kasei are used in various applications as non-contact sensors. In particular, as shown in Photo 7, the entirely new type of DC brushless motors (named Hall motor) could be developed and realized their mass production. Thus, Hall element applications have led to the practical realization of various electrical and electronic devices and IT equipment, and enabled their compactness, portability, low noise, and reduction of energy consumption. Moreover, Hall elements are widely used in the EVs and HVs and also conventional vehicles. Hall elements are now non-contact sensors that support society. The cumulative shipping quantity since development has exceeded 40 billion units. The annual shipping shown in Figure 7 indicates long and big contribution of hall elements to human society.

[Conclusion]
The commercialization of the thin-film Hall element in 1983 is the birth of a technology that is essential for our modern society and is an event of extreme historical significance. It truly deserves the IEEE milestone.

Re: Expert Reviewer's Report_9_Ohshima uploaded by Advocate -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 08:14, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

Thank you very much for taking the time to review our proposal. We sincerely appreciate your valuable comments. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Advocate's Recommendation -- Tomohiro Hase (talk) 07:20, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

Advocate's Recommendation for the IEEE Milestone #2025-19 “Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983”

August 31, 2025

Dear IEEE History Committee,

I am honored to be an advocate for the Milestone Proposal #2025-19, “Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983”.

URL to Proposal:
https://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestone-Proposal:Thin_Film_Hall_Elements

(1) Review:

I invited nine independent experts in the field to conduct a detailed technical review of the proposal. I asked the expert reviewers the following five questions:

Q1: Is the suggested wording of the Plaque Citation accurate?

Q2: Is the evidence presented in the proposal of sufficient substance and accuracy to support the Citation?

Q3: Does the proposed milestone represent a significant technical achievement?

Q4: Were there similar or competing achievements? If so, have the proposers adequately described these and their relationship to the achievement being proposed?

Q5: Have the proposers shown a clear benefit to humanity?

I have uploaded the nine expert reviewers’ reports to the ETHW website at the following URL to expert reviewer’s reports:
https://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestone-Proposal_talk:Thin_Film_Hall_Elements

Based on my reading of the nine expert reviewer reports, I have received positive ratings from all, indicating their agreement with the proposal's appropriateness for the Milestone.

(2) Advocate’s Checklist:

Below is my checklist with responses:

1. Is the proposal for an achievement rather than for a person? If the citation includes a person's name, have the proposers provided the required justification for inclusion of the person's name? <Yes>

2. Was the proposed achievement a significant advance rather than an incremental improvement to existing technology? <Yes>

3. Were there prior or contemporary achievements of a similar nature? If so, have they been properly considered in the background information and the citation? <Yes>

4. Has the achievement truly led to a functioning, useful, or marketable technology? <Yes>

5. Is the proposal adequately supported by significant references (minimum of five) such as patents, contemporary newspaper articles, journal articles, or citations to pages in scholarly books? At least one reference should be from a peer-reviewed scholarly book or journal article. The full text of the material, not just the references, must be present. If the supporting texts are copyright-encumbered and cannot be posted on the ETHW for intellectual property reasons, the proposers shall email a copy to the History Center so it can be forwarded to the Advocate. If the Advocate does not consider the supporting references sufficient, the Advocate may ask the proposer(s) for additional ones. <Yes>

6. Are the scholarly references sufficiently recent? <Yes>

7. Does the proposed citation explain why the achievement was successful and impactful? <Yes>

8. Does the proposed citation include important technical aspects of the achievement? <Yes>

9. Is the proposed citation readable and understandable by the general public? <Yes>

10. Will the citation be read correctly in the future by only using past tense? Does the citation wording avoid statements that read accurately only at the time the proposal is written? <Yes>

11. Does the proposed plaque site fulfill the requirements? <Yes>

12. Is the proposal quality comparable to that of IEEE publications? <Yes>

13. Are any scientific and technical units correct (e.g., km, mm, hertz, etc.)? Are acronyms correct and properly upper-cased or lower-cased? Are the letters in any acronym explained in the title or the citation? <Yes>

14. Are date formats correct as specified in Section 6 of Milestones Program Guidelines? Helpful Hints on Citations, plaque locations. <Yes>

15. Do the year(s) appearing in the citation fall within the range of the year(s) included at the end of the title? <Yes>

16. Note that it is the Advocate's responsibility to confirm that the independent reviewers have no conflict of interest (e.g., that they do not work for a company or a team involved in the achievement being proposed, that they have not published with the proposer(s), and have not worked on a project related to the funding of the achievement). An example of a way to check for this would be to search reviewers' publications on IEEE Xplore. <Yes>

(3) Advocate’s Comment and Conclusion:

I received satisfactory peer review results from nine experts in the field. Their reports and discussions were very useful for my decision as an advocate for Milestone #2025-19 “Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983”.

1. Citation:

The nine expert reviewers confirmed the citation’s accuracy and that the contents are supported by evidence, as judged by their responses to questions Q1 and Q2. As an advocate, I share the same judgment as the reviewers.

2. Technical Significance and Historical Value:

The nine expert reviewers provided detailed reviews of questions Q3 and Q4. They acknowledged the historical significance. As an advocate, I share their judgment.

3. Benefit to Humanity:

All nine expert reviewers provided positive comments, as judged by their responses to question Q5. I concur with their judgment.

4. Advocate’s Conclusion:

All nine expert reviewers strongly recognized and supported the proposal, deeming it worthy of the IEEE Milestone recognition. After careful consideration of both the proposal and the expert reviewers’ reports, I strongly recommend the proposal, #2025-19 “Commercialization of Thin Film Hall Elements, 1983”, for the IEEE Milestone.

Best regards,

Dr. Tomohiro Hase, IEEE Fellow
Advocate for Milestone #2025-19, IEEE History Committee

Re: Advocate's Recommendation -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 08:51, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

We are deeply grateful, Dr. Hase, for your thoughtful review and strong recommendation as Advocate for our IEEE Milestone proposal. Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei

Milestone Chair Review -- Coronath (talk) 11:51, 13 September 2025 (UTC)

I have reviewed the Milestone-Proposal for Thin Film Hall Elements and am happy to approve!

Keith Moore Chair, IEEE Milestones Chair 2025

Re: Milestone Chair Review -- Naofumi Uesugi (talk) 12:27, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your approval of our IEEE Milestone proposal. We are truly grateful for your recognition and support.

Naofumi Uesugi, Asahi Kasei