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Soon after, it developed and successfully commercialized a quartz‑based clock IC for high‑precision timekeeping, which was adopted by many watch manufacturers, including Seiko.
Developed the world's first PLL CMOS LSI for CB (Citizen Band) radios.
On February 27, 1975, the research and development department of the Second Precision Plant separated and became independent. To commercialize the then‑researched CMOS technology, the Second Precision Plant and Suwa Precision Plant invested, founding the semiconductor‑focused company Nippon Precision Circuits Inc.
The Shiohara plant (now the Nasu Shiohara facility) was completed on October 15 of that year. With President Toshio Tanaka and a total of 22 employees, including 16 new hires, it was a young, small company. It was the first to bring a PLL IC for the then‑popular CB transceivers to market, ushering in a hectic founding period.
Developed the world's first quartz‑clock IC for record players.
Developed a low‑power, 1‑V operating CMOS LSI for clock applications.
Capital increased to 250 million yen.
Completed the 2‑inch line (now Building S) as Nippon Precision Circuits Inc. (NPC).
Developed a 200‑MHz operating PLL CMOS LSI using a practical molybdenum‑gate multilayer CMOS process.
Developed the world's fastest 121‑stage linear‑phase FIR digital filter LSI for CD players.
Received the Nikkei Excellent Product Service Award for a digital filter IC for recording and playback.
Developed the world's first digital filter IC for DAT.
Completed the 6‑inch line (Building H).
Developed a 1‑bit DAC (Σ DECO) for audio.
Developed a 1‑V, 90‑MHz operating PLL for pager applications.
Development of an asynchronous sample rate converter for audio.
Obtained ISO 9001 certification for quality management systems.
Development of the world's first shock-proof memory controller using a compression method.
Obtained ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems.
Development of an EL driver IC.
Development of the world's first high-resolution audio digital filter.
Obtained QS-9000 certification for quality system requirements in the automotive industry.
Development of a multi-purpose high-frequency clock generator.
Development of a high-speed target tracking vision chip.
Received the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director's Encouragement Award for IC related to crystal oscillators at the 2003 Kanto Regional Innovation Awards hosted by the Japan Patent Association.
The high-speed target tracking vision chip received the Technical Award and Tomoda Award at the Society of Measurement and Automation.
Became a 100% subsidiary of Seiko Corporation (now Seiko Group Corporation).
Developed a driver IC for gyroscope sensors.
Renamed from Japan Precision Circuits Co., Ltd. to Seiko NPC Co., Ltd.
Capital increased to 1 billion yen.
Obtained ISO/TS 16949 certification.
Established a Taiwan branch office.
Presented an amplifier-integrated thermopile infrared sensor at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC).
Development of a high-precision crystal oscillator IC with frequency adjustment capability.
Commenced mass production of a compact, high-precision optical encoder.
Development of ultra-compact optical sensors
Development of low phase noise voltage-controlled crystal oscillator IC
Patent acquisition for VCXO IC with integrated varicap
Establishment of corporate slogan 'New moments with precision'
Development of magnetic sensor module
Patent acquisition for multi-band compatible RF clock receiver IC
Development of 50dpi magnetic line sensor module
Development of COB-type infrared sensor module
Acquisition of IATF16949 certification
Development of IC '7701' for dual-output oscillator
Development of automotive crystal oscillator IC '7101 series'
Initiated telework at offices in Tokyo, Osaka, and Taiwan in response to COVID-19 infection rates
Development of temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) IC
Commenced research and development of crystal oscillator circuits for post-5G information and communication systems, funded by a public grant
Obtained basic patent for production technology using gold-black film to achieve high sensitivity in infrared sensors
Enhanced post-processing with IC testers and handlers equipped with visual inspection to support increased production of SPXO, TCXO, and sensor products
Developed new package for optical encoder for servo motor control
Developed new VCXO IC with integrated varicap, compact and low phase noise voltage-controlled crystal oscillator
Developed three models of reflective incremental optical encoders
Developed reflective absolute linear optical encoder 'SM3414B'
Introduced collaborative robots for wafer handling and AI-based visual inspection equipment in the IC inspection process, reducing operators' physical burden and establishing a production scale-up system.
Developed IC '7070' for crystal oscillators targeting the telecommunications market.
Started solar power generation at the Nasushiobara facility, achieving 100% domestic renewable energy.
Seiko NPC Co., Ltd. has launched sales of the ultra‑low‑voltage SPXO IC "7028 Series". The 7028 Series operates at an ultra‑low voltage of 0.7V and covers a wide range of oscillation frequencies from 16 MHz to 100 MHz on a single chip. Additionally, the small 0.54 mm × 0.54 mm chip allows mounting on crystal oscillators up to 1210 size.
Seiko NPC Co., Ltd. will sponsor the Utsunomiya Japan Cup Cycle Road Race held from October 16 to 18, 2026, and will exhibit a booth on Orion Street on the 17th. The booth will feature events such as time attack and gacha, contributing to regional revitalization and sports promotion.
Seiko NPC Co., Ltd. held its first semiconductor hands-on workshop as part of the Children’s Explorers program at Kuroiso Community Center in Nasushiobara. Children examined an IC chip and a large circuit diagram, then built and raced light-powered cars. The activity aimed to spark interest in semiconductors and manufacturing and was planned by a team using the company’s internal challenge program. Seiko NPC plans to continue working with the community to support children’s learning.
Seiko NPC Co., Ltd. welcomed 37 students and teachers from Tochigi Prefectural Otawara High School to its Nasushiobara site for a company tour and workshop. The visit was part of the Ministry of Education’s Super Science High School program and included a circuit design workshop, an introduction to semiconductor education projects, product demonstrations, a factory tour, and a discussion with alumni employees. Students asked many questions and deepened their understanding of the semiconductor industry.
Seiko NPC Corporation will exhibit at the 5th NEPCON Japan Autumn 2026 at Makuhari Messe. The company will showcase optical encoder products that contribute to high-precision control in industrial equipment, robotics, and automation systems. Drawing on sensing technologies developed over many years, Seiko NPC aims to help solve customer challenges and improve product performance, and welcomes visitors to its booth.
Seiko NPC Corporation will exhibit at the Infrared Array Sensor Forum 2026, to be held on July 3, 2026, at Ritsumeikan University’s Osaka Ibaraki Campus. The forum aims to promote domestic business related to infrared imaging and sensing technologies.
Seiko NPC has developed PrecisOne, a self-calibrating rotary encoder. It achieves calibration accuracy at the one-arcsecond level using the equal-division averaging method with multiple in-house encoders. The technology contributes to higher precision in industrial equipment and precision-control applications.
Seiko NPC’s executive structure changed effective April 1, 2026. Hideaki Tadokoro was newly appointed as a director and executive officer; other executive appointments were also announced.
Seiko NPC Corporation lectured fifth-year students at Oyama National College of Technology on the importance of semiconductors and growing future demand. Drawing on engineers’ firsthand experience, the lecture explained the challenges and rewards of semiconductor design and captured students’ interest. The company will continue working with local educational institutions to contribute to the next generation of the semiconductor industry.