A good many small motors are used extensively in the medical equipment, IT devices, automobile and household electrical appliance fields. Especially, main technologies and peripheral technologies in utilizing the motors for those applications are very important. Technologies for enhancement of energy efficiency and resource saving are demanded than ever before with the expanding utilization of fuel cell and/or global environmental problems. Furthermore, high technical development of miniaturization, weight saving, and low-noise for motors, is required. Demand for a motor is becoming diversified and complicated.

It is anticipated that the fair demand for small motors will further expand in the near future because digital household appliances and in-vehicle units are expected to be connected into the network,  furthermore new products and new usages for IT equipments will be developped.  Therefore the appropriate direction in developing future small motors is very important to accelerate the development.

This technical report writes up surveyed results of present situations and advanced technologies of small motors. The report contains following items, design and analysis technologies, material and manufacturing technologies, simulation technologies for combined high performance motors, drive and control technologies, the main and the peripheral technologies for small motor drive system, high value-added products, trends of new principle and architecture, evaluation and measurement technologies, advanced technologies including environmental measure technology.