Murata Develops Ultra-Small NTC Thermistor for Automotive Use

Murata Develops Ultra-Small NTC Thermistor for Automotive Temperature Management

Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd announced on October 20 that it had developed a world’s smallest-class negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor. The semiconductor ceramic component measures just 0.25 mm × 0.125 mm and is designed to detect temperature changes in compact installation spaces. NTC thermistors are widely used for temperature management in automotive applications, including engines and cooling water systems. Murata’s new component reduces the mounting area by approximately 60% compared with the company’s previous smallest product, which measured 0.4 mm × 0.2 mm, while maintaining the same level of temperature detection. The development is intended to help manufacturers place temperature-sensing components closer to heat-generating parts where available space is limited.

NTC Thermistor Dimensions and Mounting-Area Reduction

The newly developed thermistor measures 0.25 mm × 0.125 mm, making it substantially smaller than Murata’s previous smallest product, which measured 0.4 mm × 0.2 mm. According to the company’s announcement, the smaller component reduces the mounting area by approximately 60% while preserving the same level of temperature detection. This reduction can provide greater flexibility when engineers arrange electronic components in densely populated assemblies. Rather than requiring a larger installation area for temperature sensing, the ultra-small thermistor can fit into tighter spaces and be positioned closer to heat-generating components. The stated performance comparison concerns temperature detection and mounting area; the announcement does not provide additional numerical specifications for response time, resistance values, or operating-temperature limits.

How NTC Thermistors Support Temperature Detection

An NTC thermistor is a semiconductor ceramic component whose electrical resistance decreases as its temperature rises. This predictable relationship between temperature and resistance allows the component to support temperature detection in systems that need to monitor heat. In automotive applications, NTC thermistors are widely used for temperature management in areas such as engines and cooling water systems. The ability to measure temperature helps devices and systems respond to changing thermal conditions. Murata’s new component applies this established operating principle in a much smaller physical package. The company says the thermistor maintains the same level of temperature detection as its previous smallest product, despite the reduced dimensions, allowing designers to consider a smaller mounting footprint without sacrificing the stated detection capability.

Installation Near Heat-Generating Components

The smaller dimensions are intended to make it easier to install the thermistor close to components that generate heat, including in assemblies where mounting space is restricted. Positioning a temperature sensor near a heat-generating component can make it easier to capture temperature changes at that location. Murata states that the ultra-small thermistor can support this type of placement and encourage stable device operation. Its reduced footprint may therefore be useful to engineers working with compact automotive systems and other electronic devices that require temperature management. The announcement does not identify specific vehicle models or systems that will adopt the component, nor does it quantify any resulting improvement in overall system stability. Its stated benefit is the greater flexibility to place temperature detection closer to heat-generating parts.

Sample Availability and Volume Production Schedule

Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd plans to begin providing sample products from October, followed by volume production by the end of 2027. The sample phase gives prospective customers an opportunity to evaluate the component for potential applications before large-scale manufacturing begins. The announced schedule establishes the company’s intended progression from sample availability to volume production, but it does not specify customer programs, order volumes, pricing, or the exact date when mass production will start. The source announcement also does not identify particular automakers that have committed to using the thermistor. Its compact dimensions and maintained temperature-detection level define the principal stated characteristics that potential users can assess during evaluation.

Relevance to Compact Automotive Electronics

Automotive temperature-management systems must accommodate sensors and other electronic components within available installation spaces. Murata’s thermistor addresses this packaging challenge by reducing the component’s dimensions while maintaining the stated level of temperature detection. The approximately 60% reduction in mounting area compared with the company’s previous smallest product is the central measurable improvement disclosed in the announcement. A smaller component may give engineers more freedom to position temperature sensors near heat-generating parts, particularly where space constraints limit component placement. However, the announcement does not provide comparative data on cost, power consumption, reliability testing, or vehicle-level performance. The confirmed development is therefore a component-miniaturization advance with potential application in automotive temperature management, rather than evidence of a quantified improvement across complete vehicle systems.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Murata’s ultra-small NTC thermistor illustrates how component miniaturization can help address packaging constraints in automotive electronics while preserving a stated temperature-detection capability. For automotive component designers, the smaller mounting footprint may create additional options for locating sensors near heat-generating parts, where capturing temperature changes can support stable device operation. The practical impact will depend on evaluation by prospective customers and the component’s suitability for their specific systems. Murata plans to provide samples from October and begin volume production by the end of 2027, giving the announced development a defined path toward broader manufacturing. Further information about customer adoption, commercial availability, and performance in particular applications has not been disclosed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What has Murata Manufacturing developed?
Murata Manufacturing has developed a world’s smallest-class negative temperature coefficient thermistor designed for temperature detection in compact installation spaces. The semiconductor ceramic component measures 0.25 mm × 0.125 mm and maintains the same level of temperature detection as the company’s previous smallest product. NTC thermistors work by reducing their electrical resistance as temperature rises. They are widely used for temperature management in automotive engines and cooling water systems. Murata says the new component’s smaller dimensions make it easier to position the sensor close to heat-generating components where mounting space is limited.

What are the dimensions of Murata’s new NTC thermistor?
The new NTC thermistor measures 0.25 mm × 0.125 mm, according to Murata Manufacturing’s announcement. Its dimensions are smaller than those of the company’s previous smallest product, which measured 0.4 mm × 0.2 mm. Murata reports that the new design reduces mounting area by approximately 60% while maintaining the same level of temperature detection. These measurements describe the component’s physical size and the reported mounting-area reduction. The announcement does not provide further numerical specifications for resistance, response time, or operating-temperature limits, so those details cannot be established from the available source information.

How does an NTC thermistor detect temperature?
An NTC thermistor detects temperature through a characteristic change in electrical resistance: its resistance decreases as its temperature rises. It is made from semiconductor ceramic material and can be used in systems that need to monitor thermal conditions. Murata identifies automotive engines and cooling water systems as examples of applications where NTC thermistors are widely used for temperature management. The company says its newly developed component maintains the same level of temperature detection as its previous smallest product despite having smaller dimensions. The announcement does not disclose additional details about measurement accuracy or response time.

How much does the new thermistor reduce mounting area?
Murata states that its new NTC thermistor reduces mounting area by approximately 60% compared with its previous smallest product. The older component measured 0.4 mm × 0.2 mm, while the newly developed version measures 0.25 mm × 0.125 mm. Despite this reduction in size, the company reports that the new component maintains the same level of temperature detection. The smaller footprint is intended to make installation easier in restricted spaces and allow placement closer to heat-generating components. The announcement does not provide additional comparative figures for cost, reliability, or complete-system performance.

Why is a smaller NTC thermistor useful in automotive applications?
A smaller NTC thermistor can provide greater flexibility when engineers need to fit temperature-sensing components into restricted mounting spaces. Murata says its new component can be positioned close to heat-generating parts, making it easier to capture temperature changes in those components. NTC thermistors are widely used for temperature management in automotive engines and cooling water systems, making compact packaging relevant to these applications. The company also states that the new design encourages stable device operation. However, the announcement does not quantify improvements in vehicle performance or identify specific automotive models that will use the component.

When will Murata’s new NTC thermistor enter production?
Murata Manufacturing plans to begin providing sample products from October and start volume production by the end of 2027. The announcement does not specify the exact October date or provide a precise volume-production start date beyond the end-of-2027 target. It also does not identify customers, committed order volumes, or pricing. Sample availability is the first announced step toward customer evaluation, while the later production target indicates the company’s intended timetable for manufacturing at volume. Prospective users will need to assess the component’s suitability for their own applications as further commercial and technical details become available.