{"id":68078,"date":"2025-10-16T06:26:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T10:26:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=68078"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:52:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:52:42","slug":"keenusdesigns-helping-japanese-engineers-solve-testing-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/keenusdesigns-helping-japanese-engineers-solve-testing-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"KeenusDesigns: Helping Japanese engineers solve testing challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Simcenter\u2122 Micred\u2122 hardware and software powering thermal and power cycle testing solutions that prevent over-engineering of electronics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As electronics continue to shrink in size while increasing in performance, a critical challenge facing engineers is how to keep high-performance components from overheating without over-engineering them and making them larger, more complex and more expensive than necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Japanese engineers and product development specialists from the country\u2019s biggest industrial giants encounter this challenge, they often contact KeenusDesign. A Siemens customer and reseller, this highly specialized consultancy has been helping customers conduct thermal control measurements and tackle power cycle testing challenges for almost 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help engineers at many of Japan\u2019s most demanding manufacturers subject their prototypes to the extremes of real-world environmental conditions, KeenusDesign leverages the Siemens Xcelerator<\/a> platform and the flexibility of Simcenter\u2122 Micred\u2122 T3STER\u2122<\/a> and Simcenter Micred Power Tester<\/a> hardware. Combining them into an almost infinitely customizable service and product portfolio, KeenusDesign has made thermal and power cycle testing fast, accurate and, perhaps most importantly, accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Temperature<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Electronics and temperature extremes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s a mobile phone, internet-connected fridge, electronic home security system, advanced healthcare technology, computer-controlled internal combustion engines, or even fully electrified SUV, our 21st-century lives are increasingly powered by electronics and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As electronics continue to advance, increasing in both complexity and performance demands while shrinking in size, the list of design challenges expands. Successfully addressing these challenges is crucial because electronics subject to frequent switching and temperature transience are more susceptible to failure and reliability problems. Temperature extremes and fluctuation, in particular, can greatly affect semiconductor performance and lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KeenusDesign: Thermal and power cycle engineering experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based in Tokyo, KeenusDesign is led by founder Junichi Tachibana, one of Japan\u2019s top thermal and power testing experts. Following decades as a mechanical engineer, including leading thermal design efforts at Hewlett-Packard (now Keysight), his experience with thermal and power cycle design challenges, inspired him to launch the company in 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expertise in thermal, electrical and mechanical design capabilities and constraints has fueled the company\u2019s growth and development of complementary product and service channels. Whether manufacturing and selling temperature control devices for electronic equipment thermal testing or providing testing as an outsourced service, it enjoys a trusted reputation throughout Japanese manufacturing, particularly in the automotive sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company\u2019s customer list includes multinationals such as Canon, Epson, Hitachi, Honda and Toyota, as well as many well-known public and private academic and research organizations, including the Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Industry Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kyushu University, and National Astronomical Observatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A new approach to electronics testing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

KeenusDesign\u2019s approach to measuring power cycles and heat generation and dissipation differs from traditional methods in several key ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Thermal testing using small footprint chambers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temperature testing requires specialized test chambers designed to control and monitor temperature variations. By subjecting semiconductors to precise and repeatable thermal conditions (aka temperature cycles), engineers can evaluate their endurance and ability to withstand thermal stresses. The conventional testing method in the automotive electronics field uses large chambers that provide constant-temperature baths. Comparatively slow to heat up and cool down, these chambers are also unnecessarily large for the footprint of contemporary electronics. In contrast, KeenusDesign\u2019s testing systems are much smaller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Nondestructive power cycle testing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While developing circuit boards and semiconductors, the traditional testing method is to take prototypes to failure by continually switching the power on and off. Manufacturers then take the prototype to a laboratory for disassembly to investigate the reason and location of the failure. Unfortunately, distinguishing between the failure\u2019s cause and effect is not always possible. Fortunately, KeenusDesign\u2019s entirely electric method is nondestructive and saves both time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Siemens-enabled niche<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike general-purpose test labs, KeenusDesign excels in a niche where customers require customization that most commercial solutions can\u2019t provide. These systems either simply can\u2019t handle the task or can\u2019t be tailored or integrated into larger solutions as required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address these shortcomings, KeenusDesign turned to Siemens Digital Industries Software, leveraging Simcenter\u2122 Micred\u2122 hardware, which is part of the Siemens Xcelerator business platform of software, hardware and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KeenusDesign conducts transient thermal resistance tests using Simcenter Micred T3STER\u2122 hardware and power cycle tests using Simcenter Micred Power Tester hardware. Both systems ensure fast, highly accurate and repeatable results, generating actionable data that help customers identify potential design weaknesses, better understand quality control issues, and produce accurate technical product documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each Simcenter Micred product has a specific application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simcenter Micred T3STER<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A thermal transient measurement system that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n