Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corporation

2. Promotion Period (1966-1971)

In 1967 Toshiba originally developed 2M52 with a built-in permanent magnet and 2M53 of further compact type in 1969.
In the same period Matsushita, Hitachi and New Japan Radio had started the production of a magnetron for a microwave oven according to expiry of basic patent of Raytheon on a magnetron.
In 1969 sale of a microwave oven in Japan reached 380 thousand and microwave ovens have come into wide use.
In 1971 Toshiba magnetron was introduced into Litton of USA, which is an epoch-making event to show Toshiba magnetron Technology can compete to USA magnetron manufactures.

3. Progress Period (1972-1983)

All USA magnetron manufactures withdrew from the production, and 4 Japanese manufactures cover all demand of magnetrons for microwave ovens in the world.
Then competition among Japanese manufactures became keen.
To meet requirement for cost down and improvement in performance form customers Toshiba developed 2M57 in 1972, which shall be the standard of current magnetrons having a ferrite magnet and horizontal cooling structure.
In 1983 Toshiba developed 2M172A having 10 segments cavity (12 segments up to that time), which has been applied for all current magnetrons.
To supply better technical support to customers, Application Engineering group was newly established and we have introduced customer's requirement into the design of a magnetron and advised the design of a microwave oven related application of a magnetron such as microwave circuit.