Tetsuo works in Japan, developing and optimizing power devices and integrating technology into new products. Over the 10 years that he’s worked at TI, he has been inspired by his colleagues and believes that a collaborative yet competitive environment is a powerful tool to stimulate innovation and growth.

This belief doesn’t mean that all of Tetsuo’s ideas originate at work. He often thinks of solutions to problems when he’s driving or doing activities at home. Puzzles are etched onto his brain until they are solved. In many cases, a perfect solution is very simple and seems very obvious in hindsight, he says. However, usually it cannot be reached quickly or directly.

These days, Tetsuo is addressing power management in controllers, which often need to be usable in a variety of applications. He’s currently developing a DC-DC controller to improve low load efficiency for laptops. This controller will have dual voltage channels (5V and 3.3V) to support "connected standby" mode, ultimately extending the idling time of the computer, extending the battery life and improving the usability.

Tetsuo emphasizes that knowledge itself has no meaning unless you can use it. Practical application is equally important.