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The full MEMS Journal archive — 107 articles across two decades of sensors, MEMS, and microtechnology.
What's next for MEMS? Healthy growth but changing drivers
The MEMS industry saw healthy 10 percent growth in 2012, and can expect continued strong expansion for the foreseeable future, projects Yole Developpement . The firm sees continuing 12-13 percent compound annual growth -- doubling the sector’s revenues to $22 billion by 2018 . But that stable growth masks plenty of…
Pressure sensors to rise to top of MEMS market in 2013
MEMS pressure sensors will achieve accelerated growth this year and become the leading type of MEMS device, driven by increasing use in automotive and the fast-growing handset space, according to IHS. Revenue for MEMS pressure sensors this year will reach a projected $1.71 billion , up 14 percent from $1.50 billion…
MEMS foundry Tronics reports record revenues
Tronics said that this week that its revenues and profits exceeded expectations in 2012 due to strong growth of its high performance inertial sensor business, as well as a significant increase in its contract manufacturing customer base. The MEMS foundry services company, based in France, reported 2012 revenues of…
Fabless MEMS manufacturing: can process drive design?
As the MEMS market forces continue to apply enormous pressures on device makers to reduce costs , companies are continually striving to make their development and manufacturing cycles more efficient. One approach has been to design around well-defined processes , or at least process modules, to accelerate time to…
Magnetic sensor market decelerates as automotive demand slows
After two straight years of blockbuster expansion , the market for magnetic sensors experienced lower than expected growth in 2012 due mainly to depressed automotive sales and a diminished industrial sector, according to the IHS iSuppli . Revenue for semiconductor based magnetic sensor elements, integrated circuits…
MEMS in military and aerospace sectors to see strong growth
The MEMS market for pressure sensors in the high-value military and aerospace segments will enjoy brisk double-digit growth this year, with plenty of room left for future expansion in a broad range of lucrative applications . Revenue for pressure sensors in both military and civil aerospace applications will reach…
Ultrabooks spur massive growth in MEMS motion sensor sales
Intel's initiative to promote new features like indoor navigation and augmented reality in ultrabooks will spur dramatic growth in the sales of motion sensors for the next-generation notebook PCs, with revenue rising by a factor of 14 during the next four years. Global sales of motion sensors -- including…
MEMSCAP and Hanking Group partner to expand in China
MEMSCAP , a provider of MEMS products and foundry services, announced this week that it has broadened the company's sales network in China by partnering with the Hanking Group . The collaboration is aimed to expand MEMSCAP's geographic footprint and increase the company's presence in China. The Hanking Group will…
Apple and Samsung are top consumer and mobile MEMS buyers
Apple and Samsung Electronics remained the two largest buyers of MEMS devices for consumer and mobile applications in 2011, solidifying their command and expanding their influence over the market, according to IHS . Apple and Samsung last year accounted for a combined 37 percent of the consumer and mobile MEMS…
Google's Nexus 7 tablet integrates MEMS motion sensors
The entry-level 8GB version of Google's new Nexus 7 media tablet carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $151.75 , according to preliminary findings from IHS iSuppli . When manufacturing expenses are added, the cost increases to $159.25 . The high-end model with 16GB of flash memory has a $159.25 BOM, for a total cost…
Piezoelectric MEMS oscillators: comparison to quartz crystals and capacitive MEMS solutions
Integrated Device Technology (IDT), has recently released its new piezoelectric MEMS , or pMEMS, based oscillators. According to the company, crystal oscillators are complicated to manufacture and unreliable compared to pMEMS. IDT's new devices are more convenient, accurate and feature low-jitter timing references…
MEMS timing chip maker Sand 9 raises funding from Intel Capital
Sand 9 , a MEMS technology company developing precision timing products for wireless and wired applications, announced this week that it has raised a total of $23 million in its Series C financing round led by Intel Capital with significant participation from Vulcan Capital . Intel Capital and Vulcan Capital join…
Bosch retains lead as top automotive MEMS supplier
Bosch GmbH Automotive Electronics of Germany retained its position as the world's top supplier of automotive MEMS in 2011, according to an IHS iSuppli report. Booking $625 million in revenue last year, Bosch's 19 percent expansion from $524 million in 2010 outpaced the 14 percent growth of the automotive MEMS…
Silex developing magnetic MEMS
Silex Microsystems , recently ranked by Yole Développement as the world's largest pure-play MEMS foundry, announced this week that it has been awarded a nearly $450,000 research grant from VINNOVA , the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, to develop cutting-edge ferromagnetic materials for use in…
Automotive MEMS components: the impact of 2011 natural disasters
In an ironic twist, the terrible disasters that struck Japan and Thailand in 2011 actually helped to expand the market for automotive MEMS sensors and actuators, as car electronic systems makers sought to expand their supply chains to mitigate the risk of supply shortages. Automotive MEMS revenue in 2011 amounted…
Magnetics and MEMS: trends, opportunities and emerging applications
Magnetic materials in microfabrication technologies are increasingly being used to enable new MEMS devices and applications. We recently spoke with Al Sidman , Chief Technical Officer at Advanced MicroSensors , about the ongoing trends and developments that relate to magnetics and MEMS . In this interview, Al…
MEMS and venture capital: lessons learned from Ardesta's portfolio companies
by Howard Lovy Contributing Editor, MEMS Journal If only politics worked like Ardesta , says co-founder Chris Rizik , maybe Michigan's economic development system would not be so broken. You see, he says, the venture capital firm he and Rick Snyder , the state's current governor , launched in 1999 was all about…
Pressure sensors to become top MEMS device by 2014
Due to their relatively high prices and expanding use in a host of automotive, medical and industrial applications, pressure sensors will become the leading MEMS device by 2014, according to IHS iSuppli . Driven by a strong automotive industry recovery after the recession, pressure sensors last year generated $1.22…
Electronic compass market expected to grow at 73 percent in 2011
With navigation features becoming standard in smartphones like Apple's iPhone as well as in tablets and gaming devices, the market for electronic compasses is set to close this year with a sizable 73 percent growth, according to IHS iSuppli . Global revenue for electronic compasses is expected to reach $419.1…
Overview of wafer bonding techniques for MEMS applications
Wafer bonding is a critical part of most MEMS process flows. Especially with the increased importance of wafer stacking and 3D technologies, selecting the best wafer bonding process will likely determine the cost structure , and therefore, the ultimate market success of many MEMS devices. We recently spoke with…
China emerges as world's fastest growing automotive MEMS market
Driven by the aggressive implementation of vehicle safety and pollution mandates, China has emerged as the world's fastest-growing country for sales of automotive MEMS, according IHS iSuppli . China's automotive MEMS market is expected to expand to $387.9 million in 2015, up from $194.3 million in 2010. This…
Silicon magnetic sensors boosted by automotive, digital compass applications
Lifted by a resurgent automotive sector and rising global demand for digital compasses in smartphones and tablets, the market for silicon magnetic sensors is enjoying accelerated growth , with revenue in 2011 set to rise a strong 23.7 percent , according to a new IHS iSuppli report. Revenue this year for silicon…
MEMS motion sensors: market overview and a system integrator's perspective
As MEMS motion sensor market continues to evolve, new applications and niche markets are emerging. We recently spoke with Dave Rothenberg , Worldwide Marketing Manager at Movea . As a system integrator that develops MEMS motion sensing platforms , Movea offers an interesting perspective. In this interview, Mr.…
Tablets and smartphones spur record MEMS revenue growth in 2011
Benefiting from exposure to the hot tablet and smartphone businesses, the market for MEMS in consumer electronics and mobile communications devices is set to generate record growth in 2011, according to IHS iSuppli . Revenue for consumer and mobile MEMS -- the largest and most dynamic sector of the MEMS market --…