The vantage point, published.

MEMS based micromirror arrays for vision systems and display applications

by Murali Jayapala, Ph.D. Senior Researcher, IMEC The possibility to fabricate micromirror arrays has sparked a revolution in display systems . Today, devices using micromirror arrays are already indispensable in many products, such as large-scale projection engines or portable projectors . But the promise of…

Automated test equipment: an overview of MEMS and non-MEMS switching options

by John Williamson Contributing Editor, MEMS Investor Journal The proliferation of electronic devices and manufacturers' needs to test products before releasing them to market has placed added importance on the automated test equipment (ATE) industry. Switching is a key component in ATE with options that include…

Texas Instruments returns to MEMS market leadership in 2010

Five years after losing its leadership position in the global MEMS market, Texas Instruments reclaimed the top spot in 2010 because of resurgent demand for the company's Digital Light Processing ( DLP ) chips, new IHS iSuppli research indicates. Texas Instruments in 2010 sold $793 million worth of MEMS devices, up…

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MEMS and body area networks

A European consortium lead by Swiss based CSEM successfully launched the European Commission funded WiserBAN project , with the objective of developing innovative ultra-miniature RF microsystems for wireless body area networks (BAN) targeting primarily wearable and implanted devices for healthcare, biomedical ,…

Silex, Philips partner on MEMS commercialization

MiPlaza , part of Philips Innovation Services, has entered into an agreement with Silex Microsystems , a MEMS foundry based in Sweden. According to the companies, the agreement will enable Philips to offer its customers a "seamless transfer" from concept to production of MEMS devices . At the same time, Silex will…

Overview of MEMS oscillator technology: key performance metrics and solution architecture

As MEMS companies such as SiTime , Discera and Sand 9 are continuing to commercialize and develop their oscillator technologies , we connected and spoke with Dr. Hisham Haddara , CEO of Si-Ware Systems. In this detailed interview, Dr. Haddara provides an overview of MEMS based oscillator technologies including key…

Akustica to debut latest MEMS microphone

Akustica , the Pittsburgh-based company that has developed single-chip microphone technology, will unveil a new digital MEMS microphone for laptops, netbooks and tablet PCs next week at the 2011 Globalpress Electronics Summit in Santa Cruz, California. Akustica's President and CEO Stefan Finkbeiner will present the…

MEMSIC's quarterly loss widens

MEMSIC , a MEMS sensor manufacturer, announced this week financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010. The company says that its magnetic sensor sales continue to increase, due to the reported growing adoption of smartphones . MEMSIC's revenues rose to $11.4 million from $5.6 million in the…

MEMS foundry IMT adds to its arsenal of hermetic wafer level packaging capabilities

IMT, a MEMS foundry with wafer level packaging capabilities, introduced its hermetic gold-to-gold (Au-Au) thermo compression bonding process this week. In development for nearly a year , this bond is repordedly now being used in production . According to the company, this type of bonding is one of the lowest cost…

Overview of MEMS microphone technologies for consumer applications

by St.J. Dixon-Warren Engineering and Process Analysis Manager, Chipworks The extraordinary success of the iPhone 4 lies in the superb integration of multiple sensor technologies in conjunction with a very slick software interface. In a recent series of MEMS Investor Journal articles, we reviewed the 9DoF motion…

Agilent acquires two microfluidic technology companies

The company announced this week that it has acquired BIOCIUS Life Sciences , developer of a high-throughput mass spectrometry drug-screening platform for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical markets, as well as Lab901 , an electrophoresis equipment and consumables company. Both companies' technologies utilize…

Caliper, Covaris partner on microfluidics enabled DNA sequencing

Caliper Life Sciences and Covaris , announced this week a co-marketing agreement which will leverage Covaris' acoustic DNA shearing platforms and Caliper's automation and microfluidics technologies to develop automated workflows for next generation DNA sequencing . Caliper has developed a suite of solutions for…

Health and medical market strategies for MEMS companies

by Paul Pyzowski Contributing Editor, MEMS Investor Journal As an executive and entrepreneur who transitioned from the semiconductor industry to life sciences, I am often asked about "medical MEMS" by other executives, engineers, and investors seeking new markets for an existing MEMS or microfabrication technology.…

MEMS device maker Kionix names new marketing executive

Kionix, one of the world's top three suppliers of MEMS accelerometers, announced this week that Michael Maia has been named Vice President Americas Sales and Marketing. Maia will be located in the company's Silicon Valley office and will report to Kenneth Salky , Kionix Executive Vice President for Sales and…

ISSYS launches MEMS based density meter

Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc. (ISSYS) announced this week that it is launching a new MEMS based density meter , geared towards the flammable fluids market. According to Doug Sparks , Executive VP of ISSYS and the Director of the Microfluidic Product Line, "This new meter will help our customers save money as…

Overview of battery technologies for MEMS applications

With the proliferation of MEMS technologies and wireless sensor networks, power generation for micro devices is becoming an important topic. To address the state of battery technologies in general, and micro batteries in particular, we spoke with an expert on batteries, Dr. Tom Reddy . In this interview, Dr. Reddy…

Samplify Systems developing ultrasound solutions, recruits MEMS expert

Samplify Systems , a provider of semiconductor technology and sub-systems for the ultrasound equipment market, announced this week that Dr. Chris Daft has joined the company as Senior Scientist, where he will apply his MEMS expertise to develop the company's ultrasound beamforming technology and products. "Dr. Daft…

Motion sensing in the iPhone 4: electronic compass

by St.J. Dixon-Warren Engineering and Process Analysis Manager, Chipworks The iPhone 4 represents the next step in evolution of Apple's market leading smartphone technology. The previous two parts of this series reviewed the results of our teardown of the iPhone 4, plus included a discussion of the 3-axis…

SPTS acquires Tegal DRIE assets for $2.1 million

Tegal Corporation announced this week the sale of its DRIE and related assets to SPP Process Technology Systems ( SPTS ). Tegal will receive approximately $2.1 million in the transaction, including $1.6 million in cash and the assumption by SPTS of approximately $0.5 million of short-term liabilities. The deal…

Tablets become fastest growing MEMS market in 2011

Driven by soaring demand for Apple's iPad and Android-based alternatives , media tablets in 2011 are expected to be the fastest growing market for MEMS devices in the consumer electronics and mobile segment, according to new IHS iSuppli research. Sales of MEMS for use in tablets will rise to $140.4 million this…

TriQuint's MEMS revenues grow to $74.7 million in 2010

Capitalizing on their design wins in Apple's iPhone 4 and iPad, semiconductor suppliers STMicroelectronics and TriQuint in 2010 achieved industry-leading growth in the global market for MEMS in consumer electronics and mobile devices, new IHS iSuppli research indicates.

X-FAB expands MEMS foundry, acquires MFI

X-FAB Silicon Foundries and MEMS Foundry Itzehoe GmbH (MFI) announced this week they will join forces to address the market for high-volume MEMS fabrication and will combine their existing MEMS foundry capabilities and resources. X-FAB acquired a 25.5-percent shareholding of MFI, subject to antitrust approval, with…

Lab-on-chip diagnostic devices from low-cost, disposable paper strips

Researchers have invented a technique that uses inexpensive paper to make microfluidic devices for rapid medical diagnostics and chemical analysis. The innovation enhances commercially available diagnostic devices that use paper-strip assays like those that test for diabetes and pregnancy. "With current systems…