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The full MEMS Journal archive — 441 articles across two decades of sensors, MEMS, and microtechnology.
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…
ST launches world's first dual-core MEMS gyro
The design of ST's dual-core MEMS gyroscope employs separate output paths optimized for the two different functions in a 4x4x1 mm package. The device addresses, at the same time, motion and gesture recognition and optical image stabilization for sharper mobile camera photos. "ST's dual-core gyroscope lights two…
Tronics to manufacture RF MEMS switches for DelfMEMS
DelfMEMS announced this week that since early 2011 it has collaborated with Tronics' MEMS fab in Dallas, Texas on the RF MEMS switch process transfer and platform qualification. With steady progress made over the past six months , DelfMEMS and Tronics say they will be able to address the high capacity needs of RF…
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…
Magnetic sensors in automotive motors to enjoy brisk growth
Given their capability to improve car safety , convenience and fuel efficiency , semiconductor magnetic sensors used in automotive motors will enjoy fast market growth with revenue expanding by nearly 40 percent in 2012, according to IHS iSuppli . Revenue derived from the use of magnetic sensors in automotive…
Gentex acquires MEMS motion sensor maker InterSense
Gentex and InterSense announced this week that Gentex has acquired substantially all assets of InterSense. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed . The agreement to acquire InterSense, a developer of MEMS based hybrid motion tracking systems, advances Gentex' growth strategy and expands the company's…
MEMS and microelectrode technologies for hearing restoration
by John Williamson Contributing Editor, MEMS Investor Journal Two common types of hearing loss suffered by millions of people worldwide are sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. The former is caused primarily by damage to the cochlea , the snail-shell like structure of the inner ear containing…
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…
Bonding reliability testing for wafer level packaged MEMS devices
by Michael Shillinger Vice President of Operations, Innovative Micro Technology Devices, especially MEMS that have moving actuators , perform best inside the cleanroom . When taken out of the cleanroom, particles can hinder or degrade the performance, and lead to device failure. IMT , like many others in the…
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…
Bio-Rad acquires QuantaLife's microfluidic technology for $162 million
Bio-Rad Laboratories , a manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostics products, announced this week that it has acquired QuantaLife , a microfluidic technology startup, for $162 million in cash plus potential future milestone payments. QuantaLife raised $17.2 million in venture…
Inertial MEMS devices: an overview of testing techniques and considerations
MEMS inertial sensors, such as accelerometers and gyros , are some of the most challenging types of sensors to test because their characterization requires an extensive range of physical stimuli . We recently spoke with Sascha Revel , Director of Sales at ACUTRONIC about testing of inertial MEMS devices. As a…
Sony acquires Micronics and its microfluidics technology
Sony Corporation announced this week that it has acquired Micronics, Inc. (headquartered in Redmond, Washington). Micronics is involved in the development of near patient point-of-care devices for disease diagnosis , treatment monitoring and blood testing , and also provides product development services for…
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…
Tronics expands MEMS manufacturing facilities
Tronics , one of the leading international MEMS foundries , is expanding its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Grenoble. After 14 years of operations, and several recent significant investments in the US, this is an important milestone in the growth of the company. Following several years of solid…
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…
PerkinElmer to acquire microfluidics company Caliper for $600 million
PerkinElmer , a global biomedical company, announced this week that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Caliper Life Sciences , a Hopkinton, Massachusetts-based firm that specializes in microfluidic technologies for life sciences research, diagnostics and environmental markets, for a total net purchase…
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 --…
Automotive MEMS sensors to return to healthy growth in 2012
The automotive MEMS sensor market will reach new heights in 2012, leaving behind the ups and downs of the last two years , including the impact of the recent Japan earthquake , according to IHS iSuppli . Global automotive MEMS sensor revenue will jump a solid 16 percent in 2012 to $2.31 billion on its way to $2.93…
Firefly BioWorks receives $2 million NIH grant for cancer diagnostics
Firefly BioWorks , a manufacturer of cancer diagnostic assays based on microfluidics , announced this week that it was awarded a $2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute for microRNA profiling. MicroRNAs are an emerging class of biomarkers that are proving to be important indicators for early diagnosis…
Comparative tablet teardowns reveal iPad design advantages
In the 15 months since the introduction of the iPad , competitive tablet manufacturers still cannot match the design efficiency of Apple's groundbreaking product, according to an IHS iSuppli teardown analysis of eight tablet models. "Since Apple controls both the operating system and hardware design of the iPad, it…
EV Group to expand manufacturing, hire 100 more employees
EV Group , a supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, announced this week that it broke ground on expanding the company's manufacturing capacity at its headquarters in Austria earlier this month. In addition, the company reports that it has…