MEMS Applications

Knowles tops 3B MEMS microphones shipped

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:28:00 GMT

Knowles, micro acoustics and MEMS microphone maker, has shipped over 3 billion SiSonic MEMS microphones from the SiSonic MEMS microphone introduction in 2003.

DRIE expands from MEMS to advanced packaging and more applications

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:52:00 GMT

“From 2011 to 2017, the number of DRIE-processed wafers will jump from 5.4M to more than 27M (all wafer sizes). This is >30% CAGR”, explains Dr Eric Mounier, Yole Développement.

MEMS microphones shrink to grow market share

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:35:00 GMT

TechNavio predicts 22% CAGR for MEMS microphones from 2011 to 2015, mainly due to the shrinking form factor of these devices. MEMS microphones are gaining acceptance in a new field: healthcare electronics.

IDT eliminates crystals in high-performance MEMS oscillators

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:59:00 GMT

Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT), introduced a piezoelectric MEMS resonator technology that does not use crystals. IDT has branded the components CrystalFree pMEMS (piezoelectric MEMS).

Sensory Swarms and MEMS roadmaps on docket at MEPTEC MEMS Technology Symposium

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:04:00 GMT

MEPTEC will host its 10th Annual MEMS Technology Symposium in San Jose, CA. Keynotes cover “sensory swarms” and motion interfaces, and sessions will cover MEMS roadmaps; design, manufacturing, and test of MEMS; MEMS architectures and uses, and more.

SEMI lauds Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) for microelectronics/photovoltaics support

Wed, 09 May 2012 18:36:00 GMT

SEMI presented US Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) with its 2012 North American Government Leadership Award for his leadership and support of the US microelectronics and photovoltaic manufacturing value chain.

ST’s MEMS revenues jump 82% in 2011, but TI holds onto #1 spot

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:09:00 GMT

The top 3 MEMS manufacturers by revenue -- Texas Instruments, Hewlett Packard, and Bosch -- fought for market share in 2011, but #4, STMicroelectronics, experienced the biggest revenue jump year-to-year.

NASA funds Phase II of MEMS-based exoplanet imaging improvement project

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:50:00 GMT

Boston Micromachines Corporation won a Phase II contract for $750,000 from NASA's SBIR to support its Exoplanet Exploration program. Phase II covers reliability in the harsh environment of space.

Micropelt raises EUR6.5M for wafer-based energy harvesting technology

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:28:00 GMT

Micropelt has raised EUR6.5 million for the roll-out and global expansion of its thin-film thermoelectric energy harvesting technology: EUR5 million by Ludgate Environmental Fund (LEF); EUR1 million from the MUCAP; and EUR0.5 million by the existing shareholders IBG/Goodvent, KfW, L-Bank and SHS.

ST brings MEMS microphones to distant-speech research project

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:30:00 GMT

STMicroelectronics will bring its MEMS microphone and audio processing expertise to the European research project, Distant Speech Interaction for Robust Home Applications (DIRHA).

Top 50 “internet of things” applications

Wed, 02 May 2012 14:10:00 GMT

Libelium, a wireless sensor networks platform provider, has released a list of 54 sensor applications for a smarter world, covering the most disruptive sensor and “internet of things” applications.

SensorsCon highlights

Tue, 01 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

SensorsCon 2012 was held March 21 at the Santa Clara TechMart Center, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the International Society for Quality Electronic Design (ISQED).

What have we done for you lately?

Tue, 01 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

This page is usually reserved for a guest editorial by someone in the industry that wants to rant a little bit about the lack of standards in any given area, the need to get young students interested in engineering and the sciences, why fab safety is so important, or answering the call to innovate, to give a few examples.

Intel 22nm trigate transistor process chosen for next-gen Netronome flow processors

Tue, 01 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Flow processor developer Netronome extended its strategic relationship with Intel Corp., manufacturing its next-generation Netronome flow processors (NFP) using Intel's 22nm tri-gate transistor architecture.

MEMS packaging growth, trends, and special requirements

Tue, 01 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The MEMS packaging sector is growing 2x faster (~20% CAGR) by unit shipments than the larger IC packaging industry, shows Yole Développement in its report "MEMS Packaging."

SST Book Review: Energy Harvesting for Autonomous Systems

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:16:00 GMT

Contributing editor Steve Groothuis reviews a book titled “Energy Harvesting for Autonomous Systems (Smart Materials, Structures, and Systems).” The book highlights the progression from the basic principles behind energy harvesting to the comprehensive systems that control the sensing, actuation, and transmission of those devices.

4 billion MEMS sensors to enable augmented reality location services by 2016

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:41:00 GMT

Mobile augmented reality and location-based services will be powered by more than 4 billion MEMS sensor devices by 2016, reports Juniper Research. However, unit prices for MEMS devices are declining rapidly, reaching a lowest possible price point over the medium term in the next few years.

100 millionth MEMS device ships from SiTime

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:57:00 GMT

SiTime Corporation has shipped 100 million units of its MEMS devices, including oscillators, clock generators and resonators.

Audio Pixels moves to OTCQX as ADPXY

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:44:00 GMT

Merriman Capital, Inc. will serve as the Principal American Liaison for Audio Pixels Holdings Limited (OTCQX:ADPXY, ASX) as it is now trading on the OTC market's highest tier, OTCQX.

Telcordia qualifies MEMSCAP MEMS VOA to 2 passive optical component standards

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:32:00 GMT

MEMSCAP qualified its high-voltage electrostatic MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) with Telcordia standards GR-1209 and GR-1221 for passive optical components.