MEMS Investor Journal -- The Largest MEMS Publication in the World

Market for new types of MEMS booms in 2011

After only four years of existence, a segment of the MEMS market known as "new MEMS", specifically for consumer electronics (CE) and mobile handsets, will grow by a remarkable 157.4 percent in 2011, powering the expansion of the overall MEMS industry, according to new IHS iSuppli research.  Revenue this year for new CE and mobile MEMS devices will reach $457.3 million, up by more than a factor of 2.5 from $177.6 million in 2010.

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 MEMS and non-MEMS based devices.  We recently polled a number of players in ATE switching to get their views on the topic including the current technology status, cost trends and upcoming milestones.  In this article, we share the participants' sometimes widely different viewpoints.

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 an impressive 24.9 percent from $635 million in 2009.  This allowed the company to surpass the previous leader Hewlett-Packard, whose sales were slightly down in 2010 at $782.1 million, compared to $784.5 million in 2009.

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 performance metrics and considerations for the overall oscillator solution architecture.  Dr. Haddara's company provides a unique perspective on the oscillator technology space in their role as ASIC design developers for Discera's MEMS resonator devices.   Si-Ware has also developed an IC based "all-silicon" oscillator technology of its own.

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 year, up 373 percent from a mere $29.7 million in 2010.  By 2014, tablets will become the second-largest application for MEMS sensors in the consumer and mobile space after cell phones, with revenue of $280 million.

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.

MEMS market enters new growth cycle

With the iPhone 4 paving the way, global demand for MEMS devices in cell phones will rise robustly during the coming years, helping the total MEMS market to expand in healthy measure at least through 2014, according to new IHS iSuppli research.  Following two years of decline, the MEMS market enjoyed a strong 2010, with revenue rising by 18.3 percent compared to 2009.  While growth will decelerate in 2011 after the boom of 2010, revenue still will increase at nearly a double-digit rate, climbing 9.5 percent.  This growth will vastly exceed the 5.1 percent expansion of the overall semiconductor industry.  And with the MEMS market set to enjoy double-digit growth from 2012 through 2014, market revenue will rise to $10.81 billion in 2014, up from $5.97 billion in 2009.

UMC launches production of CMOS MEMS sensor products

Taiwan-based semiconductor foundry, United Microelectronics Corporation, announced this week that the company has started production of MEMS sensor products for one of its customers, with high-volume production scheduled for later this year.  This milestone follows three years of  MEMS technology development at the foundry.  The initial product is a MEMS microphone and uses UMC's CMOS MEMS process technology.

Overview of CMP technologies for MEMS applications

CMP, or chemical mechanical polishing, was developed in the late 1980s at least partially as a result of a secret IBM project at the time.  Although initially mainly used in CMOS processes, CMP is now increasingly being utilized by MEMS process flows.  We recently spoke with Dr. Robert Rhoades, CTO of Entrepix, about the history of CMP, current trends as well as traditional and emerging CMP MEMS applications.  In this  comprehensive interview, Robert also provides his insights on the current CMP cost trends and the emerging 3D stacking and TSV technologies.

Teledyne Technologies to acquire MEMS foundry DALSA for $341 million

Teledyne Technologies and DALSA Corporation jointly announced this week that they have entered into a definitive agreement that provides for the acquisition of DALSA Corporation, including its digital imaging and MEMS foundry business, by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Teledyne.  According to Dr. Robert Mehrabian, Teledyne's President and CEO,  DALSA's MEMS capabilities will be augmented by having access to Teledyne's extensive MEMS research activities and advanced process technologies.