MEMS Journal -- The Largest MEMS Publication in the World

MEMS foundry Micralyne set to emerge from creditor protection

The company, based in Edmonton, Canada, announced this week that it is set to emerge from creditor protection in August 2013.  On July 9th, 2013, Micralyne held a vote with its creditors on the plan to emerge from creditor protection and the company's creditors reportedly voted overwhelmingly in support of the plan.  This sets the stage for court approval of Micralyne's plan for emergence for next week.  The action to seek protection in March 2012 was intended to protect the company's existing customer base, new customers, vendors and employees as Micralyne worked to overcome some business pressures created from a significant contraction of revenues.  We spoke briefly with Mike Ciprick, Micralyne's acting president and CEO.

Emerging MEMS sensor applications for high performance motion tracking

by Marcel van Hak
Industrial Applications Product Manager, Xsens

In the past decade, MEMS inertial sensor technology has taken huge steps in terms of accuracy, reliability and cost.  The most innovative manufacturers of inertial measurement units (IMUs), attitude and heading reference systems (AHRSs) and inertial navigation systems (INSs) have taken this opportunity to bring products to market that are good alternatives to costly and bulky fiber optic gyros (FOGs).  With MEMS IMUs comprising almost 40% of the commercial market in value in 2010, compared to 13% for FOGs (Yole Developpement), it is clear that MEMS IMUs are integrated in an increasingly larger number of applications.  This article explores some of the applications that greatly benefit from this new class of motion trackers in the $1,000 to $5,000 cost range.   For an introduction on MEMS based AHRSs, please read our earlier interview with Per Slycke, CTO of Xsens.