May 3, 2013 STMicroelectronics has simplified the use of its MEMS with ready-to-use software drivers for communication with Linux systems through a standard interface. Read more

May 2, 2013 Once again demonstrating Apple Inc.'s power to ordain winners in the electronics supply chain, the top suppliers last year of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones were those that provided devices for iPhones and iPads. Read more

April 26, 2013 In 2012, TSMC's MEMS foundry business enjoyed around 80% of growth, achieved about USD42 million in sales and moved up to third place in Yole Développement’s annual MEMS foundry sector rankings. Read more

April 22, 2013 Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors will achieve accelerated growth this year and become the leading type of MEMS device, driven by increasing use in automotive and the fast-growing handset space, according to insights from market researcher IHS. Read more

April 8, 2013 A collaborative research programme co-ordinated by Bosch, the 9D Sense research project has the goal of developing a compact, cost-efficient, and autonomous multi-sensor system that will offer precise determination of position and orientation; the programme includes 11 project partners from four countries Read more

April 5, 2013 STMicroelectronics has begun working with research partners to develop a pilot line for next-generation MEMS devices augmented with advanced technologies such as piezoelectric or magnetic materials and 3D packaging. Read more

March 27, 2013 Integrated Device Technology differential 4H MEMS oscillators feature a 100 femtosecond typical phase jitter performance and integrated frequency margining capability. Read more

March 27, 2013 Analog Devices, Inc. has introduced a high performance MEMS microphone developed specifically for hearing aid applications. Read more

March 19, 2013 STMicroelectronics and CMP (Circuits Multi Projets) are to make ST’s THELMA MEMS manufacturing process available for prototyping to universities, research labs and design companies through the silicon brokerage services provided by CMP. Read more

March 11, 2013 Global electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation has signed a global distribution agreement with MEMSIC, a company that designs and manufactures integrated micro-electromechanical sensors (MEMS) using a standard integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing process. Read more

February 27, 2013 InvenSense, Inc. signs a pan-European value-added distribution agreement with Avnet Memec which will see Avnet Memec provide sales and value-added support for InvenSense’s MotionTracking devices throughout Europe and Israel. Read more

February 8, 2013 STMicroelectronics and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) Faculty of Science have unveiled that an innovative bird-tracking system developed by the university is using advanced MEMS sensing technology from ST. Read more

February 7, 2013 Experts from research institutions and industry are investigating entirely new methods for developing micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), working together in the research project known as “Circuit Diagram-Based Design of MEMS for Applications in Optics and Robotics” – or MEMS2015 for short. Read more

February 5, 2013 Analog Devices, Inc’s EngineerZone online technical support community is now supportsingADI’s full line of signal processing offerings. Read more

January 28, 2013 Components distributor MSC has introduced the SiT1618 MEMS XO family from SiTime. These oscillators, which are designed for the extended industrial operating temperature range from ‑40°C to +125°C, feature excellent frequency stability up to ±25 ppm inclusive of all conditions, G‑sensitivity of only 0.1 ppb and low power consumption of 3.6 mA. Read more

January 8, 2013 Bosch Sensortec has unveiled the BMA355 as being the industry's smallest 3-axis MEMS accelerometer for space-constrained applications. Read more

January 7, 2013 Bosch said it has integrated into a 32-bit microcontroller a three-axis accelerometer with its first nine-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) that includes a gyroscope and magnetometer. The accelerometer also runs sensor fusion algorithms on the microcontroller. Read more

December 6, 2012 The microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) market for pressure sensors in the high-value military and aerospace segments will enjoy brisk double-digit growth this year, with plenty of room left for future expansion in a broad range of lucrative applications, says IHS iSuppli. Read more

November 29, 2012 The complete analog and digital family of top- and bottom-port high definition (HD) voice microphones released by Akustica feature a high 63dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from 20Hz to 20kHz, super wideband frequency response, and tightly matched +/-2dB sensitivity. Read more

November 29, 2012 The 2466 series from Silicon Designs is a family of low-cost industrial grade triaxial universal MEMS capacitive accelerometer modules with eight-pin connector. Read more

November 22, 2012 ELMOS Semiconductor has transferred the Europe-wide distribution rights for its network devices, analog and power ICs, MEMS-based sensor products and mixed signal ASICs to MSC Vertriebs GmbH, a sister company of Gleichmann Electronics. Read more

November 15, 2012 Bosch Sensortec has transferred its portfolio of high-precision automotive MEMS expertise to craft mass-market versions for consumer devices, the latest of which is the world's smallest barometric sensor. Read more

November 14, 2012 An affiliated company of Theon Sensors, European Sensors Systems (ESS) has released a MEMS-based capacitive barometric pressure sensor enabling portable devices to navigate with an altitude resolution of 10cm. Read more

November 9, 2012 Xsens, the leading innovator in 3D motion tracking technology and products, is partnering STMicroelectronics to demonstrate the world’s first wearable wireless 3D body motion tracking system based on consumer-grade MEMS combo sensors at Electronica 2012 in Munich, Germany. Read more

November 5, 2012 X-FAB Silicon Foundries has increased its share in the German-based MEMS Foundry Itzehoe GmbH (MFI) from 25.5 percent to 51 percent, becoming the majority shareholder, and also renamed MFI as X-FAB MEMS Foundry Itzehoe. Read more

October 19, 2012 Wolfson Microelectronics has released the WM7121 and WM7132 high performance top and bottom port silicon analog micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphones with matching frequency responses. Read more

October 11, 2012 Chip vendor Melexis introduces the first of its new line of commercial, off the shelf, packaged MEMs pressure sensors. The MLX90809 benefits from 10+ years of developing custom MEMs pressure sensors for demanding automotive applications. This device is a highly accurate, AEC Q100 qualified relative pressure sensor specifically targeted at 1 Bar applications. Read more

October 8, 2012 OMRON and STMicroelectronics have teamed up to develop a MEMS-based gas flow sensor with a unique built-in correction for differences in gas composition. Read more

October 4, 2012 Analog Devices, Inc. has introduced what the company claims the industry’s first MEMS accelerometer with min/max offset sensitivity over the full temperature range. Read more

September 11, 2012 STMicroelectronics has released an innovative easy-access development platform for projects based on its new high-performance STM32 F3 microcontrollers, which are now starting to enter volume production. Read more

September 7, 2012 Digi-Key Corporation has signed a global distribution agreement with Kionix, Inc., a provider of MEMS inertial sensors. Read more

August 10, 2012 ST has launched its smallest MEMS gyroscope, opening up new motion-sensing applications. Read more

August 6, 2012 STMicroelectronics has acquired the intellectual property and hired most of the staff of the Israeli projection-technology start-up company, bTendoto accelerate the propagation of the technology. Read more

August 2, 2012 Xsens has launched its 4th generation of high-performance MEMS based motion trackers (IMU, VRU, AHRS and GPS/INS) to match the requirements in terms of accuracy and robustness for many applications previously depending on fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) based solutions. Read more

July 17, 2012 STMicroelectronics has launched a miniature 6-axis MEMS sensor with custom programmable motion-recognition capabilities. Read more

June 26, 2012 Analog Devices, Inc. has introduced a 10-degree-of-freedom (DoF) MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) with an embedded sensor fusion algorithm that delivers accurate orientation sensing in platform stabilisation, navigation and instrumentation applications. Read more

June 13, 2012 X-FAB Silicon Foundries announced two major MEMS milestones: the completion of its dedicated noble metal facility for MEMS and post-CMOS processing and shipment of its billionth MEMS device. Read more

June 5, 2012 Analog Devices has unveiled an ultra-low power 3-axis MEMS accelerometer that consumes 2µA at a 100Hz output data rate, and only 300nA in motion-triggered Wake-Up mode. Read more

June 4, 2012 InvenSense Inc., (Sunnyvale, California), a supplier of motion tracking components based on MEMS technology, has announced that it is opening up the use of its proprietary MEMS manufacturing process for use by others on a licensing basis. Read more

May 28, 2012 Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., has been on the acquisition trail for several years and it is now fine tuning its approach as it seeks to move up in complexity and value through MEMS to the Internet of Things (IoT). Read more

May 25, 2012 Sports-related concussions have skyrocketed in the U.S. with over 3.8 million reported each year. New MEMS sensors small enough to be mounted inside an athlete's helmet, for example, could perform early detection of symptoms, giving doctors time to administer preventative therapies. Read more

May 24, 2012 Analog Devices, Inc. has introduced the industry’s first commercially available analog, 3-axis, high-g MEMS accelerometer. The ADXL377 measures acceleration of high-impact events resulting from shock and vibration, within the full-scale range of ±200 g with no signal saturation. Read more

May 14, 2012 Fabless chip company Nordic Semiconductor ASA, well known as a supplier of low power 2.4-GHz radio ICs, is ready to take its business to the next level, which is the combination of wireless transceivers, sensors and digital processing. Read more

May 14, 2012 New industrial applications are foreseen for MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) devices, a 7-billion-dollar, rapidly growing market. The mechanical properties of thin films play a crucial role. Read more

May 9, 2012 Integrated Device Technology, Inc. has unveiled what the company claims is the world's first CrystalFree piezoelectric MEMS (pMEMS) LVDS / LVPECL oscillators for high-performance communications, consumer, cloud, and industrial applications. Read more

May 7, 2012 Meggitt Sensing Systems has launched the Endevco model 40931, a low-cost MEMS-based flip-chip mountable piezoresistive pressure transducer die. Read more

April 30, 2012 Very high accelerations along all three axes senses a MEMS from STMicroelectronics. With its measurement range of up to 400g, the device suits applications in car black boxes as well as medical monitoring devices or even sports equipment. Read more

April 4, 2012 In its new report “MEMS Packaging”, Yole Développement analyzed the packaging, assembly & test requirements of MEMS, application by application, it also focused on MEMS package substrates. Read more

April 2, 2012 Mobile device semiconductors were one of the few bright spots in a chipset market that stalled in 2011, according to ABI Research. Revenue from chipsets designed for mobile devices increased by more than 20% to $35 billion, while the total semiconductor market limped out of 2011 with just 2% year-on-year growth. Read more

March 29, 2012 Akustica, Inc ., which developed the first single-chip complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) micro-electromechanical systems ( MEMS) microphone, is expanding the company’s microphone product portfolio with the addition of a new analog MEMS microphone. Read more

March 26, 2012 As more and more MEMS sensors are showing up in mobile devices, the focus of MEMS design has begun shifting from discrete MEMS components to MEMS sensor data integration. Read more

February 14, 2012 Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) has introduced the high-performance ADMP504 featuring the industry’s lowest-noise MEMS microphone. Delivering an SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) of 65-dBA, or 29-dBA EIN (equivalent input noise), the ADMP504 provides the same SNR performance as an array of two individual 62-dB SNR microphones. In addition, the ADMP504 provides an extended frequency response up to 20 kHz and a high PSR (power-supply-rejection) of 70 dBV. Read more

February 13, 2012 Integrated Device Technology, Inc. has unveiled what the company claims is the world’s first low-power, multi-output PLL clock generators using IDT’s patented Piezoelectric MEMS ( pMEMS) technology. The new devices expand IDT’s leading timing portfolio by consolidating the function of two crystal oscillators, completely eliminating the need for external crystals and oscillators. Read more

January 30, 2012 Audio Precision has released a new pulse density modulation (PDM) I/O option for its APx500 series audio analyzers. PDM is a one-bit, high clock rate data stream used with digital MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) microphones used extensively in smartphone design. The APx PDM option allows APx500 series audio analyzers to connect directly to any device with a PDM input or output, enabling comprehensive testing of audio in the fast-moving telecom industry. Read more

January 27, 2012 Researchers at Purdue University have developed a MEMS sensor that uses the low bass sounds of rap music to selectively power the device when implanted in the body. Read more

January 26, 2012 Si-Ware Systems Ltd., a fabless chip and design service company, has announced its SiMOST platform for the creation of single-chip optical systems. Read more

January 17, 2012 Baolab Microsystems SL (Barcelona, Spain) a startup pioneering the creation of microelectromechancial systems (MEMS) within the metal interconnect layers of CMOS wafers, has announced that will offer evaluation kits for its tri-axis compass by the end of February 2012. Read more

January 16, 2012 Baolab Microsystems has announced evaluation kits for its recently announced 3D NanoCompass electronic 3-axis CMOS MEMS technology. NanoEMS technology not only offers significant cost reductions in motion MEMS sensors but Baolab envisages the possibility for NanoEMS structures to be easily incorporated into ASICs for applications such as RF Antennas, RF switches, Near Field Communications and Automotive. Read more

January 9, 2012 NXP Semiconductors has developed a high-precision silicon MEMS-based frequency synthesizer that it sees competing directly with quartz crystal-based timing devices. Read more

January 9, 2012 Silicon Designs has released a ±5 g model to its 2210 series of accelerometers. The low-noise, single-axis model 2210-005 unit integrates high-quality MEMS capacitive sensing elements packaged within a lightweight anodized epoxy sealed aluminium housing. With a total footprint of just one square inch, the accelerometers feature a simple four-wire connection and internal voltage regulator to minimize supply voltage variation effects. Read more

December 9, 2011 Imec in collaboration with Holst Centre have developed a micromachined harvester for vibration energy with a record output power of 489 µW. Measurements and simulation show that the harvester is also suited for shock-induced energy harvesting in car tires, where it could power built-in sensors. Read more

December 7, 2011 Chip makers need to advance image recognition, display and MEMS technologies to deliver the next-generation of immersive gaming applications built around interactivity and augmented reality, the CTO of Playstation developer Sony Computer Entertainment told engineers on Tuesday (December 6). Read more

December 7, 2011 A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) transistor was announced by Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC) and Cornell University, giving SRC members access to on-chip timing solutions for their CMOS chips. Read more

December 1, 2011 Researchers have successfully integrated a new, highly efficient piezoelectric material into a silicon microelectromechanical system. Read more

November 29, 2011 Analog Devices, Inc is providing the company’s i MEMS technology to a first-of-its kind measurement system used in high-precision archery. ADI’s ADXL346 3-axis digital MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) accelerometer was selected by Full Flight Technology for use in the company’s flagship Velocitip Ballistic System, which is the first ever to use an arrow-mounted device to provide detailed information about arrow speed, flight dynamics and bow performance. Read more

November 25, 2011 Integrating a complex, single-crystal material with "giant" piezoelectric properties onto silicon, University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers and physicists can fabricate low-voltage, near-nanoscale electromechanical devices that could lead to improvements in high-resolution 3-D imaging, signal processing, communications, energy harvesting, sensing, and actuators for nanopositioning devices, among others. Read more

November 23, 2011 The European Union is launching a three-year, $13 million effort to develop standards for smart systems that will be coordinated by STMicroelectronics. Read more

November 16, 2011 The European Space Agency is funding a project to develop new methods for packaging and testing micro-electromechanical systems to meet performance requirements of space missions. Read more

November 8, 2011 Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) has released the third generation of the company’s i Sensor MEMS IMU (inertial measurement unit). The ADIS16488 is a tactical grade 10-degree-of-freedom (DoF) sensor and integrates a tri-axis gyroscope, tri-axis accelerometer, tri-axis magnetometer and a pressure sensor into a single package. Read more

October 24, 2011 MSC now offers the SiT9121 and SiT9122 MEMS-based differential oscillators from SiTime, featuring a high stability of up to ±10 ppm and only 500 femtoseconds of integrated RMS phase jitter. They target centralized and edge routers, SATA / SAS / Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), cloud storage systems, servers, wireless base stations and 10G Ethernet switches. Read more

October 21, 2011 STMicroelectronics has expanded the company’s sensor portfolio with a new high-performance, low-power digital MEMS microphone. Housed inside an ultra-small 3 x 4 x 1 mm package, ST’s MP34DT01 top-port microphone delivers a best-in-class audio experience in mobile phones, tablets and other smart consumer devices. Read more

October 17, 2011 Japanese passives to power supplies giant Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., has announced it has agreed to buy VTI Technologies Oy (Vantaa, Finland) for about 20 billion yen (about 190 million euro or $260 million) in cash. Read more

September 26, 2011 Aiming to help industrial equipment designers improve system performance and reduce maintenance costs through more efficient vibration detection and isolation Analog Devices, Inc., is introducing the MEMS-based ADIS16228 i Sensor vibration monitor. The fully integrated vibration analysis system features an embedded programmable processor that provides directional sensing and spectral analysis to identify and classify individual sources of vibration. Read more

September 26, 2011 Currently, more than 30 percent of knee replacement surgeries suffer from misalignment problems caused by the "fog of surgery"–where the precise orientation of internal bones is difficult to determine. By adding a complement of Analog Devices' high-precision MEMS sensors to track the alignment and motion of a patient's knee just moments before the surgery, OrthAllign Inc., (Aliso Viejo,CA) aims to up alignment success rate to 100 percent. Read more

September 22, 2011 As MEMS enters the mainstream, the high-volume markets will favor mergers and acquisitions over the next five years, as the larger player fill in the gaps of their integrated solution for OEMs, who must fuse the outputs of multiple MEMS sensors for a wider variety of applications than just tablets and phones. Read more

September 16, 2011 Armed with a new deal to integrate its MEMS sensor algorithms into Texas Instruments's ZigBee-based radio frequency for consumer electronics (RF4CE) hardware platform—RemoTI—Hillcrest Laboratories Inc., hopes to penetrate further into the fast growing markets for MEMS-based motion-control interfaces for Smart TV, streaming video, motion-based gaming and 3-D gesture control. Read more

September 15, 2011 STMicroelectronics introduced its iNEMO Engine Sensor Fusion Suite, a new family of advanced filtering and predictive software that uses sophisticated algorithms to integrate outputs from multiple MEMS sensors. Real-time on-board motion-sensor data fusion is set to dramatically improve the user experience, increasing accuracy, resolution, stability and response time in advanced motion-based applications in consumer, computer, industrial and medical fields. Read more

September 12, 2011 Lifted by the strong 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 MEMS & Sensors Special Report from information and analysis provider IHS. Read more

September 6, 2011 For automotive electronic stability control, rollover detection, and pitch detection applications, Analog Devices, Inc has introduced the ADXRS800 i MEMS gyroscope , featuring a patented differential quad-beam architecture designed to minimize the influence of linear shock and vibration. The ADXRS800 quad beam architecture provides 0.03°/sec/g of linear acceleration rejection while continuously monitoring the total electro-mechanical gyro performance. Read more

September 5, 2011 The market for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in consumer electronics and mobile communications devices is on pace for record growth in 2011, thanks to the red hot media tablet and smartphone markets, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. Read more

August 16, 2011 Silicon Designs has launched the 60 Series of highly rugged industrial-grade MEMS capacitive accelerometer chips and modules, with integral amplification. Available in eight different models and in both single axis and triaxial versions, the 60 Series features measurement ranges from 2 g to 400 g. Read more

August 4, 2011 MSC is offering the new VM-702, VM-802 and VM-822 product series of MEMS-based clock oscillators from Vectron International. The next generation devices improve the jitter performance (peak to peak period jitter <35 ps) of Vectron’s existing MEMS product base by a factor of 2. Read more

August 3, 2011 Multitest has added a new application to its MEMS test and calibration product line.  With the new application, 3D earth magnetic field sensors can be used for innovative mobile applications and state-of-the-art navigation applications without the use of a GPS. Read more

August 1, 2011 STMicroelectronics has expanded its portfolio with a new device that combines three-axis sensing of both linear and angular motion. ST's high-performance multi-sensor module with six degrees of freedom targets advanced motion-sensing applications, including remote controls, black-box recorders, and enhanced GPS systems. Read more

July 19, 2011 STMicroelectronics is to collaborate with Soundchip SA, a Swiss-based electro-acoustics consultancy and originator of the High Definition Personal Audio (HD-PA) Standard, to bring HD-PA to market by applying their respective strengths in audio system and semiconductor technology, product design and industrialization methods, audio software and sales and marketing. Read more

July 18, 2011 Maxim Integrated Products has acquired SensorDynamics, an expert company for semiconductor-based sensors targeting automotive, industrial and consumer markets. With the move, Maxim plans to open new market opportunities for inertial sensors in consumer markets, said Maxim Group Vice President Vijay Ullal. Read more

July 15, 2011 The MLX90807 and MLX90808 fully integrated, relative and absolute pressure sensor die are realized with CMOS technology combined with MEMS bulk micromachining. These monolithic solutions are both fully automotive qualified. Each consists of a silicon membrane with piezoresistors to transform the stress induced by pressure into an electrical signal. An analog signal chain interacting with a digital core, including programmable memory, allows full calibration on chip in order to achieve an optimized transfer function over the desired working pressure and temperature range. Read more

July 12, 2011 MSC is now offering the new Encore-based SiT500x family of MEMS VCTCXO (Voltage Controlled Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) from SiTime. The SiT500x family features a ±0.5 ppm and 500 femtoseconds of integrated RMS phase jitter in the range of 12 kHz to 20 MHz. Read more

July 11, 2011 Consumer electronics focused motion sensor supplier, Qualtre Inc., has announced that with their successful demonstration of the world's first tri-axial solid-state silicon BAW (bulk-acoustic wave) gyroscope, their investors have injected an additional $10M in capital. Read more

July 5, 2011 Baolab Microsystems is claiming to be the first to design a pure CMOS Lorentz force MEMS sensor and, as a result, its new 3D Digital NanoCompass matches performance benchmarks for sensitivity, power consumption and package size, but at a lower cost. An additional feature resulting from the integration is that the device auto-calibrates to maintain consistent accuracy. Read more

June 30, 2011 Analog Devices, Inc., has released the ADIS16210 MEMS i Sensor digital inclinometer system, which provides precise measurements for both pitch and roll angles over a full orientation range of ±180 degrees. The ADIS16210 integrates ADI’s i MEMS multi-axis accelerometer technology and signal processing expertise, adding addressable user registers for application tuning and programming, available over an SPI-compatible serial interface. Read more

June 27, 2011 Movea is now enabling full body gesture recognition with the company's new MEMS-based MotionPod solution for low cost, full body motion capture. The solution can be used to enable more realistic avatar motion for gaming or highly accurate biomechanical analysis for sports applications and is now available for B2B customers in the sports and entertainment markets. Read more

June 24, 2011 Melexis has launched its 3rd generation of contactless MEMs infrared temperature sensors. The high accuracy of the newest member of the MLX90614 family makes it suitable for limitless applications in automotive, medical, industrial and consumer markets. Read more

June 15, 2011 Most engineers think of MEMS devices primarily as sensors. This makes sense, because that's where the bulk of the market is, as airbag triggers in cars, pressure sensors, accelerometers, or gyroscopes. But there are many other attractive applications for MEMS technology, as I learned in a conversation with Dr. Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff and Director of the Biomedical Engineering Center at Draper Laboratory (Cambridge, MA), while at the TechConnect World Conference & Expo in Boston. Read more

June 14, 2011 Semiconductor development has long depended on high-end focused ion beam (FIB) tools to cut cross-sections that reveal details views of advanced processes down to the nanoscale. Read more

June 13, 2011 STMicroelectronics has unveiled the company's new FingerTip technology, which enables a single-chip solution for capacitive touchscreens up to 10 inches in diameter with multi-touch capability. Read more

June 3, 2011 X-FAB Silicon Foundries added ready-to-use design IP blocks for acceleration sensors to its MEMS foundry service offerings. Developed in cooperation with MicroMountains Applications and HSG-IMIT (Institute for Microtechnology and Information Technology of Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft), the new IP blocks can be incorporated into customer designs of MEMS capacitive accelerometers covering 2G, 10G and 100G ranges. Read more

May 30, 2011 Read more

May 25, 2011 MSC is now offering the new Encore-based SiT820X family of MEMS-based programmable oscillators from SiTime. The SiT820X family features a 600 fs of phase jitter in the critical range of 12 kHz to 20 MHz for SONET-applications and a continuous frequency stability of ±10 ppm from -40 to +85°C. Read more

May 12, 2011 The Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) industry body has announced that is has agreed to form an "organizational alliance" with the MEMS Industry Group trade association. Read more

May 12, 2011 The SiT380X family from SiTime is now available from MSC for different applications in telecom, networking and embedded applications. Jitters of less than 1ps, a pull range of up to ±1600 PPM and a linearity of less than 1% are the key features distinguishing the new MEMS-based voltage-controlled oscillators (VCMOs). Read more

May 9, 2011 A complete hardware solution for advanced sensing applications with 10 degrees of freedom (DoF) has been announced by STMicroelectronics. A set of three thin, high performance MEMS sensors are said to provide accurate and comprehensive information on linear, angular and magnetic motion together with altitude readings, enabling enhanced navigation and smarter user interfaces in portable devices. Read more

May 2, 2011 Apple Inc., in 2010 rose one rank to become the world's second largest buyer of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors for consumer electronics products and cell phones, as it snapped up parts for products including the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch, new IHS iSuppli research indicates. Read more

April 28, 2011 Electrical engineers from the University of Michigan claim to have invented a technique for micro-machining piezoelectric MEMS that generate 10-times more energy than conventional energy harvesters. The research team said a penny-sized piezoelectric MEMS could generate enough electricity to power medical implants in the body and wireless sensors on motor vehicles. Read more

April 15, 2011 A complete portfolio of MEMS oscillators for Tablet PC and E-Book reader designs is now available from MSC. The solutions, which are based on SiTime's SiT8003 Low Power MEMS Oscillator platform, are claimed to be approximately 30% thinner than quartz and offer up to 10 times better robustness to shock and vibration. Read more

April 12, 2011 After only four years of existence, a segment of the microelectromechanical system (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. Read more

April 11, 2011 ACAL BFi will provide specialist technical support on Silicon Sensing’s full range of products including their new class of PinPoint precision MEMS navigation and pointing gyroscopes. Read more

April 4, 2011 Ferroelectric thin films have been used for many years in Integrated Passives Devices (IPDs), Ferroelectric memories (FeRAM) and MEMS inkjet heads. Such thin films can be used for ferroelectric, piezoelectric or pyroelectric properties. Ferroelectric materials were considered as exotic materials in the past in the semiconductor domain. Read more

April 1, 2011 RM Ingénierie, a subsidiary of the CEGEDIM Group, is using Movea’s miniaturized MotionPod , Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to enable a new generation of groundbreaking joint assessment and rehabilitation applications. Read more

March 25, 2011 MEMS (Micro-electromechanical Systems) are starting to be the “Swiss Army Knives” of modern consumer electronics: they can take the form of (or be incorporated in) accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, altimeters, screens, projectors, and microphones. New data from ABI Research indicates that strong growth in the MEMS market over the next five years will result in nearly five billion MEMS being shipped during 2016. Read more

March 9, 2011 In this news analysis article EE Times Europe Analog's editor, Paul Buckley, discusses the development of the new iMEMS gyroscopes launched by Analog Devices Inc., with Wayne Meyer, ADI's Marketing & Applications Manager MEMS and Sensor Technologies Division. Read more

February 23, 2011 The inertial sensor market for consumer electronics is growing very quickly due to the fast adoption of accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers in mobile phones, tablets, game stations and laptops….Indeed, according to Laurent Robin, analyst for the MEMS & Sensors market at Yole Développement, 20.3% annual growth is expected from $847M in 2009 to reach $2.56B in 2015. Read more

February 11, 2011 STMicroelectronics and bTendo Ltd. have signed a development and license agreement to jointly develop the world’s smallest Pico Projector for smart phones and other portable consumer-electronics devices. The solution is based on bTendo’s innovative Scanning Laser Projection engine technology and ST’s leading MEMS (Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems) expertise, video processing know-how and semiconductor process technology. Read more

February 10, 2011 STMicroelectronics NV retained its position as the No. 1 supplier of micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chips in 2010, while TriQuint Semiconductor cracked the top 10 among MEMS chip vendors for the first time, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. Read more

February 8, 2011 A range of MEMS-based OCXO, TCXO and VCXO products for networking, telecommunications, wireless and storage applications is now available from MSC. The "Encore" silicon MEMS timing platform offers frequency stability of ±0.5 PPM and 650 femtoseconds of integrated RMS random phase jitter, measured over 12 kHz to 20 MHz. Read more

February 4, 2011 STMicroelectronics has unveiled an audio processing chip that connects directly to the latest miniature microphones and provides a new way of boosting performance from small, low-cost, or even damaged speakers. The device allows customers to deliver market-leading miniaturized audio products offering outstanding sound quality. Read more

February 3, 2011 Analog/Mixed Signal foundry X-Fab acquires a stake of 25.5 percent of MEMS Foundry Itzehoe (MFI). With the move, X-Fab intends to strengthen its technology base in several MEMS production segments. Read more

February 1, 2011 Coventor and the nanoelectronics research center imec have announced a strategic partnership to improve and expand the use of advanced design and manufacturing techniques for the development of CMOS integrated MEMS. The partnership includes strategic alignment on R&D roadmaps and collaboration on advanced research topics. Read more

January 27, 2011 With the iPhone 4 paving the way, global demand for microelectromechanical system (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. Read more

January 21, 2011 Foundry chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp. has started producing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor products for customers and has volume production scheduled for later this year. The achievement follows three years of MEMS technology development. UMC said. Read more

January 14, 2011 MSC is offering the new SiT8004 MEMS oscillator in the 125 MHz to 150 MHz frequency range from SiTime. Power consumption for the device is 6.5 mA typical with a 1.2 µA ultra low standby current. Read more

December 23, 2010 Divestment of the Sound Solutions business marks a key step in NXP’s strategy to improve its capital structure and focus on High Performance Mixed Signal business growth Read more

December 22, 2010 So it is that time of year when you want to put your feet up after digging your car out of the snowdrift. While you are waiting for your Xmas turkey or nut cutlet to defrost you can pass the time by taking a peek at EE Times Europe Analog's Top 10 most popular news stories of 2010.  The results are based on the news stories that were accessed by EE Times Europe Analog's readership since January 1, 2010. Read more

December 21, 2010 GlobalFoundries Inc. is making a big push in the MEMS foundry business. The Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, and GlobalFoundries are teaming up to develop a MEMS-based capacitive sensor platform technology. Read more

December 15, 2010 Shipments of MEMS microphones are set to grow nearly 58 percent in 2010, thanks largely to their inclusion in Apple Inc.'s iPhone 4, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp. Read more

December 13, 2010 Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) moved closer to enabling quantum computing with university researchers demonstrating that micro-mirrors can read and write qubits encoded on clouds of ultra-cold atoms suspended in a transparent media. Read more

December 1, 2010 MEMS-based silicon timing solutions provider, SiTime Corporation, has introduced the first MEMS resonator for real time clock and time-keeping applications. The SiT1052 can be cost-effectively integrated inside a plastic package, eliminating all external time-keeping components from an electronic system. Read more

November 29, 2010 IQD has announced the immediate availability of a newly developed high frequency MEMS Oscillator. The IQMS-900 series MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) oscillator is available in an exceptionally wide frequency range from 1 MHz up to 800 MHz. The model can be factory programmed with either a LVDS (low voltage differential source) or LVPECL (low voltage positive emitter coupled logic) output. Read more

November 25, 2010 Driven by the sharp rebound in the automotive production and inventory rebuilding, the market for automotive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors will grow to record size in 2010, according to market research firm iSuppli. Read more

November 25, 2010 STMicroelectronics has shipped its one billionth MEMS sensor. ST’s micro-machined accelerometers and gyroscopes have enabled motion-activated user interfaces in a number of consumer devices, such as game consoles, smart phones and remotes. Read more

November 24, 2010 With the SMP13x model series, automotive supplier Bosch for the first time offers integrated medium-pressure sensors for the automotive sector. The MEMS-based sensor features hermetic sealing and high media resistance. Read more

November 23, 2010 The MEV-50C-R MEMS rate sensor from Murata supports accurate dead-reckoning performance for car navigation devices, but is also aimed at GPS modules, satellite antennas and other applications such as toys. Temperature drift across the entire operating range, -40 to 85ºC, is just 0.6 degree/s, which means there is no need to adjust for temperature drift in software. Read more

November 15, 2010 Omron Corp. is expanding from its traditional medical and industrial markets for micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chips into mobile consumer devices and green energy. By repurposing its pressure sensors, radio-frequency switches and thermal infrared sensing arrays for these new markets, Omron hopes to gain design wins in smartphones, navigation and building automation. Read more

November 9, 2010 Analog Devices, Inc., is aiming to help industrial equipment designers improve system performance and maintenance costs through vibration detection/isolation/correction with the release of the new ADIS16227 iSensor vibration monitor. Read more

November 8, 2010 The dual-axis SMA560 model for airbag control units marks Bosch's entry into the fifth generation of micro-mechanical acceleration sensors. As opposed to sensors of the previous generation, this new model, in its SOIC8 housing, combines space savings of more than 40 percent while at the same time offering a broader functional range. Read more

November 8, 2010 Hewlett Packard is actively pursuing "sensing as a service" in future applications of its micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) expertise, according to an HP business strategist. Read more

November 4, 2010 STMicroelectronics and Omron have collaborated to provide a complete solution for electronic gas meter flow sensors. The flow sensor they have developed is a key component for the smart turn-key gas meter solution that ST is developing. Read more

October 29, 2010 STMicroelectronics has expanded its sensor portfolio with an automotive-grade three-axis low-g accelerometer. Combining low power consumption and small footprint with high precision and robust performance, the device targets a wide range of automotive applications, including vehicle tracking, event recording, abuse monitoring, and dead-reckoning for enhanced navigation capabilities. Read more

October 29, 2010 As the use of motion sensors in various consumer electronic devices is expanding quickly, the industry competitive landscape is significantly changing. In particular concerning MEMS gyroscopes. The battle to introduce the 3-axis gyroscopes on smartphones has just started, but the major market for MEMS gyroscopes is still gaming. In a $418M consumer gyroscope market in 2010, gaming represents a market segment of $162M according to Yole Développement. Read more

October 27, 2010 Wolfson Microelectronics plc has introduced the WM8958 audio hub solution, which is designed to enable high definition (HD) audio in portable multimedia applications, such as  smartphones, tablet computers, eBooks and navigation devices. Read more

October 27, 2010 MSC Vertriebs GmbH is offering SiTime's MEMS-based silicon timing solutions. The programmable MEMS oscillators are being implemented by Xilinx on its evaluation kits. Xilinx use SiTime's SiT9102 programmable, high performance differential oscillator, as well as multiple flavors of the SiT8102 programmable, high performance oscillator on these evaluation kits.   Read more

October 13, 2010 MSC Vertriebs GmbH is making available what the company is claiming to be the industry's first kHz frequency silicon MEMS oscillator. Si Time manufactures the oscillator for audio, microcontroller and high reliability industrial applications. Read more

October 12, 2010 Silicon Laboratories Inc., has acquired Ireland-based ChipSensors Limited, an early stage technology company creating innovative single-chip CMOS sensors designed to detect temperature, humidity and gases. ChipSensors' technology complements Silicon Labs' touch, proximity sensing and recently acquired MEMS technology, expanding the company's capabilities in CMOS-based sensors. Read more

September 22, 2010 MSC Vertriebs GmbH is making available Si Time's SiT8503, which is claimed to be the industry’s first kHz frequency silicon MEMS oscillator of the for audio, microcontroller and high reliability industrial applications. Read more

September 3, 2010 MEMS startup Microstaq Inc. is pioneering promising new markets, using its micro-valve as a pilot to control the large flows necessary to tackle the lucrative heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) markets—valued at over $60 billion worldwide by market research firm The Freedonia Group—with MEMS-control of automotive transmissions on the horizon. Read more

September 2, 2010 Following in the footsteps of TSMC, UMC and others, GlobalFoundries Inc. is making a big push in the MEMS foundry business. GlobalFoundries' MEMS roots can be traced backed to Singapore's Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Pte., a foundry vendor that was acquired by Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Investment Co. (ATIC) last year. ATIC and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. are the investors in GlobalFoundries. Read more

September 1, 2010 Help may be on the way for iPhone 4 users frustrated by dropped calls with the arrival of Radio Frequency Microelectromechanical Systems (RF MEMS), semiconductors that can improve the performance of antennas in cell phones, according to the market research firm iSuppli Corp. Read more

September 1, 2010 WiSpry has signed an agreement with NTT DOCOMO to jointly develop tunable filters for mobile phone applications based on WiSpry's RF-MEMS technology. Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will work together and draw on each other's expertise to design and develop new and enhanced tunable filters. WiSpry will supply tunable RF-MEMS technology, and DOCOMO will provide system and application technology. This project is expected to provide tunable filters for use in mobile phone platforms. Read more

August 31, 2010 MEMS RF filters will be designed with NTT DoCoMo Inc. for its popular mobile phone network in Japan in a joint development agreement with WiSpry Inc. Both companies will pursue MEMS tunable filters to improve reception and mitigate dropped calls, thereby increasing performance and expanding capacity on NTT's mobile networks. Read more

August 17, 2010 Hewlett-Packard has developed a sensor platform that taps its experience as the largest supplier of the tiny mechanical structures in inkjet printheads. HP claims its MEMS process technology enables sensors a thousand times more sensitive than the models in use today, which were designed to trigger airbags during the violent motion of an automobile accident. Read more

August 17, 2010 The micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chip market is booming along with the high-profile consumer electronics devices using them, propelling a $1.5 billion MEMS chip market in 2010, according to market forecaster iSuppli Corp. Read more

July 14, 2010 Propelled by strong sales of mobile handsets, gaming controllers, digital cameras and other consumer electronics devices, the micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) market will return to double-digit growth in 2010 after two years of decline, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp. Read more

July 13, 2010 The world's highest performance programmable oscillator with sub-picoseconds phase jitter and ultra low frequency tolerance of ±10 ppm is now available from MSC Vertriebs GmbH. Read more

July 12, 2010 Fabless RF chip supplier WiSpry Inc. has been chosen to supply a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) process for tunable RF front ends that Infineon AG will cast into chips sets that work with smart antennas designed by Molex and Denmark's Aalborg University as part of the $8 million Smart Antenna Front End (SAFE) project. Read more

July 6, 2010 Global shipments of automotive MEMS sensors will reach 591.2 million units in 2010, up 17.8 percent from 502.0 million, according to a forecast by market research firm iSuppli Corp. Read more

June 22, 2010 A 3D-IC MPW service based on Tezzaron's SuperContact technology and GLOBALFOUNDRIES 130nm CMOS is to be offered by a partnership formed between Grenoble-based broker in ICs and MEMS for prototyping and low volume production, CMP, and CMC Microsystems, a non-profit organization that supports microelectronics and microsystems R&D in Canada, and California-based MOSIS that provides fabrication services to designers of advanced integrated circuits (ICs). Read more

June 22, 2010 Freescale Semiconductor Inc.'s new Xtrinsic family of smart MEMS sensors combine a 32-bit ColdFire microcontroller with on-chip algorithms for all the common operations like tap, touch, tilt and orientation, thereby streamlining designs and offloading the application processor. Read more

June 9, 2010 To help industrial equipment manufacturers more easily implement stabilization, navigation, and control features within their industrial system designs Analog Devices, Inc., is adding two highly integrated and precise MEMS inertial sensors to its product line of iSensor motion sensor products. Read more

June 8, 2010 Apple Inc.'s iPhone 4, unveiled by the company Monday (June 7), is the world's first smart phone to sport a MEMS gyroscope, confirming earlier speculation. Read more

June 3, 2010 Hewlett-Packard Co. continued to dominate the MEMS sensor market in 2009, leading all semiconductor IDM and fabless firms with $877 million in MEMS revenue, according to market research firm iSuppli Corp. The top four players in MEMS in terms of revenue remained unchanged from 2008 to 2009, though most saw MEMS revenue decline in the turbulent year, according to iSuppli. Read more

May 26, 2010 French based MEMS technology consulting business, Yole Developpement, has published a market analysis report that forecasts the MEMS-based timing market will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 80 percent from 2010 to 2015. Read more

May 26, 2010 Analog Devices, Inc., is furnishing its high performance iMEMS gyroscope technology for a new aircraft flight safety and training tool developed by Appareo Systems, a Fargo, North Dakota, company that makes light weight flight data recorders and award winning 3-D flight analysis software. Read more

May 4, 2010 Wolfson Microelectronics plc is planning to introduce a new family of digital silicon micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphones. Read more

April 30, 2010 Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT) has entered the all-silicon oscillator market with a line of CMOS oscillators that obsolete the ubiquitous quartz crystal that maintains a time base in most electronic devices today, but without having to resort to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Read more

April 28, 2010 Silicon Laboratories Inc., has acquired Silicon Valley-based Silicon Clocks, an early stage company creating innovative microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology. Read more

March 24, 2010 STMicroelectronics announced it will develop and supply a wireless MEMS sensor that acts as a transducer, antenna and mechanical support for additional read-out electronics in a breakthrough platform developed by Swiss company Sensimed AG. This solution will enable better management of glaucoma patients via earlier diagnosis and treatment that is optimally tailored to the individual patient. Read more