MEMS, Microfluidics and Microsystems Executive Review

MEMS packaging: history and current trends

MEMS packaging has traditionally been especially challenging because nearly every process and device require a unique approach.  We recently spoke with Dr. Ken Gilleo, President of ET-Trends, a consulting and intellectual property firm focused on emerging technologies and device packaging.

Active OLEDs close in on mobile phone market

by Olivier Nowak, Wicht Technologie Consulting

After years spent playing catch up with LCDs, organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays seem to be finally closing the distance. The first mobile phone sporting an OLED main display - the BenQSiemens S88 - was introduced earlier this year. It includes a 2.2-inch, 176 × 220 full-colour active matrix OLED (AMOLED) screen from AU Optronics and several major display manufacturers (Samsung SDI, CMEL, and TPO Displays) have now signalled their intentions to offer AMOLED displays by the end of the year, targeting the mobile phone market, and marking a turning point for OLEDS.

Philips launches Liquavista to commercialize MEMS displays

Liquavista, a start up with electrowetting MEMS technology from Philips, announced this past April that it has received its first venture capital round from New Venture Partners (NVP).  The company is going after the lucrative mobile device display market.

As with Qualcomm's  MEMS display technology, Liquavista's approach also promises to yield brighter and less power hungry displays which can maintain high contrast indoors as well as outdoors.  Although their technological approaches are somewhat different, both Qualcomm and Liquavista are targeting this multi-billion dollar market opportunity.  We recently spoke with Liquavista's CEO Mark Gostick.

MEMS and university tech transfer

Kionix was founded in 1993 to commercialize MEMS technology and intellectual property from Cornell University.  We recently spoke with Dr. Greg Galvin, founder and CEO of the company, about his experiences with MEMS tech transfer, acquisitions, as well as Kionix' current status and future plans.

Nanochip's MEMS based memory

In April of this year Nanochip reported a new venture capital round of $10 million with Intel as the leading investor.  Nanochip is developing a new class of ultra-high-capacity MEMS-based storage chips. 

These new chips - with bit-densities enabling the storage of tens of gigabytes per chip or the equivalent of many high-definition feature-length videos - use a nano-probe array technology that can potentially go far beyond the expected limits of conventional lithography used in present semiconductor memory chips.  We recently spoke with Dr. Gordon Knight, the CEO of the company.

Fidelica's MEMS based fingerprint sensors

Fidelica Microsystems is a start up company with MEMS based technology for fingerprint sensor applications.  We recently spoke with Dr. S K Ganapathi, the founder and CEO of the company, about Fidelica's latest progress and market outlook for its fingerprint sensors.

MEMS in Europe: A perspective from TRONIC'S Microsystems

TRONIC'S Microsystems was founded in 1997 as a spin-off from LETI.  The company has enjoyed impressive growth and is one of the leading MEMS foundries in the world.  We recently spoke with TRONIC'S CEO Peter Pfluger about the interesting start ups they are seeing in Europe, the new Minatec MEMS and nanotechnology center as well as other interesting insights and trends in the MEMS industry.

Why so much difference between the MEMS market forecasts?

by Dr. Henning Wicht, Wicht Technologie Consulting

This question came up time and again— and several times at Semicon Europa this April.  We had presented the figures for MST/MEMS of the NEXUS  study which Wicht Technologie Consulting (WTC) coordinated and Yole Development presented its figures for MEMS.   Shortly thereafter InStat released a new MEMS market report.

Inertial MEMS sensors for consumer applications

by Richard Dixon and Jérémie Bouchaud, Wicht Technologie Consulting

The market for MEMS  inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) is set to grow from $835 million in 2004 to over $1360 million in 2009 — a CAGR of 10%.  Currently, the main applications are in the automotive industry.  These markets are well established and growth rates range from a stagnant 1% for airbag acceleration sensors up to 8% for gyroscopes used in ESP units and GPS navigation assistance.

Much more exciting for MEMS  inertial sensors is the market opportunity for mobile applications and consumer electronics (see table). Over the next few years, we predict annual growth rates exceeding 30% for accelerometers.  Mobile phones in particular will provide multi-axis accelerometers with interesting opportunities in menu navigation, gaming, image rotation, pedo-meters, GPS navigation and the like. Gyroscopes are largely servicing markets for image stabilization  and HDD protection in camcorders.

Interview with IMT’s CEO John Foster

Based in Santa Barbara, Innovative Micro Technology (IMT) is one of the leading MEMS foundries.  We recently spoke with John Foster, the CEO of the company.  In the interview, he talks about his company’s recent projects as well as some general trends in the MEMS industry.