January 22, 2013 The influential iPhone from Apple has helped spark the market for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones to new heights, causing MEMS microphone shipments to nearly quintuple in just three short years. Read more

January 21, 2013 DelfMEMS, a developer of MEMS-based switches for RF applications, has raised 8.2 million euro (about $10.5 million) in a venture capital funding round and announced the appointment of Guillaume d'Eyssautier as CEO. 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

November 21, 2012 At electronica, Xsens and STMicroelectronics have demonstrated what they claim to be the world's first wearable wireless 3D body motion tracking system based on consumer-grade MEMS combo sensors. 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 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

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

August 10, 2012 ST has launched its smallest MEMS gyroscope, opening up new motion-sensing applications. The L3GD20H 3-axis sensor measures only 3- x 3-mm and 1-mm high, occupying little over half the volume of its predecessor, yet offering better resolution, higher accuracy, superior stability and faster response time. Read more

August 7, 2012 Following a two-year joint development of smartphone projection display with start-up bTendo Ltd. (Kfar Saba, Israel), STMicroelectronics NV has acquired the intellectual property and has hired most of the staff of the company. Read more

July 17, 2012 STMicroelectronics has launched a miniature 6-axis MEMS sensor with custom programmable motion-recognition capabilities. 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 6, 2012 GPS/GNSS is now moving beyond cellular and traditional navigation markets, representing a market worth over $3.3 billion in 2016, according to ABI Research. Read more

June 5, 2012 The ADXL362 from Analog Devices is an ultra-low power 3-axis MEMS accelerometer that consumes 2 µA at a 100 Hz output data rate, and only 300 nA 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 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 10, 2012 Integrated Device Technology has unveiled what the company claims is the first CrystalFree piezoelectric MEMS (pMEMS) LVDS/LVPECL oscillators for high-performance communications, consumer, cloud, and industrial applications. Read more

May 8, 2012 Baolab Microsystems is planning to modify the structures that it designed for the company’s 3D NanoCompass to build a range of other motion sensors to create low cost, smart, reconfigurable Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Read more

April 4, 2012 In its new report “MEMS Packaging”, Yole Développement analyzed the packaging, assembly and 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 is entering the mobile device market with its first analog microphone, a low-cost two-chip solution that it hopes will widen its market share. Read more

February 23, 2012 Movea has announced its MotionCore product line: a family of motion processing IP cores designed for mobile devices. MotionCore architectures are optimized for motion sensing and data fusion applications and run implementations of Movea's proprietary SmartMotion® algorithms. For sensor-enabled mobile devices, MotionCore delivers increased performance with dramatically reduced power consumption at a significantly lower cost than software only solutions. Read more

February 13, 2012 Integrated Device Technology 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 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 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 10, 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

December 8, 2011 A MEMS chip can harvest energy from vibrations inside car tires allowing a tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to run battery-free, according to Belgian research institute IMEC. The new MEMS energy harvester technology from IMEC, which can be used to power any low-current wireless sensor node, was reported Wednesday at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting in Washington. Read more

December 7, 2011 A team of researchers from the University of California Berkeley has a paper at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) that describes how to use an inkjet printer to print microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches and proposes their use for flexible display backplanes. 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

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 The Heterogeneous Technology Alliance (HTA), a team of leading European technology institutes including CEA-Leti, CEA-Liten, CSEM, Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics and VTT, is developing new methods for packaging and testing microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices to meet performance requirements of space missions. 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 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

September 1, 2011 With a focus on consumer electronics, Hillcrest Labs has released a revised, modular version of its enabling technology which it hopes will enable OEMs to more easily integrate a motion-based user interface to high volume consumer products such as TVs and other media devices. It builds on the company’s core competence by making the technology more accessible. 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

July 19, 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 13, 2011 CEA-Leti announced that its RF MEMS switch technology has reached a new level of maturity, allowing it to provide customers with a significantly improved manufacturing process. A major advance has been achieved in the reliability of the devices' electrostatic actuators. CEA-Leti’s new switch design uses a dielectric-less solution in which an air gap prevents contact between the electrodes when the bridge is down, thanks to small dielectric dots placed under the mobile electrode. As a result, long-term tests show a drastic improvement in reliability and no pull-down voltage drift has been observed during the tests. Read more

July 12, 2011 With 500 million hours MTBF, MEMS offer 10 times better reliability than comparable quartz oscillators, says MSC. It now offers the Encore-based SiT500x family of MEMS VCTCXO (Voltage Controlled Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) from SiTime, which also features ±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 Until now, 3D compasses have typically used non-standard technologies such as magneto-resistive materials or Hall-effect structures combined with magnetic field concentrators to detect the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. Read more

June 8, 2011 Embedded MEMS developer Cavendish Kinetics Ltd., has closed a financing round of $10 million and added Qualcomm Inc., to the current investor group. Also participating in the round were Tallwood Venture Capital, Wellington Partners Venture Capital and several other current investors. Read more

May 25, 2011 MSC is now offering the latest 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 1 ps, 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

April 27, 2011 Combining superior sound quality with robustness and reliability at reduced size and cost, the MP34DB01 and MP45DT02 digital MEMS microphones from STMicroelectronics enable enhanced audio experience in mobile phones and portable computers, as well as in many other existing and emerging applications with a voice input. 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

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 Inc. cracked the top 10 among MEMS chip vendors for the first time, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. 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 24, 2011 STMicroelectronics and Bluechiip Limited have announced that they will partner to manufacture unique micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based tracking tags initially aimed at healthcare markets. Because the Bluechiip tracking tag is a mechanical device rather than an electronic one, it can survive in temperature extremes and is immune gamma irradiation. 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 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 17, 2010 The silicon chips and other components that go into cell phones are set to make up an almost $50 billion market in 2010 and it is expected to reach a size of $71 billion in 2014, according to market research firm Forward Concepts. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 9.5 percent over the period 2010 to 2014. 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

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 21, 2010 At the event, look for papers on 3-D chips, carbon nanotubes, FinFETs, MEMS, NAND and other topics. The event will be held in San Francisco from Dec. 6-8. Here's a sample of the papers: On the logic side, TSMC will unveil a 22-/20-nm CMOS technology. It features FinFET transistor architectures, 193-nm immersion lithography, SiGe stressors, metal gates and high-k dielectrics. Read more

September 17, 2010 The Global Semiconductor Alliance has launched initiatives in 3-D silicon and MEMS and plans to expand in Japan. The 3-D chip initiative is especially significant because the GSA aims to help accelerate adoption of the technology said to be a potential game changer, but one that faces many steep challenges. 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. 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

May 4, 2010 Wolfson Microelectronics has confirmed that it will introduce its new family of digital silicon micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphones. Read more

March 25, 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

March 8, 2010 TDK-EPC, a group company of TDK Corporation, claims to offer the smallest commercially available MEMS microphone with an integrated digital interface. Read more