STMicroelectronics has declared holding on to its top position in the development of motion sensing chips for applications in smart consumer products.
The company launched more than 30 gyroscopes post-2008, and sales increasing 30% in 2010. Its accelerometers and gyroscopes have been widely used in motion-activated user interfaces including game consoles, smart phones and remotes. Its acceleration sensors are being used in computers to protect against free-fall in laptop hard-disk drives.
The company recently crossed the one billionth MEMS landmark. Its 8inch fabrication line currently manufactures more than 1.5 million devices each day. The MEMS consumer market has grown 27% during 2010 to USD 1.6 billion. It is expected that this growth will be maintained during the current fiscal year. Consumer products and applications using this technology are increasingly in demand. These areas are expected to dominate the market by the year 2014.
According to Benedetto Vigna, group vice president and general manager of MEMS, sensors and high performance analog division at STMicroelectronics, the MEMS technology is being used to trim, tilt and tap devices across the globe. Customers prefer the compact, precise and cost effective motion sensors, integrated with product design, application expertise and infrastructure investments offered by the company.
In its endeavor to increase its application in more products across the globe, the company recently increased its MEMS portfolio with a range of microphones and pressure sensors. Microphones facilitate compact, thin and light weight designs for mobile phones and similar portable products featuring better directionality, noise sensitivity and fidelity. The micro-machined pressure sensors will ensure that consumer products can measure atmospheric pressure while mapping their exact location in all three dimensions.
Source: http://www.st.com