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Microelectromechanical Systems Reveals Technical Insights (October 8)
[10.16.2001 | ]
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) has been working to unite silicon-based microelectronics and micromachining technology, making possible the production of the complete system-on-a-chip. Although this has been a slow process, according to Technical Insights, a business unit of Frost & Sullivan, MEMS technology has finally entered a growth phase and is expected to quadruple by 2004.
MEMS are micron-sized devices, most with moving parts, which can sense or manipulate the physical environment. These chip-level devices are created using micromachining processing steps derived from basic silicon manufacturing techniques developed by the microelectronics industry. Microelectromechanical systems can be used in many settings where low cost, size, and weight plus reliability are required.
The telecommunications segment is expected to increase by more than 30 percent of the total MEMS market in 2005. In this segment, photonic switches, tunable lasers, and optical networking filters are the most promising MEMS products. At this time, a large array of MEMS products are moving into production, and will impact a range of industries during the next few years.
Next-generation products include mirror arrays for use in photonic switches, projection systems, and wearable displays; cellular telephones, relays and biochips. MEMS sensors measure the environment without modifying it, while actuators provide or manage some type of action, often in response to a sensor output.
According to Technical Insights, sensor sales currently lead the market, but actuator sales will far outpace them by 2005. Actuators cost much more than sensors. Despite the venture capital crunch and recent high-technology market slowdown, investors have remained supportive of MEMS start-ups.
Technical Insights is an international technology research business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and reports. The ongoing research on microelectromechanical systems is covered in Inside R&D, a Technical Insights Subscription Service and in U.S. Microelectromechanical Systems and The European Microsystems Market, Frost & Sullivan market analysis reports.
http://www.technical-insights.frost.com
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