John, Barry and thread, One technology which greatly fascinates me, is something called MEMS. I have collected a a hodgepodge of information related to it in case your interested. I can think of no better place on SI to store it. It's also handy to have a one stop place off of my hardrive. :-)
What is MEMS?
Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) is the acronym for a burgeoning new technology that holds great promise for the development of new devices for the communications and sensor industries. With this technology, moving structures are fabricated onto silicon chips along with, in many cases, supporting electronics. These moving structures might include 1 mm motors, optical elements, gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc...
How big is the potential market.
analog.com
MEMS Links:
Industry information: techweb.com
This is the web site for CMP publications. Both the
EE Times and Electronic Buyers News cover the MEMS markets.
Technical information: mems.isi.edu
This is a MEMS clearinghouse that has links to all
kinds of MEMS-related web sites.
How many players are looking at the market.
biz.yahoo.com
Interesting articles...
Sensors: The Next Wave of Infotech Innovation
iftf.org
NASA Plans MEMS-Based Mars Probes
"Micro-scoping Space", By Chappell Brown, EE-Times (10/30/97)
techweb.com
Multi-Purpose Accelerometer Measures Low g Forces with 0.005g Resolution [ADXL05]" (5/1/95) analog.com
"Analog
Analog Devices Dedicates New FAB to Micromachined Products -- Analog Devices dedicates a new MEMs fab to its widely accepted auto airbag crash sensors and to further development of its proprietary micromachining technology."(2/14/96) analog.com
MEMS could hold key to cell-phone-on-a-chip --
Darpa sows seeds of a telecom revolution"
By Stephan Ohr, EE Times, 8/4/97
techweb.com
DARPA MEMS project summaries: web-ext2.darpa.mil
'Microbridges' at heart of new MEMS displays (4/28/97)
techweb.com
Two-stage magnification combined in low-profile device --
Mini-display integrates refined optics (6/23/97)
techweb.com
Startup bets on common but proven technology, as established players struggle to ramp exotic approaches -- Growing pains beset miniature-display industry (8/11/97)
techweb.com
Project enlists MEMS techniques to shrink Stirling engine -- Micro heat engine cools hot processors; EE-Times 9/29/97; By Chappell Brown
Athens, Ohio - Engineers at Sun Power Inc. are engaged in an ambitious
micromachine research effort that aims to shrink cooling technology to the chip level.
If the project achieves its goal, a standard CMOS IC process could be used to fabricate a Stirling cycle heat engine on a microprocessor, promising a novel cooling method for electronics. The techniques could also be used to build high-temperature superconductor chips that could be packaged in the same way as any other room-temperature circuit.
see: techweb.com
A host of consumer-electronics devices and a standard bus may meet in tomorrow's automotive cockpit -- Calling all cars: convergence on the dashboard" (EE-Times, 9/29/97) techweb.com
"Intel Connected Car PC Technology Demonstrated At World's Largest Automotive Show" (9/9/97) intel.com
Electromagnetic insulators offer new design options --
Novel substrates scale RF integration (EE-Times 9/27/97)
techweb.com
Mems small cap stock suggestions:
1) BEIQ-mems sensors;gyro chips 2) IRSN-microsensors:miniaturized electro-optical systems 3) JMAR-micro machining 4) PTIS-equipment to manufacture mems 5) BEI Electronics
"MEMS" patents.
patent.womplex.ibm.com
Regards, Michael |
