Contrary to what was posted before about MEMS and ADI....
It would seem that they are planning to make a strong push into this arena. My apologies if this was posted before.
Tom C.
Electronic Buyers' News
March 16, 1998
ADI bets on MEMS splash -- New surface-micromachined devices are
geared toward consumer applications
By: Susan Scheck
Analog Devices Inc. isn't playing games when it predicts that its
accelerometers based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to make a splash
in high-volume applications in the consumer, industrial, automobile, and
seismic-monitoring markets.
Analog Devices has applied its experience in MEMS accelerometers - a
technology commonly applied to airbags - to its new low-gravity, low-voltage,
single-beam accelerometer.
The ADXL202 is a low-power (250 microamps per axis), two-axis accelerometer
with a digital output on a single chip. The device's digital output enables
signals to pass from the accelerometer to an 8-bit microcontroller without an
A/D converter, with savings of about 40 cents to 50 cents per microcontroller,
Doscher said.
"Using this product, a player will be able to move a game pad in the air to
make movements in the game," said James Doscher, marketing manager at Analog
Devices' Micromachined Products Division, Cambridge, Mass. "It's significant
in the industry."
Visions of MEMS accelerometers in virtual-reality-type head sets, while a
real hope, have so far been an "interesting curiosity," said Jerry Curtis, vice
president and general manager of Motorola Inc.'s Sensor Products Division,
Phoenix. "But I think the technology is really so new that people are
discovering uses for MEMS accelerometers everyday."
Motorola, the only other large manufacturer of surface-micromachined
products, is sampling a two-axis MEMS accelerometer.
Analog Devices is the only company that combines surface-micromachined
sensors and signal conditioning on one chip, Doscher said.
The chip maker expects to derive a substantial portion of its future revenue
from the devices.
" Analog Devices dominates the market in airbags; they have the greatest
experience and know the market better than anyone else," said Will Strauss,
principal at Forward Concepts Co., Scottsdale, Ariz. Airbag accelerometers now
ship in the millions of units, and by 2000, 3.6 million cars will have
vehicle-navigation systems, he said.
Using micromachining, which involves the manufacture of tiny moving
mechanical structures, the industry has been able to build motors smaller than
the head of a pin. These small structures are made using standard semiconductor
processes.
During the next five years, Analog Devices plans to focus heavily on
surface micromachining, which enables MEMS accelerometers to be produced
inexpensively, Doscher said.
Another technique, bulk micromachining, provides higher performance and
greater precision than surface micromachining, said James Knutti, vice president
and general manager at the Silicon Microstructures Division of Exar Corp.,
Fremont, Calif. "Right now, surface-micromachined parts do have some cost
advantages, but we see a way of getting our costs down," Knutti said. "We agree
with Analog that a tremendous market opportunity is there for MEMS
accelerometers ."
The key to surface micromachining is commercializing it and making it a
production-worthy process, Knutti said. Surface micromachining takes many more
process steps than bulk micromachining, he said.
A handful of companies make IC-based MEMS accelerometers for the captive
market. Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, uses MEMS technology in its Digital
Light Processing efforts.
The ADXL202 is housed in a Cerpak, a 14-pin ceramic surface-mount package. It
is $9.95 in 10,000s.
Production volume is scheduled for the end of this month, and 100,000
units/month are expected to be shipped by the end of April, Doscher said.
The parts will be available through all Analog Devices distributors.
---
MEMS Accelerometers Gain Ground
- The number of axes and use of gyros, which sense movement in any direction,
is increasing. Control and monitoring circuitry is growing in sophistication.
- Integration of sensors with other electronic components enables the
development of total system solutions. Competition is on system-design level
rather than component level.
- Higher volumes are driving down price.
- Surface micromachining offers cost advantages compared with bulk
micromachining techniques, which provide better performance and precision. |
