STMicroelectronics Tops Five Billion MEMS Sensors Shipped

STMicroelectronics, the world’s top MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) manufacturer and the leading supplier of MEMS for consumer and mobile applications, announced it has shipped five billion MEMS sensors. This achievement confirms ST’s continued position as the industry leader and, combined with its total of more than three billion micro-actuators shipped, demonstrates ST is the only company with the expertise to cover the full range of micro-machined silicon devices.

Beyond gaming systems, smartphones, tablets, navigation systems, and other widely adopted applications, ST’s sensors have also been used in thousands of other useful, fun, and valuable applications including weather stations, bicycle helmets, smart and sport watches and other sporting goods as well as a host of automotive and Internet-of-Things products.

In addition, engineers have designed ST sensors into an amazing range of applications, including physiotherapy monitoring devices that monitor and help correct exercise movements; input devices that perform complex gesture recognition, including signature detection; safety products that prevent runaway child strollers and baby carriages; and snake-like robots for subaqueous environments, in design contests held around the world.

“The excitement around the Internet of Things and wearable applications combines with the added value of sensors and micro-actuators to create an ever-expanding number of applications that will drive this market’s continued strong growth,” said Jérémie Bouchaud, director and senior principal analyst for MEMS and Sensors at IHS Inc., an independent provider of business information and analytics. “ST’s broad range of sensors and micro-actuators clearly positions it as the company with the most comprehensive portfolio.”

Leveraging ST’s robust design technologies and expertise, along with high-quality manufacturing enables ST’s sensors and micro-actuators to also be used in automotive, healthcare, and wellness applications, where reliability is critical. The company’s micro-actuators enable inkjet printing, auto-focus in digital cameras, and image projection in ultra-mobile projectors.

“We have barely scratched the surface of the valuable role sensors and micro-actuators will play in improving the quality of our lives at home, at work and at play by making us safer and products easier to use,” said Benedetto Vigna, ST executive vice president and general manager of the Analog, MEMS & Sensors Group.

With almost 1,000 MEMS-related patent families and close customer relationships with many of the markets’ top companies, ST is at the forefront of MEMS technology development.