MEMS microphones in the spotlight

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 4, 2006

Electronica 2006 will spotlight the development of MEMS microphones and other applications for microelectromechanical systems.

Anyone who has tried to make a cellphone call at a train station knows the problem: announcements over the PA system and the sound of incoming trains make it nearly impossible for the person on the other end of the line to hear clearly what is being said.

The breakthrough with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology in electroacoustics is eliminating misunderstandings: MEMS microphones can be precisely aimed at the voice source, and they filter out unwanted background noise - which is ideal for those who use PDAs with speech recognition, notebooks with IP-telephony or digital cameras with audio recording capabilities.

Besides their excellent voice quality, MEMS microphones also have an edge over conventional electret condenser microphones (ECMs) because they require less space and they are not sensitive to the high temperatures that arise in printed circuit board production.

Last year, 5% of all the microphones sold were based on MEMS technology.

By 2008, their market share will be 15% (source: The Information Network).

The current global market volume of US $130 million is expected to rise to US $680 million by 2010 with an annual growth rate of 62% (source: WTC Wicht Technology Consulting).

With its "World of MEMS" forum, Electronica 2006 is - within the framework of Electronica MicroNanoWorld in Hall A2 - spotlighting the development of MEMS microphones and other applications for microelectromechanical systems.

Examples of such applications include "micro pumps" for cooling computer chips, micro fuel cells, pressure measurement devices implanted in heart vessels, lab-on-chip "mini laboratories" for rapid analysis of substances, and acceleration sensors for controlling airbags.

This comprehensive forum is covering all areas related to these small systems: MEMS sensor technology, RF MEMS, optical MEMS (MOEMS), bio MEMS, and NEMS, as well as packaging.

The participants include such companies as Berliner Glas, Kyocera Fineceramics, Leister Process Technologies and Panasonic Electric Works.

Besides speaker presentations from the participating companies, the forum is also dedicating space and speaker time to general technological and business issues within the MEMS industry.

As part of an open panel discussion, a group of experts will be examining such current topics as "New volume markets for MEMS consumer electronics", "MEMS in automotive: what's next?", "Will RF MEMS hold their promise?", "Who earns good money with MEMS?" and "Inertial MEMS on the move".