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SENSOR BUSINESS, MARKETING, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS: MEMS INERTIAL SENSORS WILL GAIN MOMENTUM OVER THE NEAR TERM.

Article Excerpt
SBD notes that MEMS inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyros) have already established a significant presence in key automotive applications. Accelerometers measure acceleration from motion or gravity, and can detect inertial forces, such as velocity, distance traveled, force/impact, shock or vibration, and tilt. Gyros typically measure angular rate of rotation.

As their prices and power consumption further decline, and OEMs gain greater familiarity with the benefits that these devices can provide (e.g., high uniformity of sensor manufacture, a small footprint, amenability to integrating signal conditioning/processing electronics, and low power), MEMs accelerometers and gyros are expected to have plausible opportunities to begin to impact a range of high-volume applications, including mobile phones, handheld computing devices, camcorder/camera stabilization, computer input devices, GPS (Global Positioning System)-based handheld devices, as well as washing machines or dishwashers (for MEMS accelerometers).

Over the next several years, we especially perceive significant growth opportunities for MEMS gyros, as well as MEMS` accelerometers, in automotive vehicle stability control/rollover detection systems. A scenario is emerging toward implementing a sensor cluster, consisting of two accelerometers and two gyros, in certain higher-end vehicles for stability control/rollover prevention. We expect inertial sensor clusters to appear in varied types of vehicles in the coming years, along with the implementation in vehicles of a six-degree-of-freedom IMU (inertial measurement unit) to address multiple applications (such as vehicle stability control, rollover mitigation/prevention, and navigation). Low-cost silicon MEMS gyros also have some potential for use in lieu...

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