What Requirements Are for MEMS Technology in 2022?
MEMS technology is a hot-topic range of digital solutions that provide better experiences and simplification of manufacturing, driving, gaming, and other processes. Among popular products based on microelectromechanical systems are sensors, accelerometers, IMUs, gyroscopes, and other microscopic devices.
Strengths and Advantages of MEMS Devices and Products
Among the benefits that can bring MEMS technology are innovative approaches to the routine industrial and other operations (e.g. a laser scanning projector), increased speed of different processes, enhanced accuracy, etc.
Additionally, MEMS products and devices are able to replace former systems used in various spheres of life. For example, totally adaptive sensors implemented to the headlights provide better vision for drivers. At the same time, accelerometers are about improved aircraft performance and dynamometers’ operation. 2D MEMS mirror models can be considered new-generation optical beam-steering of the 21st century.
What Do Manufacturers and Consumers Require from MEMS Technology?
But what are the main requirements for microelectromechanical systems today? Both consumers and manufacturers can demand specific features like a compact size of the sensors, the lightweightness of the MEMS devices, their updated integration properties, etc. Let’s take a closer look at the requirements of the tech units based on the microelectromechanical systems.
Accelerometers
One of the trendy requirements from the top manufacturers today is to combine existing models of accelerometers with other MEMS products like semiconductors, gyroscopes, etc.) to make the final device totally cross-functional. The same demand is for sensors that are presented in scanning mirror tech units. Here, the happy blend of MEMS technology and LiDAR solutions comes in handy to provide the innovative goods people would like to use and stay satisfied.
Among other requirements related to MEMS accelerometers are:
Pocket screen manufacturers would like to see a 3-axis accelerometer because this one is the best for handheld gadgets.
Most accelerometers are considered exceptionally fragile cargo. That is why the sharp question is the improvements of the delivery arrangements and shipping safety for these MEMS devices.
Some navigation products on the market state that it is reasonable to combine MEMS accelerometers together with magnetometer models to improve the GPS and other properties available even under the conditions of the poor Internet connection.
It is worth noting that mixing different MEMS products is on-trend and on-demand today. It goes without saying that 3-axis microelectromechanical accelerometers are compliable with IMUs and gyroscopes.
Gyroscopes
At the end of the 20th century, when the first MEMS gyroscopes were implemented into luxury automobiles, the main requirement was the high-quality material (quartz) and their performance based on the piezoelectric principle. Now, the silicon models are manufactured. These gyroscopes are used to improve automotive electronic stability control and enhance GPS navigation options.
The hot-topic requirements to the modern gyroscope units are the affordable price and advanced package sizes. Additionally, most manufacturers would like to see multi-purpose devices that are compatible not only with the stability control systems of the automobiles but with the GPS navigation of the pocket devices, video game controllers, cameras, etc.
UMUs & DOF MEMS
The main requirement for these units is their multimode operation principle. Among the popular trends related to IMUs and DOF MEMS are fast integration at the package level, prolongation of the operational life, opportunity to replace former inertial sensors with innovative models.
It is expected that the manufacturers are going to reduce the cost of the MEMS devices of this type with the help of the more compact size and less power spent for the unit functionality. Additionally, 9DOF products will be replaced with updated 10DOF ones. New models will obtain properties for sped-up multi testing and all the properties for affordable handling time costs.
Microphones
This category of MEMS devices is made up of speakers and transducers together with microphones. Besides the main requirement of the availability of an ECM (electret condenser microphone) system that allows owners of portable computers like laptops and tablets to communicate through the built-in microphone and speaker properties.
MEMS-based microphones are also presented in the mobile phone models for audio and video communications on the go. Microelectromechanical systems implemented into pocket screens are usually silicone microphones with improved acoustic properties and smaller sizes than former units. The main requirement to the MEMS microphones, speakers and transducers on the present-day market are:
Adaptable ECMs through MEMS technology;
Automated IC assembly equipment;
Improved manufacturing performance (throughput and yield).
One more advantage of MEMS microphones mentioned by top manufacturers and consumers is their surface-mountable nature. They might be located in the best-matching acoustic area for communication – in the bezel of the laptop or into the base of the pocket screen.