MEMS Is Changing The Game – Plus The Tablet, Handset And Future Of Consumer Electronics

PITTSBURGH—December 18, 2012—MEMS Industry Group (MIG), a global industry organization with close to 150 member-companies and partners, today announced a line-up of suppliers, partners and end-user companies, all participating in MEMS TechZone, its show-floor experience at the 2013 International CES.

Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) are pervasive in smartphones, tablets, game controllers, notebooks, and other popular consumer electronics. From tiny inertial sensors that ‘translate’ motion into the digital realm, miniature microphones that improve voice input and speech recognition accuracy, and personal health and fitness applications that support people living healthier, more independent lives, MEMS devices are embedded by the hundreds of millions in products that we use on a daily basis. And while consumers are using MEMS in record numbers—they aren’t yet a household term, but MIG is looking to change that.

“MEMS devices have been the ‘secret ingredient’ in consumer electronics for far too long,” said Karen Lightman, managing director, MEMS Industry Group. “The 2013 International CES gives us the perfect forum for demystifying a technology that is integral to the consumer experience. CES attendees who come to MEMS TechZone can check out some of the functionality that they appreciate today—and will love and demand from CE products tomorrow. Body motion-tracking, personal diagnostics, gesture recognition and even a wearable sensor and smartphone app that provides feedback on posture and movement are just a few of the demos that CES attendees can experience in our MEMS TechZone.”

Sponsored by Bosch, Bosch Sensortec and Akustica, MEMS TechZone features MEMS suppliers, industry partners and end-user companies:

Freescale Semiconductor—will feature its 12-Axis Xtrinsic™ Sensor Platform—a comprehensive solution comprised of sensors and sensor-fusion software that makes it easy for ODMs and OEMs to upgrade Microsoft Windows 7-based laptops and tablets to Windows 8.
InvenSense—will demonstrate a wearable development kit that determines the activity type, and detects changes in elevation and overall calorie burn. InvenSense’s 9-axis, single-chip MotionTracking device is the key enabling technology.
Kionix—will introduce novel inertial-sensor technologies that drive down current consumption and size for resource-constrained portable devices.
LUMOback—will demonstrate its wearable sensor and smartphone app that mimics the wearer’s movements and posture in real time, capturing that information when the wearer sits, stands, walks, runs and sleeps.
Sensor Platforms—will showcase its FreeMotion™ library, the first plug-and-play sensor hub that supports both Windows 8 and Android—without requiring developer modifications. FreeMotion is also hardware-agnostic, working both on sensor hubs and application processors.
WiSpry—will give CES attendees a ‘hands-on’ experience with its RF-MEMS devices in mobile phones—showing how its technology promotes longer battery life and reduces dropped calls.
X PRIZE Foundation—will promote the $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder X PRIZE and $2.25 million Nokia Sensing X Challenge—competitions that will help to revolutionize personal healthcare by making sensing and diagnostic assessment technologies available directly to consumers.
Xsens—will demonstrate sensor-fusion software for real-time 3D body-motion tracking based on multiple wireless, wearable motion-sensor nodes. The technology digitizes the wearer’s motion for applications in sports, fitness, healthcare and gaming and is available for licensing. Xsens will also present low-power 9D/10D motion sensor-fusion for “always on” motion tracking on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

For More Information

MEMS TechZone takes place from January 8-11, 2013 during 2013 International CES exhibition hours, and is located at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) South Hall 2, Booth 25321.

MIG will also host a half-day MEMS conference session and keynote on January 8, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., LVCC, North Hall, Room N264.

About MEMS Industry Group

MEMS Industry Group (MIG) is the trade association advancing MEMS across global markets. Close to 150 companies comprise MIG, including Analog Devices, Applied Materials, Bosch, Freescale Semiconductor, GE, Honeywell, HP, Intel, InvenSense, Murata Electronics Oy, OMRON Electronic Components, Qualcomm Technologies, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments. For more information, visit: www.memsindustrygroup.org.