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Thursday, April 08, 2010

#MEMS "Gyro harnesses bulk-acoustic wave" #Semiconductor

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices based on a new paradigm--bulk acoustic waves--promises to enable more reliable solid-state operation. Look for no-moving-parts BAW chips to challenge old-school MEMS by the end of 2010. R.C.J.


Startup Qualtre Inc. has licensed Georgia Tech micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscope technology that uses bulk-acoustic wave (BAW) disks instead of the usual tuning-fork resonator used in most MEMS gyroscopes. Qualtre (Marlborough, Mass.) claims its technology is lower power—thereby extending the battery life of mobile devices—and less expensive to manufacture since its silicon disks are smaller than the tuning-fork resonators used today. The company promises samples of its BAW-based gyroscopes later this year for a wide variety of consumer applications, including handheld and console based gaming controllers, navigational devices, digital cameras, camcorders and remote controls.
Full Text: http://bit.ly/aDuKti