Tiny Inventions Impact our Lives in Big Ways

Among the latest scientific inventions of great importance to us in our daily lives are devices known as MEMS.  Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are the technology of the very small. In Japan MEMS are also called micromachines. Smaller still, are the nano-scale nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) and nanotechnology.

MEMS are made up of components between 1 to 100 micrometers in size (i.e. 0.001 to 0.1 mm) and MEMS devices generally range in size from 20 micrometers (20 millionths of a meter) to a millimeter.  MEMS became practical once they could be fabricated using modified semiconductor fabrication technologies, normally used to make electronics.

One type of invention impacting our lives is the accelerometer. An accelerometer measures the acceleration and gravity it experiences. Modern accelerometers are often small micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and are indeed the simplest MEMS devices possible, consisting of little more than a cantilever beam with a proof mass. Under the influence of gravity or acceleration the proof mass deflects from its neutral position. This deflection is measured in an analog or digital manner. This method is simple and reliable; it also does not require additional process steps making it inexpensive.

Micromechanical accelerometers are available in a wide variety of measuring ranges, reaching up to thousands of g’s. These amazing little devices are what allow us to take for granted the most commonplace things in our lives, while benefiting from them immensely.

 For instance, these latest of scientific devices tell our air bags when to deploy.  Do you feel that we benefit from our airbag technology?   They are becoming endemic in gaming devices and even iPhones and other smart phones are using them for interfacing purposes.  They are being incorporated into laptop computers to sense screen orientation, and to park hard drive heads in case a drop is detected.  They are also used for images stabilization in digital cameras and a host of other applications. They are everywhere you look these days.

Another area where MEMS are popping up is in pressure sensors. MEMS technology combines microelectronics with tiny mechanical systems such as valves, gears, and other mechanical components all on one semiconductor chip using nanotechnology to measure pressure. Pressure sensors can be used for directly sensing pressure for such uses as measuring weather data, aircraft performance parameters, automobiles processes, medical devices, and other machine applications . 

These latest scientific inventions can be used for sensing altitude for use in aircraft, rockets, satellites, weather balloons etc. And finally, they can be use for flow sensing. MEMS technology is responsible for everything from automatic blood pressure monitoring devices to monitoring tire pressure of your car.

I’ve barely touched upon the latest scientific inventions in the MEMS field, just think of the military and battlefield uses for such a technology, research is underway for such things as smart clothing and smart armor.

We are using these technologies in the exploration of the ocean depths by implanting them into whales and fish, and monitoring them with radio technology.  All fields of science will continue to benefit from the amazing new inventions being spawned by these amazing and cool new technologies.

Small modification can make emulational cell phone into a Phoenix (2)

Yue Wei (Hong Kong) Electronic Technology Company, Ltd. Shantou Chenghai office Zhang Guifeng also confirms the market forecasts of Zoubo. He says: “currently silicon MEMS gyroscope market is in short supply. We mainly use silicon MEMS gyroscope to do with attitude control of helicopter toys, during Chinese New Year, Children’s Day and Christmas, monthly the shipments are about 2 1 million or so. We concern Shen Di because its price is the lowest in the world now. “

Shen Di recently released its first commercial MEMS gyroscopes SSZ030CG; it also marks the birth of commercial MEMS gyroscopes which is the first with Chinese intellectual property rights. MEMS gyroscopes are the Components of semiconductor industry, it needs a dedicated MEMS processing technology with high-tech nature. While Europe and the United States and Japan has a number of related companies and research institutes making breakthrough in this area, but China starts late and the develop slowly in this regard, yet there is no a production company to provide processing services. Shen Di Semiconductor introduces SSZ030CG gyro which has a very high cost performance, it not only means the situation that many domestic consumer electronics manufacturers have always been dependent on imported gyroscope chip will be broken, and also marks that the innovation of China independent intellectual property rights appear the first time in the MEMS gyroscopes field.

Its appearance not only enhances the competitiveness of Chinese semiconductor industry, but also expands the consumer electronics application market, and gives the market a new concept. As the wide application of the MEMS gyroscope products in consumer electronics and automotive markets, and many other areas, it will offer great business opportunities for the majority of the Chinese relevant market, but also it will greatly enhance Chinese MEMS sensor’s international competitiveness and influence .

“As the Nintendo Wii and Apple iPhone, a new concept drives consumer electronics applications, MEMS gyroscopes applications market is growing rapidly. Silicon MEMS gyro products will be widely used in game consoles, cell phones, toys, GPS positioning, digital cameras and cameras and other consumer electronics and automotive safety and navigation, industrial, aerospace and medical equipment and other fields. “Zou Bo said,” and the design and research and development of gyroscope require high-tech threshold which makes very few competitors, it is a great opportunity for Shen Di Semiconductor to enter the market. Our competitive advantage stems from a series of independent intellectual property rights gyro inertial MEMS sensor chip design capabilities, as well as Chinese MEMS industry chain integration. We offer our customers not only advanced products, but also comprehensive solutions and quality services. I believe that customers will become partners with Shen Di and Shen Di will make a tremendous commercial success. “

He tells the reporters of “International Electronic Business” that currently Shen Di has applied 20 patents in China to protect its commercial interests. And we do not fear of overseas suppliers moving into mainland China to take our business, because they do not consider this option, because they will do not bring the core test technology into China.

In addition to consumer electronics market, Zou also reveals that currently they are moving to another large gyroscope application market (automobile security and the automotive electronics market) and develops automotive-grade silicon MEMS gyroscopes, as automotive product requirements a wider operating temperature range, Therefore, products will use the vehicle ceramic package. Silicon MEMS gyroscopes are mainly used in automotive chassis, it can accurately and rapidly detect the attitude under a variety of driving to help automotive active safety control systems play a role in a timely manner.

In addition, he says, we will open up Internet of things (positioning, tracking and logistics system remote control), digital cameras and the new anti-terrorism applications. For example, we can use silicon MEMS gyroscopes to achieve a simple digital camera anti-shake function.