MEMS: A key pillar in IoT applications

India has an enormous potential to grow in MEMS segment, what could be the possible inclination or swing in MEMS segment?

According to Gartner, MEMS-based smart sensors are set to gain maximum traction in the worldwide smart sensor market that is forecast to grow to $57.77 billion by 2022; at 18.1% CAGR. The market is driven by factors including concern toward security & surveillance, rising need for energy-efficient devices, growing consumer electronics sector, surge in automotive industry on a global basis, favorable government initiatives, and growing trend of miniaturization in sensors.

MEMS in India is at its starting point and seen massive growth in mobile phones. MEMS is also a key pillar in IoT applications. MEMS sensors like Accelerometers and Gyroscopes, as well as Humidity and Temperature sensors are widely used in IoT applications.

Would you explain the reasons of growing interest in MEMS industry?

India is a land of opportunities and it is emerging as a manufacturing hub. Global customers are setting up Design and Manufacturing activities in India. This is opening good opportunities for MEMS and sensors in India. We are seeing lots of interest in MEMS, Sensors, and RF amongst customers here. We are working in the Automotive, Industrial and IoT segments and to expand and develop the MEMS market, we need to emphasize the advantages of MEMS and offer education and training.

Highlight STMicroelectronics’s leadership in the MEMS market

STMicroelectronics has shipped 12 billion of MEMS sensors to date. The achievement reconfirms ST's position as the clear leader in MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices for consumer and portable applications. ST is the only company to offer the full range of Sensors & Micro-actuators. We continue to develop new products out of our existing family and we have invested heavily to consolidate our leadership position in these applications and we are working to grow in Automotive and Industrial applications.

Talk about ST’s latest products.

SensorTile connectable sensor node: plug or solder

Description

STEVAL-STLCS01V1 (SensorTile) is a highly integrated reference design that can be pluggedinto form-factor prototypes, adding sensing and connectivity capabilities to new designs through a smart hub solution. It can also easily support development of monitoring and tracking applications like standalone sensor nodes connected to iOS™ or Android™ smartphone applications.

The SensorTile occupies a very small 13.5 x 13.5mm square outline, with all the electroniccomponents on the top side and a smallconnector on the bottom side to plug it onto thecradle expansion board. The connector pinout isrepeated on 18 PCB pads to render theSensorTile a solderable system on module aswell.

Features

Very compact module for motion, audio, environmental sensing and Bluetooth® low

energy connectivity with a complete set of firmware examples

Mobile connectivity via the ST BlueMS app, available for iOS™ and Android™

Main components

STM32L476 – 32-bit ultra-low-power MCU with Cortex®M4F

LSM6DSM – iNEMO inertial module:3D accelerometer and 3D gyroscope

LSM303AGR – Ultra-compact high performance eCompass module: ultralow

power 3D accelerometer and 3D magnetometer

LPS22HB – MEMS nano pressure sensor: 260-1260 hPa absolute digital

output barometer

MP34DT04 – 64 dB SNR digital MEMS microphone

BlueNRG-MS – Bluetooth low energy network processor

BALF-NRG-01D3 – 50 Ω balun with integrated harmonic filter

LD39115J18R – 150 mA low quiescent current low noise LDO 1.8 V

2 V - 5.5 V power supply range External interfaces: UART, SPI, SAI (serial

audio interface), I²C, DFSDM, USB OTG, ADC, GPIOs

Pluggable or solderable interface

SWD interface for debugging and programming capability

RoHS complian

SandPuppy FITBELT

Description:

SandPuppy FITBELT is a smartphone-controlled, pain relief device with a deep, penetrating heat and micro-vibration for on-the-move back-pain relief. The device embeds ST’s low-power microcontroller (STM32L0), Bluetooth™ low energy (BLE) network processor (BlueNRG-MS), and a high-side driver (VN5012AK-E).

ST product inside:

Micro-controller: STM32L051C8T6

Access line ultra-low-power 32-bit MCU ARM®-based Cortex®-Mo+,up to 64 KB Flash, 8 KB SRAM, 2 KB EEPROM, ADC

Bluetooth: BlueNRG-MS

The BlueNRG-MS is a very low power Bluetooth low energy (BLE) single-mode network processor, compliant with Bluetooth specification v4.1

High Side Driver: VN5012AK-E

Features

Portability - Use it wherever you go, while working, in your car or in flight

Heating - Deep warmth with temperatures adjustable up to 60 degrees Celsius

Micro Vibration - Adjustable vibration levels to add a soothing hum and melt away the pain

Smart - Customize heat and vibration levels on a user friendly SandPuppy app

Fitbelt Dimensions : Length - 45" Width - 6.75" Height - 0.5" to 1"

Comes with its own charger, mobile app, travel pouch and size extender

Conceptualized, designed and assembled this product in India by Afferent Wearable Tech Private Limited

What is your marketing plans for MEMS in India?

STMicroelectronics globally has huge experience in promotion of MEMS products and we also have had great success in embedded systems. We have developed a kit, development tools and software that help develop embedded systems with MEMS and the full portfolio of ST products. The growth in consumer electronic products alongside the introduction of the sensors in the automotive and medical segments ensures stable growth and the continuing expansion of the MEMS sensors market.

STMicroelectronics has partnered with many Indian companies and have been working with some of them for two years and now their products are being sold in Europe and USA markets. We hope more and more customers can know MEMS better

Vishal Goyal
Senior Manager - Technical Marketing, Analog and MEMS Group
RF, Sensors and Analog Custom Products, India, Asean and ANZ, STMicroelectronics

Tags:MEMS in India, massive growth in mobile phones, iot, internet of things, cagr, MEMS market, stmicroelectronics, Vishal Goyal stmicroelectronics