MEMS accelerates penetration into automotive applications

　　From a technical perspective, MEMS technology has broken through the original limitation of mainly digital signal output functions and can be used in reverse, through MEMS actuators, to output in analog or physical form.

　　As more cars are equipped with safety systems, the use of these types of sensors in cars is increasing rapidly. Last year, the market for these sensors grew by about 338% to $92 million, up from $10 million in 2011.

　　Pressure sensors are used for control and monitoring in a variety of applications and are expected to become the best-selling MEMS device this year, surpassing traditional mainstream devices such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. Its largest market remains automobiles, mainly used in tire pressure monitoring systems.

　　In the automotive field, the operating income of MEMS pressure sensors is expected to reach US$1.26 billion in 2013, accounting for 74% of the total industry operating income that year. Although the growth momentum of the automotive field will weaken in the next few years, the operating income of this field will still be higher than other fields, and will account for two-thirds of the total industry operating income in 2017.

　　在北美、欧洲以及法规成熟的其它地方，如澳洲、日本、加拿大与南韩，都强制要求汽车採用ESC系统，随着越来越多的汽车导入安全系统，在汽车中使用复合式 MEMS 惯性感测器也正快速增加中。

　　There are still huge business opportunities in some undeveloped areas. For example, China provides a larger market, which will significantly affect the global penetration rate of ESC. However, from another perspective, it will also bring huge growth drivers and momentum to the overall automotive composite sensors.

　　Automotive MEMS Application Fields

　　MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) sensors; there are three MEMS technology products: infrared sensors, magnetic sensors, and angle sensors; in high-end cars, about 25 to 40 MEMS sensors are used;

　　1) MEMS sensors are suitable for mass production, high reliability and low price, and are particularly suitable for use in automotive electronic control systems;

　　2) Car airbag sensors in airbags;

　　3) MEMS automotive micro accelerometers are replacing previous electromechanical accelerometers

　　4) Applications of MEMS gyroscopes in high-end automobiles include: suspension control, roll

　　5) Automotive MEMS pressure sensor and tire pressure automatic monitoring system. MEMS pressure sensor is suitable for any type of tire. A small pressure-sensitive chip is buried in the tire sidewall to automatically measure tire pressure, temperature, rotation speed and other data, and send them out with a specific code.

　　6) MEMS applications in engine management systems

　　7) The micromechanical gyroscope is a vibration angular rate sensor, which has attracted much attention in the application and development of the automotive field. It is mainly used for GPS signal compensation of automotive navigation and automotive chassis control system;

　　8) The automotive electronic fuel injection system EFI uses multiple pressure MAP sensors to monitor the absolute pressure of the engine intake manifold, improve its power performance, reduce fuel consumption and reduce exhaust emissions.

　　9) Micro silicon piezoresistive MEMS pressure sensors can be used in engine exhaust gas circulation systems to replace ceramic capacitive pressure sensors;

　　10) Pressure measurement in automotive air-conditioning compressors is also a large market for MEMS.

　　11) In-cylinder air pressure measurement and cylinder explosion control;

　　12) Fuel injection system, diesel common rail system;

　　13) Transmission oil pressure, automatic speed control;

　　14) Brake oil channel oil pressure, brake system;

　　15) Suspension hydraulics, suspension system;