GENEVA /Marketwired/ -- STMicroelectronics (ST), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, the "world's top MEMS manufacturer, and the leading supplier of MEMS sensors for consumer and portable applications," has announced a new, ST-patented technology that isolates the pressure-sensing element within a fully molded package to meet the ultra-small form factor requirements and design creativity for the next generation of portable consumer devices.
Integrating the isolated pressure-sensing element in a fully molded package, this unique technology enables fully encapsulated wire bonding with zero risk of corrosion, elimination of wire bonding damage during pick and place assembly, zero risk of cap detachment or cap damage while the device is being mounted, and no impact on the sensor from the soldering process to ensure a more robust packaging solution.
According to market analysts Yole Developpement, the MEMS pressure sensor market will grow from $1.9 billion in 2012 to $3 billion in 2018. MEMS pressure sensors for consumer applications, especially for smartphones and tablets, will represent 1.7 billion units and will overtake automotive as the leading target application for MEMS, adding 8% CAGR to the global MEMS pressure sensor market. ST has over 800 MEMS-related patents and patent applications worldwide and, as the "world's top MEMS manufacturer," has a production capacity of 4 million devices per day and has shipped more than t3 billion MEMS devices.
"This technology represents a revolution in the enhancement of performance and quality for pressure sensors. STMicroelectronics pioneered the use of fully molded packages without gel for high-volume manufacturing for accelerometers and gyroscopes," said Benedetto Vigna, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Analog, MEMS & Sensors Group, STMicroelectronics. "We are now leveraging this knowledge to revolutionize the packaging in the emerging field of pressure sensors, where STMicroelectronics is the first to use a fully molded package without gel for a high-performance pressure sensor with enhanced accuracy."
The new technology enhances accuracy (± 0.2 mbar) while continuing to offer zero drift, low noise (0.010 mbar RMS), and a simplified calibration system, making it ideal for a broad range of consumer, automotive, and industrial applications, including indoor/outdoor navigation, location-based services, enhanced GPS dead-reckoning, altimeter and barometer functions, weather station equipment, and healthcare applications.
About ST
STMicroelectronics (ST) is a global leader in the semiconductor market, serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car, and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented. In 2012, the company's net revenues were $8.49 billion.