MicroNanoSystems News
MEMS mics heading to one billion
DESPITE a slowdown in 2009, global
shipments of MEMS microphones are
set to more than triple from 2008 to
2013 due to their strong acceptance in
mobile handsets and other applications,
according to iSuppli Corp. Worldwide
MEMS microphone shipments are set to
reach 1.1 billion units in 2013, up from
328.5 million in 2008. This strong
growth will come despite a deceleration
in shipment growth and a decline in
global revenue in 2009, the first such
contraction in the history of the market.
MEMS microphones are tiny
microphones that employ a pressure-
sensitive diaphragm etched on a iSuppli Figure: Global Microelectromechanical System Microphone Unit Shipment
semiconductor using Forecast (Millions of Units)
microelectromechanical technology.
They are commonly employed in cell
phones, headsets, notebook PCs, video increasingly for cell phones. Despite the largely can attribute its 2009 sales woes
cameras and cars. rosy outlook for MEMS microphones, to one company: Motorola.
“MEMS microphones are truly one 2009 will be a poor one for the market. “Motorola was the first company to
of the success stories in the MEMS “After five consecutive years of widely adopt MEMS microphones,
market,” said Jérémie Bouchaud, double-digit growth, global MEMS making extensive use of them in its
director and principal analyst, MEMS, microphone shipments will rise by only best-selling ultra-thin RAZR handsets,”
14
for iSuppli. “Market shipments are set 7.5 percent in 2009,” Bouchaud Bouchaud said.
to exceed 1 billion in 2013, largely observed. “With the weak rise in unit Beyond Motorola, another factor
www
because these MEMS are becoming less shipments and decline in pricing, global impacting the MEMS microphone
.eur expensive as the volume increases.” revenue will drop to $132.4 million in market in 2009 is the weakness in the
oasiasemiconductor
Demand for digital technology 2009, down 2.4 percent from $135.7 worldwide mobile handset market.
microphones also will boost sales of million in 2008.” Global cell phone shipments are set to
MEMS devices for laptops and The MEMS microphone market decline significantly in 2009.
3D IC collaboration
.com
TAIWAN’S INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY resources and establish standards. with Applied Materials in advancing 3D
square4
Issue VII 2009
RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ITRI) and “Joining forces with a leading IC technology. ITRI believes that 3D ICs
Applied Materials have announced a research institution such as ITRI is a very will be a significant part of
collaboration to accelerate the effective way to advance 3D technology semiconductor development during the
development and commercialization of and successfully integrate it into the next ten years. We plan to drive 3D IC
3D chip stacking technology. manufacturing community,” said Dr. integration and set up a pilot line in our
To enable this important effort, a Randhir Thakur, senior vice president 3D IC lab,” said Dr. Sheng-fu Horng,
complete line of processing systems and general manager of Applied’s deputy general director of the
from Applied Materials has been Silicon Systems Group. “ITRI’s selection Electronics and Optoelectronics
selected by ITRI for its 3D laboratory in of Applied’s entire TSV suite is a Research Laboratories at ITRI. “ITRI
Hsinchu, Taiwan. testament to our integrated 3D provides an open environment for
Applied and ITRI intend to work packaging technology, a capability that new pilot technologies. We have
together as members of the Stacked- is unparalleled in the microelectronics therefore selected the latest TSV
System and Application Consortium industry. By performing customers’ early equipment from Applied Materials in
(Ad-STAC). Formed in 2008, Ad-STAC stage development on a proven toolset, the hope that we can offer companies
aims to improve 3D IC technology by the transition to volume manufacturing from different fields, as well as research
bringing together academic institutions can be made as fast and transparent as institutes, a unique environment to
and leading semiconductor companies possible.” develop and test new technologies and
to share research, leverage government “We are pleased to be collaborating products.”
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