September 6, 2012 – Sand 9, a Cambridge, MA-based provider of precision microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) products for wireless and wired applications, has secured a $3M investment from telecommunications giant Ericsson. According to a local media report, Sand 9 would not disclose whether its MEMS timing technology is already or being incorporated into Ericsson products, or whether this might be a prelude to a formal acquisition.

MEMS oscillators accounted for less than 1% of the $6.3B timing devices market $6.3B in 2011, according to Semico Research, but the firm projects a sparkling ~86% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for both MEMS oscillator sales and unit shipments over the next five years (2011-2016), mostly thanks to demand from smartphones. Compared with traditional quartz-based devices, MEMS oscillators can be made with semiconductor technology and thus their production can be scaled up to lower costs and extended to smaller process nodes, Semico explains. The technology also is programmable, so vendors can offer faster response times and improved inventory management.

Sand 9, which spun out of Boston University in 2008 with backing led by Khosla Ventures, says its MEMS timing technology is better than quartz crystal technologies, offering capability for integration and greater immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), vibration, noise, shock, and lead-free reflow temperatures. The devices feature piezoelectric actuation to achieve stringent phase noise and short-term stability, a spurious-free resonator design, and a low phase-noise oscillator resulting in low jitter to reduce packet loss and enhance network efficiency.

"Ericsson has a well-earned reputation as one of the world leaders in communications infrastructure and base station equipment," stated Vince Graziani, CEO of Sand 9. "Their investment in Sand 9 validates our emphasis on MEMS timing products that deliver high robustness, without sacrificing performance."

Earlier this summer the company raised $23 million in its Series C financing round, led by Intel Capital and with significant participation from Vulcan Capital, along with existing investors Commonwealth Capital Ventures, Flybridge Capital Partners, General Catalyst Partners, Khosla Ventures, and CSR. A previous equity funding drive launched in November 2011, targeted $6M in investments.

Visit the MEMS Channel of Solid State Technology, and subscribe to our MEMS Direct e-newsletter!