MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG)’s annual MEMS & Sensors Technology Showcase at MEMS & Sensors Executive Congress® 2016 (November 9-11, 2016 in Scottsdale, AZ) highlights some of the newest and most unique MEMS/sensors-enabled applications in the industry. MSIG today announced the shortlist of finalists who will compete for the title of winner at this year’s event.
i-BLADES’ Smartplatform
i-BLADES’ mobile Smartcase is a new modular accessory that dramatically accelerates time to market and reach for MEMS and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. It lets new technologies quickly reach mass-market mobile consumers through one integrated smartphone accessory — a mobile phone case. It not only provides protection but also a Smartplatform that forms a “hard-wired” smartphone connection, enabling add-on MEMS and IoT technologies. Developers can add new sensors to Smartcase directly or through snap-on Smartblade modules.
With i-BLADES, technologies can quickly go onto hundreds of millions of smartphones as an after-market opportunity, making smartphones “smarter.” i-BLADES partnered with Bosch to deploy successfully the BME680 sensor faster than via other routes. For more information, visit: www.i-blades.com or watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVcOewMhopE&feature=youtu.be
Chirp Microsystems’ MEMS-Based Ultrasonic Sensing Solution
Today’s VR and gaming systems are limited by their reliance on complex computer vision techniques for controller tracking, resulting in higher cost, limited tracking area and lack of mobility due to high power consumption. Chirp Microsystems’ ultrasonic tracking technology addresses these limitations, offering solutions that enable truly mobile VR and AR systems at attractive price points suitable for multiple tiers of products.
Chirp Microsystems’ new ultrasonic time-of-flight (ToF) technology uses pulses of ultrasound to measure an object’s range with millimeter accuracy. This ultra-low power ultrasonic ToF technology enables low-latency, millimeter-accurate 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) inside-out controller tracking for VR/AR and gaming systems. This system solution is enabled by Chirp’s ultra-low power ultrasonic ToF sensor, which offers ultra-wide field-of-view, noise and light immunity, fast sample rate, and small package size. The ToF sensor is a system in package (SiP) that combines a MEMS ultrasound transducer with a power-efficient digital signal processor (DSP) on a custom integrated circuit. In wearable applications, Chirp’s ultrasonic SiP provides a transformative and intuitive touchless gesture interface. For more information, visit: www.chirpmicro.com
Integrated Device Technology’s Gas Sensor for Air Quality and Breath Detection
Integrated Device Technology’s (IDT’s) new highly sensitive gas sensor family based on the ZMOD3250 targets indoor air quality with a roadmap that includes environmental (outdoor) air quality and breath detection. The ZMOD3250 family detects total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odors, and can be used to selectively identify several VOCs, including formaldehyde, ethanol and toluene. The company is promoting several features and applications of this new gas sensor product line, including the off-gassing detection of chemicals from common home and office materials, odor detection, selective measurements among VOCs and detection of several breath components.
IDT’s flagship product, the ZMOD3250, features a unique silicon microhotplate with nanostructured sensing material that enables a highly sensitive measurement of gas. The accompanying ASIC provides a flexible solution for integration of the sensor with various consumer devices, including mobile phones, wearables and appliances. Packaged in a 12 pin LGA assembly (3.0 mm x 3.0 mm x 0.7 mm), the sensor emulates a sensor array with a single sensor element. Suitable for a wide range of applications, the sensor features programmable-measurement sequence and highly integrated CMOS design. To request more information about the ZMOD3250, visit: www.idt.com or watch video: http://www.idt.com/video/uv-sensor-and-gas-sensor-demonstration-idt
Valencell’s Biometric Gaming
Biometric input adds a new element to gaming. For example, fitness games can use heart rate as a key control measure, or action games can require users to hold their breath while their characters are swimming. Audio earbuds, headsets, armbands and wrist devices — all of which make good use of MEMS/sensors — are natural peripherals for gaming — and as well as for exercising.
Valencell has created a demonstration game that not only involves real-time biometric data to affect the gaming experience, but also collects meaningful health metrics in the background. This has implications not only for the gaming industry, but also for healthcare and medical markets. In fact, healthcare practitioners are integrating biometric game play into physical therapy and surgery recovery protocols to measure and manage recovery processes. Valencell will demonstrate the game as well as its biometric output and analysis. For more information, visit: www.valencell.com or watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMTJP6OBmjA
Vesper’s Wake-on Sound MEMS Microphone
Always-listening MEMS microphones may signal a new era of ubiquitous sensors that can run indefinitely on small batteries. That’s good news for developers of TV remote controls, smart speakers, smartphones, intelligent sensor nodes, hearables and other electronic devices. It’s even better news for consumers who want to cut the power cord but end up incessantly charging devices or replacing batteries, even when those devices aren’t in regular use.
Vesper — developer of the world’s only piezoelectric MEMS microphones — will demonstrate VM1010, the first quiescent-sensing MEMS microphone, during MEMS & Sensors Technology Showcase. VM1010 alleviates the heavy power consumption typical of speech recognition–which consumes up to 1000 µW or more. Because it supports wake-on sound at practically zero power draw (a mere 3 µA of current while in listening mode), VM1010 reduces standby power by two orders of magnitude and can increase standby time by a factor of 100.
Vesper will also demonstrate the extremely fast response time of VM1010, showing how it can go to full power within microseconds, quick enough to record what a user is saying and capture keywords and other acoustic event triggers. For more information, visit: www.vespermems.com or watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhFtrjbpffE