Tag Archives: letter-mems-business

STATS ChipPAC Ltd., a provider of advanced semiconductor packaging and test services, today announced that Cavendish Kinetics, a provider of high performance RF MEMS tuning solutions for LTE smartphones and wearable devices, has adopted its advanced wafer level packaging technology to deliver Cavendish’s SmarTune RF MEMS tuners in the smallest possible form factor, as a 2mm2 chip scale package.

LTE smartphone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are rapidly adopting antenna tuning solutions to be able to provide the required signal strength across the large number of LTE spectrum bands used globally. Cavendish’s SmarTune RF MEMS tuners outperform traditional RF silicon-on-insulator (SOI) switch-based antenna tuning solutions by 2-3dB, resulting in much higher data rates (up to 2x) and improved battery life (up to 40 percent). Cavendish RF MEMS tuner shipments are ramping aggressively and can now be found in six different smartphone models across China, Europe and North America, with many additional designs in development.

“Our RF MEMS tuners present demanding packaging requirements, including the need to deliver the smallest possible form factor in a process that protects the integrity of our hermetically sealed MEMS structure,” said Atul Shingal, Executive Vice President of Operations, Cavendish Kinetics. “STATS ChipPAC’s wafer level packaging platform provided advantages in package size, performance and scalability, and a proven, cost effective manufacturing process that supports our accelerating volume production.”

STATS ChipPAC provides a comprehensive platform of wafer level technology from Fan-in Wafer Level Packaging (FIWLP) to highly integrated Fan-out Wafer Level Packaging (FOWLP) solutions known as embedded Wafer Level Ball Grid Array (eWLB). Cavendish Kinetics and STATS ChipPAC are jointly working to utilize the inherent benefits of wafer level packaging technology to drive further RF antenna tuning innovations for the smartphone market.

“Through our successful partnership, Cavendish Kinetics has been able to implement their current generation industry leading MEMS-based antenna tuning solution. In future products, we will be able to provide Cavendish Kinetics with options for greater functional integration and silicon partitioning capabilities that are only feasible with our industry leading fan-out eWLB technology,” said Dr. Rajendra Pendse, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, STATS ChipPAC.

Imagination Technologies announces that South Korea based MEMS sensor development company Standing Egg has licensed Imagination’s MIPS Warrior M-class CPU for use in its next-generation sensor hubs targeting an expanding range of products including mobile devices, IoT, wearables, and automotive.

Standing Egg develops MEMS sensor products including accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, and others. With its planned MIPS-based sensor hub chips, modules and boards, Standing Egg will provide a means to integrate and process data from these different sensors.

In its selection of an MCU-class CPU for its next-generation products, Standing Egg compared MIPS CPUs to other competing CPU IP cores. Performance, power and area were key decision criteria, and according to Standing Egg, the MIPS M5100 surpassed other CPUs on these metrics. Standing Egg also determined that the MIPS M5100 CPU can process sensor signals faster and with lower power – an important design consideration for the company. The security features in the MIPS CPU, including anti-tamper technology, also played a key role in the decision.

Jongsung Lee, CEO, Standing Egg, says: “Standing Egg’s sensors are designed and built by us so we control every element from concept to packaging. When it came to selecting a CPU, we chose MIPS for its outstanding performance efficiency and features. Its ability to handle sophisticated algorithms as well as its signal processing capability make the MIPS M5100 ideal for our next-generation sensor hubs, and we already have interest in these products from several customers. Imagination’s full line of IP, including connectivity IP and cloud services, is quite appealing for sensor hub applications.”

Says Jim Nicholas, vice president, MIPS business operations, Imagination Technologies: “Standing Egg is innovating in MEMS sensor development across design, manufacturing, testing and packaging, and we are delighted that they have chosen MIPS for their next design. This is one example of the increasing traction that we are seeing for MIPS across Asia and around the globe. IoT and wearables are particularly hot areas for MIPS Warrior CPUs, as companies look for leading-edge CPUs with features like hardware virtualization, enhanced security and hardware multi-threading that will give them an edge in designing their next-generation devices.”

Standing Egg plans to release sensor hub products based on MIPS M5100 CPU in the second half of 2015, with an FPGA version available in advance.

Standing Egg is a professional MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) sensor development company located in Korea.

The global semiconductor materials market increased 3 percent in 2014 compared to 2013 while worldwide semiconductor revenues increased 10 percent. Revenues of $44.3 billion mark the first increase in the semiconductor materials market since 2011.

Total wafer fabrication materials and packaging materials were $24.0 billion and $20.4 billion, respectively. Comparable revenues for these segments in 2013 were $22.7 billion for wafer fabrication materials and $20.4 billion for packaging materials. The wafer fabrication materials segment increased 6 percent year-over-year, while the packaging materials segment remained flat. However, if bonding wire were excluded from the packaging materials segment, the segment increased more than 4 percent last year. The continuing transition to copper-based bonding wire from gold is negatively impacting overall packaging materials revenues.

For the fifth consecutive year, Taiwan was the largest consumer of semiconductor materials due to its large foundry and advanced packaging base, totaling $9.8 billion. Japan claimed the second spot during the same time. Annual revenue growth was the strongest in the Taiwan market. The materials market in North America had the second largest increase at 5 percent, followed by China, South Korea and Europe. The materials markets in Japan and Rest of World were flat relative to 2013 levels. (The ROW region is defined as Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, other areas of Southeast Asia and smaller global markets.)

Region 2013 2014 % Change
Taiwan

8.91

9.58

8%
Japan

7.17

7.19

0%
South Korea

6.87

7.03

2%
Rest of World

6.64

6.66

0%
China

5.66

5.83

3%
North America

4.76

4.98

5%
Europe

3.04

3.08

1%
Total

43.05

44.35

3%

Source: SEMI, April 2015
Note: Figures may not add due to rounding.

The Material Market Data Subscription (MMDS) from SEMI provides current revenue data along with seven years of historical data and a two-year forecast.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $27.8 billion for the month of February 2015, an increase of 6.7 percent from February 2014 when sales were $26.0 billion. Global sales from February 2015 were 2.7 percent lower than the January 2015 total of $28.5 billion, reflecting seasonal trends. Regionally, sales in the Americas increased by 17.1 percent compared to last February to lead all regional markets. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

“The global semiconductor industry maintained momentum in February, posting its 22nd straight month of year-to-year growth despite macroeconomic headwinds,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “Sales of DRAM and Analog products were particularly strong, notching double-digit growth over last February, and the Americas market achieved its largest year-to-year sales increase in 12 months.”

Regionally, year-to-year sales increased in the Americas (17.1 percent) and Asia Pacific (7.6 percent), but decreased in Europe (-2.0 percent) and Japan (-8.8 percent). Sales decreased compared to the previous month in Europe (-1.6 percent), Asia Pacific (-2.2 percent), Japan (-2.3 percent), and the Americas (-4.4 percent).

“While we are encouraged by the semiconductor market’s sustained growth over the last two years, a key driver of our industry’s continued success is free trade,” Neuffer continued. “A legislative initiative called Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) has paved the way for opening markets to American goods and services for decades, helping to give life to nearly every U.S. free trade agreement in existence, but it expired in 2007. With several important free trade agreements currently under negotiation, Congress should swiftly re-enact TPA.”

February 2015
Billions
Month-to-Month Sales
Market Last Month Current Month % Change
Americas 6.51 6.23 -4.4%
Europe 2.95 2.90 -1.6%
Japan 2.62 2.56 -2.3%
Asia Pacific 16.47 16.10 -2.2%
Total 28.55 27.79 -2.7%
Year-to-Year Sales
Market Last Year Current Month % Change
Americas 5.32 6.23 17.1%
Europe 2.96 2.90 -2.0%
Japan 2.81 2.56 -8.8%
Asia Pacific 14.96 16.10 7.6%
Total 26.04 27.79 6.7%
Three-Month-Moving Average Sales
Market Sep/Oct/Nov Dec/Jan/Feb % Change
Americas 6.53 6.23 -4.6%
Europe 3.19 2.90 -9.2%
Japan 2.93 2.56 -12.7%
Asia Pacific 17.12 16.10 -6.0%
Total 29.77 27.79 -6.7%

Programme information is now available on the inaugural SEMICON Southeast Asia, which will run from 22–24 April at SPICE in Penang. The event, organized by SEMI, a global industry association, features an expanded programme and larger audience base focusing on Southeast Asia communities in the semiconductor and microelectronics sector.  SEMI estimates spending of US$19 on semiconductor equipment and materials in the Southeast Asia region for 2015 and 2016. With an emphasis on opening up new business opportunities and fostering stronger cross-regional engagement, SEMICON Southeast Asia will feature a tradeshow exhibition, networking events, market and technology seminars, and conferences.

Ng Kai Fai, President of SEMI Southeast Asia, said, “Southeast Asia is a vibrant and changing market for the semiconductor industry. For 2015 and 2016, SEMI estimates spending of almost US$ 5 billion on front-end and back-end equipment in the Southeast Asia region, and another $14 billion in spending on materials including $11 billion on packaging-related materials.  Southeast Asia has over 35 production fabs including Foundry, Compound Semiconductors, MEMS, Power, LED, and other devices. The region contributes a substantial 27 percent of global assembly, test and production, on top of being the largest market for assembly and test equipment,” he added.

More than 60 industry speakers and 200 companies will participate in SEMICON Southeast Asia, with thousands of attendees participating in the event. Attendees will learn the latest technology developments and strategies from industry leaders. SEMICON Southeast Asia connects decision makers from leading and emerging semiconductor companies with important industry stakeholders from both the region and all over the world.

Focusing on key trends and technologies in semiconductor design and manufacturing, the event also addresses expanding applications markets like mobile devices and other connected “Internet of Things” (IoT) technologies. Key enablers, such as specialised materials, packaging, and test technologies, as well as new architectures and processes, will be featured throughout the event. Highlights of SEMICON Southeast Asia include:

  • Market Trend Briefing — Features presentations from: EQUVO, Gartner, GFK Retail Technology , IC Insights, SMC Pneumatics (SEA), SEMI, and Yole Developpement
  • Assembly and Packaging Forum — “Emerging Packaging Solutions for Computing, Mobility and IoT Platforms” forum features presentations from: Advantest, AMD, ASE Group, Freescale Semiconductor, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore, Intel, Infineon, Kulicke & Soffa, Lam Research, MediaTek, Tanaka Kikinzoku, and Yole Developpement
  • Product and System Test Forum — “Testing Strategy for a Fast-paced Semiconductor Market” with presentations from Advantest, ATMEL, GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore, Intel, Keysight Technologies, Silicon Labs International, UTAC Singapore, Xcerra

In addition, the event features forums on Technology Innovation, LED Technology, and Yield Productivity and Failure Analysis.

For more information and exhibition opportunities, visit www.semiconsea.org or register now.

Supplier Hub answers the needs of a changing semiconductor industry. 

BY LUC VAN DEN HOVE, imec, Leuven, Belgium

Supplier HubOur semiconductor industry is a cyclical business, with regular ups and downs. But we have always successfully rebounded, with new technologies that have brought on the next generation of electronic products. Now however, the industry stands at an inflection point. Some of the challenges to introduce next generation technologies are larger than ever before. Overcoming this point will require, in our opinion, a tighter collaboration than ever. To accommodate that collaboration, we have set up a new Supplier Hub, a neutral platform where researchers, IC producers, and suppliers work on solutions for technical challenges. This collaboration will allow the industry to overcome the inflection point and to move on to the next cycle of success, driven by the many exciting application domains that appear on the horizon.

Call for a new collaboration model

The formulas for the industry’s success have changed. Device structures are pushing the limits of physics, making it challenging to continue progressing according to Moore’s Law. Intricate manufacturing requirements make process control ever more difficult. Also chip design is more complex than ever before, requiring more scrutiny, analysis and testing before manufacturing can even begin. And the cost of manufacturing equipment and setting up a fab has risen exponentially, shutting out many smaller companies and forcing equipment and material suppliers to merge.

In that context, more and more innovation is coming from the supplier community, both from equipment and material suppliers. But as processes are approaching some fundamental limits, such as material limits, chemical, physical limits, it is also for suppliers becoming more difficult to operate and develop next-generation process steps in an isolated way. An earlier and stronger interaction among suppliers is needed.

All this makes a central and neutral platform more important than ever. That insight and the requests we got from partners set imec on the path to organizing a supplier hub. A hub that is structured as a neutral, open innovation R&D platform, a platform for which we make a substantial part of our 300mm cleanroom floor space available, even extending our facilities. It is a platform where suppliers and manufacturers collaborate side-to- side with the researchers developing next-generation technology nodes.

Organizing the supplier hub is a logical evolution in the way we have always set up collaborations with and between companies that are involved in semiconductor manufacturing. Collaborations that have proven very successful in the previous decade and that have resulted in a number of key innovations.

Supplier Hub off to a promising start

Today, both in logic and in memory, we are developing solutions to enable 7nm and 5nm technology nodes. These will involve new materials, new transistor architectures, and ever shrinking dimensions of structures and layers. At imec, the bulk of scaling efforts like these used to be done in collaborative programs involving IDMs and foundries, but also the fabless and fablite companies. All of these programs were strongly supported by our partnerships with the supplier community.

But today, to work out the various innovations in process steps needed for future nodes, we simply need this stronger and more strategic engagement from the supplier community, involving experimenting on the latest tools, even if they are still under development. And vice-versa, the tool and material suppliers can no longer only develop tools based on specs documents. To fabricate their products successfully and on time, they need to develop and test in a real process flow, and be involved in the development of new device concepts, to be able to fabricate tools and design process steps that match the requirements of the new devices.

A case in point: it is no longer possible now to develop and asses the latest generation of advanced litho without matching materials and etch processes. And reversely, the other tool suppliers need the result of the latest litho developments. So today, all process steps have to be optimized concurrently with other process steps, integrating material innovations at the same time. And this is absolutely necessary for success.

So that’s where the Supplier Hub enters.

In 2013, imec announced an extended collaboration with ASML, involving the set up an advanced patterning center, which will grow to 100 engineers. In 2014, the new center was started as the cornerstone of the supplier hub. Mid 2014, Lam Research agreed to partake in the hub. And since then a growing number of suppliers has been joining, among them the big names in the industry. Some of more recent collaborations that we announced e.g. were Hitachi (CD-SEM metrology equipment) and SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions (cleaning and surface preparation tools).

End of 2014, ASML started installing its latest EUV-tool, the NXE:3300. In the meantime, we have initiated building a new cleanroom next to our existing 300mm infrastructure. The extra floor space will be needed to accommodate all the additional equipment that will come in in the frame of the tighter collaboration among suppliers. Finally, during our October 2014 Internal Partner Conference, we organized a first Supplier Collaboration Forum where the suppliers discussed and evaluated their projects with all partners, representing a large share of the semiconductor community.

We have also been expanding the supplier hub concept through a deeper involvement of material suppliers. These will prove a cornerstone of the hub, as many advances we need for scaling to the next nodes will be based on material innovations.

Enabling the Internet-Of-Everything

I hold great optimism for the industry. The last years, the success of mobile devices has fueled the demand for semiconductor-based products. These mobile applications will continue to stimulate data consumption, going from 4G to 5G as consumers clamor for greater data availability, immediacy, and access. Beyond the traditional computing and communications applications loom new markets, collectively called the ‘Internet of Everything.’

In addition, nanoelectronics will enable disruptive innovations in healthcare to monitor, measure, analyze, predict and prevent illnesses. Wearable devices have already proven themselves in encouraging healthier lifestyles. The industry’s challenge is now to ensure that the data delivered via personal devices meet medical quality standards. In that frame, our R&D efforts will continue to focus on ultra-low-power multi-sensor platforms.

While there are many facets to the inflection point puzzle, the answers of the industry begin to take shape. The cost of finding new solutions will keep on rising. Individual companies carry ever larger risks if their choices prove wrong. But through closer collabo- ration, companies can share that risk while developing solutions, exploring and creating new technologies, shorten times to market, and be ready to bring a new generation of products to a waiting world. The industry may indeed stand at an inflection point, but the future is bright. Innovation cannot be stifled. And collaboration remains the consensus of an industry focused on the next new thing. Today, IC does not just stand for Integrated Circuit, it indeed calls for Innovation and Collaboration.

Dr. Terry Brewer, founder and CEO of Brewer Science, was presented the Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at the American Chemical Society’s 249th National Meeting. The award recognizes Dr. Brewer’s innovative global leadership in creating, developing, and manufacturing revolutionary microelectronic products found in today’s technology devices. The award also recognizes his strong support in cultivating the next generation of technology leaders.

“Receiving the Kathryn C. Hach Award is very special to me and our company,” said Dr. Terry Brewer, founder and CEO of Brewer Science. “Kathryn C. Hach is such a strong symbol for small business entrepreneurship and for making a positive difference. The American Chemical Society’s sponsorship of this award is significant and inspiring to all those interested in taking the ‘path less traveled.’ The choice to start your own business not only returns unique value to you, but it also provides you with the opportunity to return unique value to many, many others. The outcomes from my choice to begin a new business are seen in the new products and technologies developed at Brewer Science and in our employees. Our people are engaged in continuous learning and are growing personally and professionally. The energy from learning and growing overflows into the community as employees find creative ways to share and give back. The value has risen exponentially each day for the employees and the community associated with Brewer Science. Thank you for this special recognition. It is an honor.”

Earlier this year, Dr. Terry Brewer was honored with the 2014 SEMI Award for North America. Dr. Brewer was also selected by the Missouri Arts Council to be the recipient of the 2014 Missouri Arts Award for Philanthropy, the state’s highest honor to individuals and institutions that have made profound and lasting contributions to the cultural and artistic landscape of Missouri. Under Dr. Brewer’s leadership, Brewer Science was recognized as one of the Top 50 Employers by Minority Engineer magazine in 2014 and again in 2015. The company received recognition from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as a Top Workplace in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, Brewer Science was presented with the Flag of Freedom Award from the Missouri Department of Economic Development for the company’s commitment to consider Missouri veterans for employment through the State of Missouri Show-Me Heroes program.

Following two lethargic years of low growth and some setbacks, worldwide sales of optoelectronics, sensors, actuators, and discrete semiconductors regained strength in 2014 and collectively increased 9 percent to reach an all-time high of $63.8 billion after rising just 1 percent in 2012 and 2013, according to IC Insights’ new 2015 O-S-D Report—A Market Analysis and Forecast for Optoelectronics, Sensors/Actuators, and Discretes.  Modest gains in the global economy, steady increases in electronic systems production, and higher unit demand in 2014 drove a strong recovery in discretes along with substantial improvements in sensors/actuators and greater growth in optoelectronics, says the new 360-page annual report, which becomes available in March 2015.

Each of the three O-S-D market segments are forecast to increase at or above their long-term annual growth rates in 2015 and 2016 (Figure 1) as the global economy continues to gradually improve and major new end-use systems applications boost sales in some of the largest product categories of optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discretes.  After a modest slowdown in 2017, due to the next anticipated economic downturn, all three O-S-D market segments are expected to continue reaching record-high sales in 2018 and 2019, based on the five-year forecast in the new 10th edition of IC Insights’ O-S-D Report.

Optoelectronics sales are now forecast to rise 10 percent in 2015 to set a new record-high $34.8 billion after growing 8 percent in 2014 to reach the current annual peak of $31.6 billion.  Sales of sensors/actuators are also expected to strengthen slightly in 2015, rising 7 percent to $9.9 billion, which will break the current record high of $9.2 billion set in 2014 when this market segment grew 6 percent.  The commodity-filled discretes market is forecast to see a more normal 5 percent increase in 2015 and reach a new record high of $24.2 billion after roaring back in 2014 with a strong 11 percent increase following declines of 7 percent in 2012 and 5 percent in 2013.  The two-year drop was the first back-to-back decline for discretes sales in more than 30 years and primarily resulted from delays in purchases of power transistors and other devices as cautious systems manufacturers kept their inventories low in the midst of uncertainty about the weak global economy and end-user demand.

OSD fig 1

 

In 2014, combined sales of O-S-D accounted for 18 percent of the semiconductor industry’s $354.9 billion in total revenues compared to 16 percent in 2004 and 13 percent in 1994.  (Optoelectronics was 9 percent of the 2014 sales total with sensors/actuators being 3 percent, discretes at 6 percent and ICs accounting for 82 percent, or $290.8 billion, last year).  On the strength of optoelectronics and sensor products—including CMOS image sensors, high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and devices built with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology—total O-S-D sales have outpaced the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ICs since the late 1990s.  IC Insights’ new report shows this trend continuing between 2014 and 2019 with combined O-S-D sales projected to grow by a CAGR of 6.9 percent versus 5.5 percent for ICs.

The 2015 O-S-D Report shows strong optoelectronics growth being driven in the next five years by new embedded cameras and image-recognition systems made with CMOS imaging devices as well as the spread of LED-based solid-state lights and high-speed fiber optic networks built with laser transmitters that are needed to keep up with tremendous increases in Internet traffic, video transmissions, and cloud-computing services, including those connected to the huge potential of the Internet of Things (IoT). The sensors/actuators market is forecast to see steady growth from high unit demand driven by the spread of automated embedded-control functions, new sensing networks, wearable systems, and measurement capabilities being connected to IoT in the second half of this decade.  Discretes sales are expected to climb higher primarily due to strong growth in power transistors and other devices used in battery-operated electronics and to make all types of systems more energy efficient—including automobiles, high-density servers in Internet data centers, industrial equipment, and home appliances.

Bosch #1

Bosch reinforced its leadership in the MEMS industry in 2014 with a 16.6 percent increase to $1167 million up from $1001 million in 2013. Bosch alone held 12 percent of the very fragmented MEMS market in 2014 compared to 11 percent in 2012.

Bosch took the leadership in 2013 thanks to its design in the Apple iPhone 5s and iPad with its accelerometer. Apple boosted Bosch’s MEMS revenue in 2014 again as Bosch is the sole supplier of the pressure sensors added to the iPhone 6 and 6+. Besides Apple, Bosch enjoyed a strong growth of its motion combo sensors with Sony both for gaming with the Sony PS4 and for handsets and tablets. Bosch started going after the consumer MEMS market in 2005 when it created Bosch Sensortec. It added MEMS microphone to its portfolio with the acquisition of Akustica in 2009. Bosch’s bet on consumer applications paid off as this segment now accounted for a third of Bosch’s total MEMS revenue in 2014 compared to less than 18 percent in 2012.

The legacy automotive business continues to dominate Bosch’s MEMS revenue with 67 percent in 2014. Bosch is the undisputed leader in automotive MEMS with 30 percent market shares in 2014 and with revenue more than three times as high as the 2nd largest Automotive MEMS maker Denso.

Texas Instrument #2

Texas Instrument enjoyed a rebound of its Digital Light Processing business in 2014 with an estimated $805 million up from $709 million in 2013. The business growth in 2014 was seen mostly in the main business line of DLP business projector segment using TI’s Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). TI’s DLP business had declined from 2010 to 2013 as Epson – TI’s DLP’s main competitor with its (non-MEMS) LCD technology – won shares in the projector business. Also the business projector market suffered in the past few years from the competition from low cost LCD flat panels being used as an alternative to projectors for many conference rooms, especially in Asia region. TI won back shares in the projection display market against Epson’s LCD technology last year.

STMicroelectronics #3

ST’s MEMS business suffered a 19 percent decline in revenue from $777 million to $630 million. ST is still the #1 MEMS manufacturer for consumer and mobile applications with 15 percent of this segment. The historical MEMS business of ST i.e. motion sensors for consumer applications has been hit as ST lost its spot in the latest iPhone for the accelerometer in 2013 and for the gyroscope in 2014 and as well as for the combo motion sensors in the Samsung Galaxy S5. In this game of musical chair ST mitigated the damage however by winning 100 percent of the pressure sensor in the Galaxy S5.

ST has laid in 2014 the foundation for a rebound of its MEMS business in 2015. Especially ST’s MEMS microphone is growing very fast thanks to the design win in the iPhone 6 in addition to ST’s existing microphone sales into the iPad. ST’s MEMS microphone shipment grew more than 2.5 times in 2014 and IHS expects the Apple design win to attract further customers.

The decline of inkjet makers (HP #4th and Canon #7th) 

HP #4th and Canon #7th continue to see the revenue associated to their MEMS inkjet printheads declining. Canon saw a slight decline of its inkjet printer sales. Sales of inkjet printers were up 1 percent for HP in 2014 but the shipment of inkjet is declining since HP started the transition from disposable printheads (which are part of the ink cartridge) to permanent printheads in 2006.

Knowles #5 

After enjoying a 19 percent and 50 percent growth respectively in 2012 and 2013, Knowles saw its MEMS microphone revenue decline 9 percent from $505 to $460 million in 2014. While Apple was largely responsible for the formidable year 2013 as Knowles won a second spot in the iPhone 5S, the decline in 2014 was also related to the iPhone. Early teardowns by IHS of the iPhone 6 and 6+ reveal that Knowles was present with ST and AAC in the first batch of iPhones. Knowles dropped out of the supply chain however due to a technical defect leaving the business to ST, AAC and the new-comer Goertek. Still Knowles remains by far the top MEMS microphone supplier with more than 45 percent units shares. It is also the second largest MEMS manufacturer for consumer and mobile applications with 12 percent revenue share. IHS believes that Knowles will resume with revenue growth in 2015 as it starts shipping to Apple again.

BAW filters makers continue to thrive on LTE (Avago #6th and TriQuint)

Avago and TriQuint grew 6 percent and 15 percent respectively their MEMS based BAW filter business. The LTE band is a boon for the two BAW filter makers, especially in the 2.3 GHz to 2.7 GHz bands, as BAW devices perform better than SAW filters at these frequencies, and solve the coexistence issues of Wi-Fi and LTE. The BAW filter market is currently experiencing resurgence thanks to LTE and as the number of bands of in handsets keeps increasing.

InvenSense # 8

InvenSense was the fastest growing company in the top 10 with an impressive 34 percent jump to $332 million. The vast majority of his jump comes from InvenSense win of the 6-axis motion combo sensor in the iPhone 6 and 6+. InvenSense has also been very successful with its gyroscope built into camera modules for Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).

Freescale # 10

Rounding up the top 10, Freescale saw its MEMS revenue grow 6 percent to $271 million in 2014. Automotive continue to make up for around 80 percent of Freescale’s. Freescale enjoyed especially a robust expansion of its pressure sensor sales for Tire Pressure Monitoring Applications.

In March 2015 NXP and Freescale announced a merger. There is no overlap on the sensor side. NXP has had various MEMS developments in the past 10 years (RF MEMS switches, MEMS timing…) but nothing has come in production yet. NXP is however one of the leading magnetic sensor suppliers for automotive. The new entity will become the leading merchant supplier of automotive semiconductor sensors with a very strong positon in chassis and safety applications especially. NXP is also the leading suppliers of microcontrollers used as sensor hubs as it produces the sensor hubs for the Apple iPhone and iPads.

Reference: IHS MEMS Market Tracker Q1 2015

top 10 mems -2

Smaller and more powerful medical systems are driving up sales of ICs, sensors, and other devices for the medical semiconductor market.  IC Insights believes medical semiconductor sales growth will strengthen this year and next before sliding back in the next expected economic slowdown in 2017 (Figure 1). Between 2013 and 2018, worldwide medical semiconductor sales are projected to rise by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3 percent, reaching $8.2 billion in the final year of the forecast.  In the 2008-2013 period (which included the 2009 downturn), medical semiconductor sales grew by a CAGR of 6.9 percent.

medical semiconductor sales

The IC portion of the medical semiconductor business is expected to rise by a CAGR of 10.7 percent to $6.6 billion in 2018 while the marketshare for optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discretes (O-S-D) is forecast to grow by an annual rate of 20.3 percent to $1.6 billion that year (primarily due to strong demand for solid-state sensors and optical imaging devices).

ICs and other semiconductor technologies continue to play key roles in reshaping and redefining medical systems. With more medical imaging systems being digitized and healthcare equipment running under computer control, IC-driven advancements are happening almost as quickly as they are in mobile phones, and many consumer electronics. Government certification can slow some system introductions. The scaling of IC feature sizes, system-on-chip (SoC) designs, improvements in sensors, and powerful analog frontend (AFE) data converters are reducing the size of medical diagnostic equipment and the cost of using them.

Developments of new medical systems for imaging and diagnostics, treatment, and surgery are heading in two different directions as equipment makers respond to growing pressures for lower costs and increased availability of healthcare worldwide. In one direction, new medical equipment is becoming smaller and less expensive so that systems can be used in the rooms of hospital patients, clinics, and doctor offices. These systems cost one-quarter to one-tenth the price of large diagnostic equipment—such as traditional MRI and CT scanners, which can cost $1 million and are normally installed in medical-imaging centers or in dedicated hospital examination rooms.

Also, lower-cost wearable medical systems and fitness monitors, which can wirelessly transmit vital signs and other readings to doctors or be used as “activity trackers” for health-conscious individuals, are seeing tremendous growth. In some cases, medical and fitness-monitoring applications can be performed directly by smartphones using their embedded sensors and downloaded software apps. However, medically certified mobile healthcare devices are usually required in most countries for monitoring patients and the elderly in their homes. The information is sent to doctors via wireless connections to cellphones or the Internet.

The second major trend in medical equipment is the development of more powerful and integrated systems, which are expensive but promise to lower healthcare costs by detecting cancer and diseases sooner and supporting less invasive surgery for quick recovery times and shorter stays in hospitals. Computer-assisted surgery systems, surgical robots, and operating-room automation are among new technologies being pursued by some hospitals in developed markets.

High growth in lower-cost systems along with the rising price tag of more sophisticated hospital equipment in developed country markets is expected to increase total medical electronics systems sales by a CAGR of 8.2 percent between 2013 and 2018, to $70.1 billion in the final year of the forecast.

Additional details on the IC market for medical and wearable electronic is included in the 2015 edition of IC Insights’ IC Market Drivers—A Study of Emerging and Major End-Use Applications Fueling Demand for Integrated Circuits.