Tag Archives: Small Times Magazine

September 6, 2011 — Optical MEMS maker poLight partnered with SVTC Technologies, a development and manufacturing services provider for new, emerging silicon-based technologies. poLight will work with SVTC Technologies to optimize its TLens production process for large volumes.

poLight’s TLens (Tunable Lens) actuators are based on a proprietary optical polymer technology and target lower costs and better performance in barrel and cube camera modules for mobile phones.

The MEMS-based technology competes with voice coil motor (VCM) products, occupying a 3 x 3mm footprint with low Z height and consuming less power, offering <1ms autofocus operation with AF algorithms. The TLens withstands 260°C for reflow during assembly.

poLight will have access to SVTC’s 95,000sq.ft. IP-secure, 24/7 cleanroom and multi-disciplined engineering team. Goals include accelerated commercialization with a production-ready process, and successful transfer to a high-volume MEMS foundry.

poLight secured $18.5 million in July from major investors that called poLight’s target market a "viable" market and praised its technology and infrastructure development.

Christian Dupont, poLight CEO, noted SVTC’s semiconductor processing experience and 8" and 12" wafer capabilities as key to high-volume manufacturing migration. Bert Bruggeman, CEO of SVTC, added that SVTC is expanding its MEMS expertise through the project.

poLight makes micro-optics components that are wafer-scale and reflowable. For more information, visit www.polight.com.

SVTC Technologies provides development and commercialization services for innovative semiconductor process-based technologies and products, cost effectively and in an IP-secure manner. More information can be found at www.svtc.com.

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September 2, 2011 — Nanoscale transistor and optical chips as well as biosensors, microfluidics and micromirror chips are limited by photolithography, specifically, light wavelengths. Electron beam lithography (e-beam litho) cannot expose an entire chip at once. Research from MIT’s Research Laboratory of Electronics and Singapore’s Engineering Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) demonstrates a new technique that could produce 10nm chip features using plastic pillar deposition and predetermined pillar collapses.

The work evolved from research on preventing nanopillar collapse, which afflicts lithography processes at the 10nm level, according to Karl Berggren, the Emanuel E. Landsman (1958) Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Etching a pillar into the resist requires focusing an e-beam on a single spot, unlike e-beam lithography techniques. Scattering sparse pillars across the chip and allowing them to collapse into more complex patterns could increase e-beam lithography efficiency.

The layer of resist deposited in e-beam lithography is so thin that, after the unexposed resist has been washed away, the fluid that naturally remains behind is enough to submerge the pillars. As the fluid evaporates and the pillars emerge, the surface tension of the fluid remaining between the pillars causes them to collapse.

Berggren and Huigao Duan, a visiting student from Lanzhou University in China, published a paper last year in Nano Letters showing how two pillars will collapse toward each other if they are very close. In a follow-up paper, appearing in the Sept. 5 issue of the nanotech journal Small, Berggren, Duan (now at A*STAR) and Joel Yang (who did his PhD work with Berggren, also joining A*STAR after graduating in 2009) show that by controlling the shape of isolated pillars, they can get them to collapse in whatever direction they choose.

Slightly flattening one side of the pillar will cause it to collapse in the opposite direction. In experiments, the partially flattened pillars collapsed in the intended direction with about 98% reliability, which is a good "starting point" to build toward industrial yields, said Berggren.

If pillars are too close together, they’ll collapse toward each other, no matter their shape. That restricts the range of patterns that the technique can produce on chips with structures packed tightly together.

Joanna Aizenberg, the Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science at Harvard University, has been using the controlled collapse of structures on the micrometer scale to produce materials with novel optical properties for several years. The sub-100-nanometer scale will create new applications, said Aizenberg.

Learn more at www.mit.edu.

September 2, 2011 — Benedetto Vigna, group VP and GM of ST Microelectronics’ MEMS, Sensors, and High-Performance Analog Division, will keynote the iNEMI MEMS workshop. The meeting, September 15-16 in Brighton, UK, will bring together micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) industry and research communities to tackle MEMS challenges.

Vigna recently spoke at the 4th International Microtech/MEMS Conference in Korea on the future of MEMS.

The iNEMI and MEMS Industry Group (MIG) meeting is intended to set the priorities and direction for future industry-led collaborative programs. Other speakers hail from Bosch, Coventor, Fraunhofer IZM, imec, iNEMI, Léti, Tronics Group, Yole Développement and more.

Attendees will help identify major technology areas where MEMS reliability, testability, performance, and cost can be improved. Participants will then begin to define collaborative projects that iNEMI and other organizations can develop that will either partially or fully address the technology and supply chain gaps; forming action groups to define and execute the required industrial collaborative programs and research efforts.

Learn more about the MEMS workshop here, or register.

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September 1, 2011 – PRWEB — Laser direct structuring (LDS) technology provider SelectConnect Technologies introduced 3D design capabilities to create electromechanical functionality on molded interconnect devices (MID).

LDS allows more complex geometric 3D designs. Electromechanical circuits are produced on molded thermoplastic components for antenna used for cellular, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ISM band applications, automotive sensors, medical devices, RFID, and security housings.

SelectConnect acquired an LPKF Microline 160 3D laser system, which transfers the electromechanical design from a CAD data file directly onto a molded thermoplastic component or into a device structure. The circuit traces are embedded onto the thermoplastic component by the laser. Then electrical pathways and landings are electroless plated using the patented SelectConnect process for metallizing circuits on molded components. Surface mount components can then be attached using reflow soldering or wire bonding.

The LDS capability shortens time-to-market and easily incorporates design changes during prototyping. Changes are quickly made to the CAD file and uploaded to the laser. Parts are then etched and metalized. In many instances, new parts are ready for testing the next day.

SelectConnect Technologies, a division of Arlington Plating Company, provides LPKF’s LDS process. SelectConnect Technologies is ISO 9001 and ITAR registered. Visit http://www.selectconnecttech.com.

September 1, 2011 — The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) created the MIT/MTL Center for Graphene Devices and Systems (MIT-CG) to advance research on graphene beyond fundamentals. This interdepartmental center, part of the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL), brings together MIT researchers and industrial partners to advance the science and engineering of graphene-based technologies.

Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon laid out in a hexagonal lattice that has been compared to chickenwire.

Work at the new Center will go beyond fundamental research, exploring advanced technologies and strategies that will lead to graphene-based materials, devices and systems for a variety of applications, including graphene-enabled systems for energy generation, smart fabrics and materials, radio-frequency communications, and sensing, to name a few.

"The unique structure and properties of graphene have the potential to impact numerous industries," says Tomas Palacios, the Emanuel E. Landsman Career Development Associate Professor of Electronics at MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and first director of the MIT-CG. "The new MIT/MTL Center for Graphene Devices and Systems will be a driving force in exploring the numerous applications for graphene, and will create a vision for the future of graphene-enabled systems."

This Center benefits from very close collaboration with industrial partners. According to Michael Strano, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and co-director of the Center. “This academic-industrial partnership is essential to the advancement of both fundamental graphene science, and of emerging technological applications. One of the main goals of the Center is to create an environment that fosters this collaboration.”

The Center coordinates the work of the more than 15 MIT research groups working on graphene, and leverages several existing collaborative efforts in graphene science that currently exist on campus, including a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative grant (MURI) from the Office of Naval Research with Harvard and Boston University, as well as a regular Boston-Area CarbOn Nanoscience (BACON) Meeting.

The kick-off meeting of the MIT/MTL Center for Graphene Devices and Systems was held at MIT on July 28th, 2011 with important participation from industry and government agencies.

For more information, please visit: http://www-mtl.mit.edu/wpmu/graphene/

Also read: IBM, ETH Zurich nanotechnology research center opens

August 31, 2011 – WEBWIRE — CellGuide selected Baolab’s 3D NanoCompass IC technology as a companion to its location and positioning products, fully integrating GPS and compass functionalities in the CLIOX-C.

Baolab’s electronic 3-axis CMOS MEMS NanoCompass technology for the CLIOX-C will mark the first order for Baolab’s NanoEMS technology, nanoscale micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) packaged within the standard metal structure of a CMOS wafer using standard, high-volume CMOS manufacturing lines. This enables them to be made an order of magnitude smaller than existing techniques of building MEMS on the surface of the wafer and cost less. The MEMS technology can reduce the cost of a compass by up to two thirds.

Also read: Record MEMS revenues thanks to smartphone/tablet adoption

The GPS and compass functionalities can operate together or be accessed independently by the host device’s application processor, improving power management, CellGuide reports. The combination creates point-and-identify augmented reality for mobile devices, tablets, and cameras. The compass function provides immediate tunnel-exit and dead-reckoning features for intermittent GPS signal compensation and other "challenging situations," said Adina Shorr, CellGuide CEO.

The nanoscale MEMS manufacturing technique encourages MEMS sensor integration in more high-volume, consumer electronics, pointed out Dave Doyle, Baolab CEO.

Baolab Microsystems has developed an innovative technology called NanoEMS that enables MEMS to be created inside the CMOS wafer using standard manufacturing techniques. To learn more about Boalab’s NanoEMS technology and products, visit www.baolab.com/compass.htm.

CellGuide is a fabless semiconductor, IP licensing and design services company, providing leading performance multi-beacon positioning solutions for consumer devices. Learn more at www.cell-guide.com.

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August 31, 2011 — The market for consumer/mobile micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) is growing to record heights, thanks to integration into smartphones and tablets, according to the latest IHS iSuppli Consumer & Mobile MEMS Market Tracker report.

Revenue for consumer and mobile MEMS will hit $2.25 billion in 2011, growing a record 37%. This segment, which grew 27% in 2010 to $1.64 billion, is the largest sector of MEMS products. IHS expects the mobile and consumer MEMS sector to reach $4.54 billion in 2015, giving it a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.5% (see the above figure).

MEMS revenue for handsets will reach $1.21 billion, approximately 50% of the total consumer and mobile MEMS space. Gaming follows with $221.49 million in revenue (a decline from 2010), followed by media tablets with $158.64 million (up 331% year-over-year). Tablets will overtake gaming next year.

Accelerometers and gyroscopes provide intuitive motion-based displays; MEMS microphones improve auditory performance; bulk acoustic wave filters facilitate wireless Internet access, said Jérémie Bouchaud, director and principal analyst for MEMS and sensors at IHS, explaining how MEMS enable the smartphone/tablet functionality. Tablet/smartphone adoption is rising, and MEMS adoption into these devices is increasing, creating this record growth rate in 2011.

A new class of emerging MEMS sensors — thermopiles, varactors, timing devices, pressure sensors for indoor navigation, radio frequency MEMS switches and actuators used for autofocus functions in high-megapixel cameras and pico projectors — will further this trend and increase MEMS content in consumer devices.

Accelerometers will generate the most revenue for consumer and mobile MEMS in 2011. Gyroscopes will generate the second-highest revenue.

The 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, when used in conjunction with an accelerometer and a digital compass, allows for more accurate, smoother and faster motion sensing for applications such as gaming and augmented reality. Revenue in 2011 for 3-axis gyroscopes will soar to $420 million, up from $127 million last year. The 3-axis gyroscope can be found in smartphones such as the iPhone 4 from Apple Inc. and the Galaxy SII from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.; in virtually all tablet devices, including the Apple iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab; as well as in gaming devices like the PlayStation Move motion controller from Sony Corp.

Two new MEMS devices were introduced in 2011: a new type of joystick from Knowles Electronics, the leading manufacturer of MEMS microphones and a Texas Instruments thermopile or contactless temperature sensor. The MEMS joystick forgoes optical or magnetic sensors, is slimmer and less power-hungry for gaming accessories for handsets and tablets, IHS believes. The thermopile can be placed into a phone or tablet next to the processor to help with thermal management for optimal performance.

To learn more about the latest developments in the MEMS market, see the IHS iSuppli report: "Consumer MEMS Market Outdoes Itself Again in 2012 with 37% Growth."

IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of information and insight in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape, including energy and power; design and supply chain; defense, risk and security; environmental, health and safety (EHS) and sustainability; country and industry forecasting; and commodities, pricing and cost. 

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August 30, 2011 – Marketwire — Ryerson University students and recent graduates can access up to 150 internships with small- and medium-sized businesses in southern Ontario, Canada, thanks to funding from the national government. The internships are tailored to benefit research capabilities in the student body as well, focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.

"These investments in Ryerson University will help businesses access the research capacity and resources they need to develop new ideas and bring those to market, while also helping graduates gain valuable work experience and entrepreneurial skills," said Costas Menegakis, Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

FedDev Ontario is providing Ryerson University with up to $2,035,000 to arrange up to 150 six-month internships (Details at http://www.ryerson.ca/ors/funding/internal/iSTEM_bootcamp.pdf).

One participating company is Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corp. (ACS Corp.), which usese micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) technology to create a breath alcohol sensing instrument that prevents vehicle operation if the driver’s breath alcohol concentration is over a pre-determined level. ACS Corp. has earned TS 16949, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.

Participants in related electronics manufacturing fields include C2C Link Corporation, which designs and manufactures standard and customized nonlinear optical chips using their proprietary crystal poling technology; LED nanomaterials developer Lumentra Inc.; Luminautics Inc., working in reliable LED display technology; and Thermodyne Engineering Ltd., a consulting engineering and qualification/certification testing company.

Other participating companies include Delvinia Holdings Inc., Kensington Communications, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, Met-Scan Canada Ltd., Mount Knowledge, NCK Engineering Ltd., Solana Networks, Trade Secret Printing, Vision Coaters Canada Ltd., and waveDNA.

In addition to FedDev Ontario’s $2 million investment in the internship program, Ryerson will receive up to $750,000 to partner with small- and medium-sized businesses on activities such as applied research, engineering design, technology development, product testing, and certification under FedDev Ontario’s Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative.

FedDev Ontario was created as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to support businesses and communities in southern Ontario. Now in its third year of operation, the Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to support businesses and other organizations through partnerships and investments in skills and training; innovation; research and development; and increased productivity. To learn more, please visit www.feddevontario.gc.ca.

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August 30, 2011 — Large organic semiconductor molecular structures will lead to plastic-based flexible electronics produced via roll-to-roll processing, inkjet printing or spray deposition, cheaply and in high volumes. Oana Jurchescu, assistant professor of physics at Wake Forest University, and a team of Stanford, Imperial College (London), University of Kentucky and Appalachian State researchers developed an extremely large molecule that is stable and possesses excellent electrical properties at a low cost.

The team studies field-effect transistors (FETs), specifically the effect of molecular structure on their electrical performance. They investigated new organic semiconductor materials amenable to transistor applications and explored their structure-property relationships.

Organic electronics build on carbon-based materials, which can be used to make artificial skin, smart bandages, flexible displays, smart windshields, wearable electronics and electronic wall papers that change patterns with a flip of the switch.

The research was predicated on predictions that larger carbon frameworks would have superior properties to their smaller counterparts. The Wake Forest team’s goal was to make these larger frameworks stable and soluble enough for study. "We need to improve our understanding of how they work," said Jurchescu.

Jurchescu’s lab is part of the physics department and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials. Wake Forest graduate students Katelyn Goetz and Jeremy Ward also worked on the research.

The team recently published their manuscript in Advanced Materials. Access it here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201101619/abstract

Learn more about Wake Forest University at http://www.wfu.edu/

August 29, 2011 — MicroStrain Inc. provided NASA Kennedy Space Center with wireless sensor technology to remotely monitor lift-off acoustics and vibration generated during the launch of both Endeavour and Atlantis space shuttles.

Noise generated by rocket exhaust can impact spacecraft, ground facilities and hazardous equipment.

MicroStrain’s wireless network was comprised of multiple G-Link accelerometers, a SG-Link strain node, a wireless sensor data aggregator (WSDA), and SensorCloud web-based data management platform. MicroStrain sensors gathered data, which was then used in corroborating prediction models.

NASA engineers Rudy Werlink and Ravi Margasahayam quantified the acoustic levels generated by spacecraft launches at a distance just over one mile from launch site. Engineers were able to validate math models for far-field acoustics. The project aims to improve safety and reliability, ensuring equipment and structures are maintained safely, said NASA’s Margasahayam. The test data is key to study the safety and operational readiness and/or to predict impending failure of ground structures, spacecraft, and equipment.

MicroStrain’s wireless systems provided a solution for many of the unique NASA test parameters. Unable to access the test site 48 hours prior to launch, the system was required to operate during this period in anticipation of launch. The result yielded over 3 gigabytes of data. By leveraging the remote data visualization and management tool, SensorCloud, MicroStrain support engineers assisted NASA to isolate and interpret launch event data.

MicroStrain Inc. makes micro sensors that are used in a wide range of applications. Learn more at http://www.microstrain.com/.

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