"World of MEMS" forum within the framework of electronica MicroNanoWorld in Hall A2 at electronica 2006 (14 – 17 November in Munich) shows the big trends for tiny electronic systems.
Anyone who has tried to make a cell phone call at a train station knows the problem: announcements over the PA system and the sound of incoming trains make it nearly impossible for the person on the other end of the line to hear clearly what is being said. The breakthrough with Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) technology in electroacoustics is eliminating misunderstandings: MEMS microphones can be precisely aimed at the voice source, and they filter out unwanted background noise – which is ideal for those who use PDAs with speech recognition, notebooks with IP-telephony or digital cameras with audio recording capabilities.
Besides their excellent voice quality, MEMS microphones also have an edge over conventional electret condenser microphones (ECMs) because they require less space and they are not sensitive to the high temperatures that arise in printed circuit board production. Last year, five percent of all the microphones sold were based on MEMS technology. By 2008, their market share will be 15 percent (source: The Information Network). The current global market volume of 130 million US dollars is expected to rise to 680 million US dollars by 2010 with an annual growth rate of 62 percent (source: WTC Wicht Technology Consulting).
With its "World of MEMS" forum, electronica 2006 is – within the framework of electronica MicroNanoWorld in Hall A2 – spotlighting the development of MEMS microphones and other applications for microelectromechanical systems. Examples of such applications include "micro pumps" for cooling computer chips, micro fuel cells, pressure measurement devices implanted in heart vessels, lab-on-chip "mini laboratories" for rapid analysis of substances, and acceleration sensors for controlling airbags.
This comprehensive forum is covering all areas related to these small systems: MEMS sensor technology, RF MEMS, optical MEMS (MOEMS), bio MEMS, and NEMS, as well as packaging. The participants include such companies as Berliner Glas KGaA, Kyocera Fineceramics, Leister Process Technologies, and Panasonic Electric Works. Besides speaker presentations from the participating companies, the forum is also dedicating space and speaker time to general technological and business issues within the MEMS industry. As part of an open panel discussion, a group of experts will be examining such current topics as "New Volume Markets for MEMS Consumer Electronics", "MEMS in Automotive: What’s Next?", "Will RF MEMS Hold Their Promise?", "Who Earns Good Money with MEMS?" and "Inertial MEMS on the Move".
Further information on the World of MEMS and MicroNanoWorld at electronica 2006 is available on the Internet at http://www.electronica.de/micronanoworld
About "Global-electronics.net" and the "Global electronics Network"
The http://www.global-electronics.net Internet portal is the international electronics industry's online platform. It offers such resources as industry news, market data, product innovation updates, and application reports as well as information on the "Global electronics" trade shows. The http://www.ge-club.net "Global electronics Club" serves as the industry's worldwide networking platform.
Besides this portal, the "Global electronics Network" includes "electronica," "Productronica" and "LASER. World of Photonics," which are the world's leading trade shows in their industry sectors, as well as premier regional trade shows in Brazil, Hong Kong, China and India. With a total of over 8,000 exhibiting companies and more than 280,000 attendees for the "Global electronics" events, Messe München International is one of the world's foremost trade show organizers in this sector.
About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI, Munich Trade Fairs International Group) is one of the world's leading trade-fair companies. It organizes around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key hightech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organizes trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With four subsidiaries abroad and with 62 foreign representatives serving 86 countries, MMI has a truly global network.
