MEMS sales to continue rising in consumer electronics and handset markets, says iSuppli

Revenues for MEMS sensors and actuators used in consumer electronics and mobile phones is projected to reach US$1.5 billion in 2010, up 22.9% from US$1.3 billion in 2009, according to iSuppli.

MEMS sensors and actuators are employed in a variety of additional sectors, including data processing (e.g. printers, projectors, copy machines), automotive and other high-value markets embracing the industrial, medical, wired communications and aerospace-defense segments.

"Unlike most industries, the consumer and mobile MEMS market did not suffer a decline i 2009, even at the height of the global economic downturn, and growth ranging from 17% to as much as 28% will continue during the next four years," said Jeremie Bouchaud, principal analyst for MEMS and sensors at iSuppli.

New consumer products will drive existing and future opportunities, iSuppli believes. MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes used for e-books and slate tablets like the iPad from Apple will amount to US$105 million in 2014, compared to an almost negligible US$3 million in 2009.

Also helping spur expansion of the consumer and mobile MEMS market are various new emerging devices coming into fruition in 2010 and 2011, iSuppli said. Among them are 3-axis gyroscopes, pico-projectors, and RF MEMS switches and varactors. The new MEMS devices will bring an additional US$1.3 billion by 2014, up from only US$33 million in 2009, according to iSuppli.

Mobile phones remain the dominant segment for consumer and mobile MEMS. In 2010, MEMS sensors and actuators in mobile handsets are forecast to reach US$821.4 million, making up 53.1% of the market, iSuppli indicated. The segment will continue to be the largest user of consumer and mobile MEMS over the next few years, ahead of consumer projectors, notebooks and hard disk drives, games controllers and digital still cameras.

Accelerometers remain the chief MEMS device, netting US$557.1 million in revenues for 2010, iSuppli said. While their use in gaming controllers and handsets has either reached saturation or is close to doing so, accelerometers will increase their penetration in notebooks and netbooks, and are sure to gain greater exposure in booming categories like e-books and slate tablets.

Other MEMS devices finishing strongly in 2010, in descending order, are gyroscopes, BAW filters, microphones and MEMS-based displays for projectors. By 2014, MEMS displays will leap into third place, pushing microphones and BAW filters into the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, according to iSuppli.