Present in a multitude of industries
MEMS are effectively microscopic machines that vary in size from under one micron to several millimetres. They generally contain an electrical component that processes data and a mechanical one that acts in response to that data.
Today, MEMS can incorporate functions such as gyroscopes, pressure and motion sensors, accelerometers and altimeters making them indispensable for consumer electronics ranging from remote controls and smartphones to pico-projectors and printers.
They are also transforming mass data storage, by providing ever tinier solutions for disk drives and servers. In the car industry MEMS accelerometers are increasing the reliability, and safety, of airbag systems. In the medical sector their preciseness and size allows them to be used as chips inserted under patients’ skin and built into scalpels for use during operations. The list of applications seems endless.
Ensuring MEMS are well-designed and safe
IEC SC (Subcommittee) 47E: Discrete semiconductor devices, and SC 47F: Micro-electromechanical systems, prepare International Standards that facilitate the design and manufacture of sensors and MEMS. The testing methods they devise allow manufacturers to build reliable and safe micro electromechanical systems that can be used worldwide.
