Microelectronics

The market for MEMS in cell phones and tablets will grow 19.8% ti reach a $5.4B value in 2017. New MEMS devices will benefit from the mobile device growth that is predicted for the coming years: phones and tablet will represent a 2.9B units in 2017 and most of them will integrate 5 to 10 MEMS devices. The MEMS industry will be largely impacted by global trends in mobile devices: connected devices, video and music consumption, social networking, diversity of users and usages, mobile advertising. In the reverse way, we also note that the booming demand for smartphones and media tablets can be partly explained by the integration of MEMS sensors which provide new functionalities.

Global market for Microelectromechanical Systems, MEMS Devices is projected to reach US$11.3 billion by the year 2017. Demand will be primarily driven by encouraging growth in the consumer electronics and automotive end-use industries in developing countries. Technology developments, increasing competition and falling prices will additionally aid in expanding technology penetration, thus driving higher growth in the next few years.

Global market for System-On-a-Chip (SoC) is projected to reach US$48.8 billion by the year 2017. Growth will be driven by encouraging developments in the field of multiple systems on a chip and increasing Internet-centric applications of SOC, such as in networking and data storage systems.

According to a new technical market research report, the value of the physical vapor deposition (PVD) industry was nearly $10 billion in 2011 and is expected to reach nearly $15 billion in 2016, a projected five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. The PVD market can be broken down into three segments: PVD equipment, materials deposited, and services. The equipment segment accounted for nearly $7.1 billion in 2011 and is expected to reach nearly $10.4 billion in 2016, a CAGR of 7.9%.

In package unit shipments, the MEMS packaging market is growing 2x faster (~ 20% CAGR)  than what is predicted for the overall IC package market. WLP / TSV platform is set to grow the fastest while leadframe and organic laminate based packages are poised to grow a comfortable 16% CAGR over the next 5 years to come.

The MEMs and Sensors market is a dynamic market with many suppliers specializing in different products, including microfluidic MEMs devices, pressure sensors, yaw rate sensors, accelerometers, optical MEMs, temperature sensors, magnetic field sensors, and other MEMs and actuators.  Major growth markets include tablets and smart phones with strong demand for accelerometers, and sensors used in the automotive market.

Worldwide microcontroller market share for 2011 saw a few changes take place among top suppliers. The most noticeable change was that of Atmel, which climbed up the rankings with an increase in microcontroller revenue of 25 percent, according to estimates. Atmel is engaged in the growing touch screen controller market. While most of its revenue is contributed by sales to smart phone suppliers, there is a growing demand for touch screen technology in other consumer segments as well as the computer market. 

As most end markets continue to decline and consumers around the globe scale back their spending, MEMS devices are showing that they are “recession proof” by growing in all market segments, and experiencing the best growth in booming segments of tablets and smart phones.

The engineering innovations that have led to PSiP, PCiP and PwrSoC designs will have an impact on different levels and functions of existing dc-dc power converter ICs and modules. PSiP and PCiP (and eventually PwrSoC) products are expected to encroach on the current levels occupied by LDOs, switching regulators, and controllers/FETs. The best opportunities are in communications and computers, where unit compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) are expected to range between 35% and 50% between 2011 and 2016; and revenue CAGRs will be around 23% to 38% over the forecast period. Industrial applications will see good growth, as well, around 55% for unit sales and 44% for dollar sales.

The market for intelligent systems--those enabled with high-performance microprocessors, connectivity, and high level operating systems--will grow from 19% of all major electronic system unit shipments in 2010 to more than one third of all systems by 2015, according to the latest report on the emerging intelligent systems market.