Application of MEMS Sensors in Consumer Electronics
MEMS, or MEMS, is a key technology that uses microscale stereo structures to implement sensing and execution functions. Among them, the micro-scale three-dimensional structure is a micro-sized three-dimensional mechanical structure realized by a special process called "micro-machining".
For technical and economic reasons, MEMS sensors have been confined to the automotive market and industrial applications; today, as MEMS sensors become smaller and smaller, prices become lower and lower, energy efficiency increases, and design and application space continue to expand. Its popularity in the consumer applications market is constantly increasing.
The micromachining techniques used to fabricate these devices are similar to the processes and processes used to fabricate basic integrated circuits, except that the micromachined product is usually a three-dimensional mechanical structure that can move (Figure 1).
Although many different materials can be used to manufacture MEMS products, silicon is increasingly welcomed by the industry because of its excellent electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. In addition, semiconductor manufacturers are also aware that if you use sophisticated chip mass production technology, you can manufacture tens of thousands of MEMS devices on a wafer at a time. This means that MEMS can take advantage of the existing economies of scale of microelectronic devices and gain greater cost advantages, especially when it comes to entering the consumer product market. Therefore, silicon is the most attractive material for MEMS.
In the past, many applications were impossible without this technology; today, this technology is making these applications possible.
The fall protection function of hard disk drives in laptop computers, mobile phones, portable media players, and mobile terminal devices is one of the representative historic applications of MEMS motion sensors in the consumer electronics market.
The three-axis accelerometer in the laptop can monitor the acceleration because it has a specific function and data processing circuit, it can detect the accidental drop accident of the hard disk drive, and promptly order the head to retract to the safe position to prevent the computer. The head was damaged when it fell to the floor.
Fitness and health monitoring are another representative type of application for MEMS sensors.
A step counter or pedometer is a representative application of a three-axis MEMS sensor for fitness and health monitoring functions. Under certain conditions, a pedometer's sensor can accurately measure the effect on the system during walking and running. Acceleration, by processing acceleration data, the pedometer displays the number of steps the user has taken and the speed, as well as the amount of heat consumed during body movement.
The pedometer function is usually embedded in mobile phones and portable media players (MP3 and MP4). For these devices, you can set the number of steps you want to reach in a fixed period of time, and you can measure the calories consumed to accomplish this goal. . Members of the virtual gym can also share this information online and conduct virtual competitions aimed at promoting physical activity and fitness.
Pedometers are also an important module in portable navigation systems. Portable navigators can determine the user's location, provide guidance functions, find public service locations, and receive regional advertising. In special circumstances, for example, in urban areas, the GPS signal will become weak due to the obstruction of underground passages, overpasses, high buildings, and indoor traffic. In this case, the signals of the MEMS motion sensor can temporarily replace the GPS module, which will assist the navigation and positioning. .
In another application, MEMS sensors can be used to design an emergency equipment for the elderly. When the old man accidentally falls, the device can detect a fall and automatically send an alarm signal requesting emergency assistance. Through the MEMS sensor and the GPS module, it is possible to estimate the location of the injured elderly who needs assistance and transmit the location information on the network. In the near future, the commercialization of these instruments will provide a more secure living environment for the growing population of the aging population.
Today, MEMS sensors capable of detecting motion, direction, and gestures are pushing motion sensing technology into markets such as mobile phones, game consoles, and portable media players.
With advanced features, compact appearance and excellent energy efficiency, MEMS sensors are promoting the introduction of more humane devices. With these devices capable of recognizing human gestures, users no longer need to read lengthy and complicated user manuals to learn how to use the human-machine interface. .
MEMS helps to break down barriers between users and applications: sensors like the eyes of the system can measure physical quantities such as acceleration and angular velocity; electronic components process information sent from sensors, use special algorithms to identify input data, and then activate corresponding functions .
The game console is the outstanding representative of the application of motion tracking and gesture recognition. Taking the revolutionary Nintendo Wii game machine as an example, the micro motion sensor can capture any subtle movements of the player and convert it into game actions. MEMS technology allows players to move: players revel in the real game experience and integrate into the game through different actions, for example, imitating a real tennis game, an exciting golf game, a tense boxing match or easy fishing. The action of the game.
The use of MEMS technology in mobile phones and PDAs is increasing. More and more mobile phones using MEM accelerometers are currently on the market. The MEMS accelerometer in the mobile phone makes the human-machine interface simpler and more intuitive. Through the action of the hand, the interface function can be operated and the user experience is fully enhanced.
Depending on the orientation of the terminal device, the MEMS sensor can rotate images, videos, and web pages (whether portraits or landscapes). By tilting the phone up and down and left and right, you can also view the phone menu; just tap the phone body lightly, you can select different icons on the screen, all of these intelligent functions can not be separated from the advanced digital technology embedded in the new generation of MEMS devices.
With MEMS accelerometers, simply tilting the device in one direction allows you to view the map in detail on a small screen and display the enlarged image. MEMS also detects the motion of the user's jittery cell phone and MP3 player. This simple gesture allows the player to skip to the next song or return to the previous song.
Low-power MEMS motion sensors can also be used as advanced energy-saving technologies. When the mobile phone is not turned off and put on the table, the MEMS sensor will turn off the power-hungry modules (such as display backlight and GPS module) to reduce Energy consumption of mobile phones and portable navigators. As long as you touch the body, you can open all the features.
Similarly, whenever the phone is placed face down on the table, the phone settings will switch to silent mode; just touch the body, you can turn off the mute function. MEMS motion control technology reflects the look of the future mobile phone: only a few buttons, there is no ordinary keyboard. When entering information into the mobile phone, the user writes numbers and letters in the air, the MEMS sensor recognizes these actions, and the mobile phone software converts these actions into numbers and letters; the software can also change the user-defined actions into special custom functions.
The use of MEMS accelerometers in combination with gyroscopes can make more advanced selection functions possible, such as the ability to operate in the air with a three-dimensional mouse and remote control. In these devices, the sensor detects the user's gestures, converting them to cursor movement on the PC screen or channel and function selection of set-top boxes and televisions. Figure 5 shows a remote control solution with a MEMS sensor. The MEMS sensor group, two gyroscopes, and an accelerometer detect the movement of the wrist or mouse in the air while the microcontroller performs motion tracking and gesture recognition. Then, the reconstructed motion profile is sent to the set-top box or PC through the wireless connection. The wireless link can use infrared or radio frequency, depending on the application requirements.
The recent introduction of energy-efficient, low-cost miniature MEMS sensors has revolutionized the way people interact with mobile devices. On various mobile devices, game consoles, remote controllers, and other devices, MEMS motion sensors can achieve advanced functions. The exciting user interface, the user's gestures, touch can activate the corresponding function.
It can be expected that in the near future, MEMS technology will be further developed, the surrounding environment will be filled with sensor networks, and our clothes will have embedded sensor networks, which will expand the space for feasible design applications and allow us to better interact with the world. To better control our world.
Displacement sensor, also known as linear sensor, is a linear device belonging to metal induction. The function of the sensor is to convert various measured physical quantities into electricity. In the production process, the measurement of displacement is generally divided into measuring the physical size and mechanical displacement. According to the different forms of the measured variable, the displacement sensor can be divided into two types: analog and digital. The analog type can be divided into two types: physical property type and structural type. Commonly used displacement sensors are mostly analog structures, including potentiometer-type displacement sensors, inductive displacement sensors, self-aligning machines, capacitive displacement sensors, eddy current displacement sensors, Hall-type displacement sensors, etc. An important advantage of the digital displacement sensor is that it is convenient to send the signal directly into the computer system. This kind of sensor is developing rapidly, and its application is increasingly widespread.
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