IEEE Standards Association passes MEMS standard

The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) recently passed the first set of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) standards, which should be good news for a large number of sensor and system vendors.

The newly released IEEE 2700-20141 standardizes the specifications of MEMS and other sensors, allowing design engineers to follow the selection of components. The new standard will also make it easier for sensor hub suppliers to provide interoperable solutions for the same sensors of different brands.

Stephen Whalley, chief technology officer of the MEMS Industry Group (MIG), said that the IEEE 2700-20141 Sensor Performance Parameter Definitions provide a common method for defining sensor parameters for the entire industry: " Chipset manufacturers and OEMs that use sensors on the platform now have a better and clearer way to compare the performance of various sensors from different manufacturers."

Ken Foust, chairman of the IEEE 2700 Working Group, said that the new standard will help manufacturers using sensors to achieve better system performance, lower costs, and higher reliability. The IEEE 2700-20141 was jointly decided by the MEMS technical working group and MIG. The goal is to add a chapter devoted to MEMS in the iNEMI (International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative) and ITRS (International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors) blueprints.

Michael Gaitan, chairperson of the iNEMI, ITRS and MEMS technology working group, and the NIST Nanoscale Measurement Team, who is the leader of the research and vibration research project, stated that the ultimate goal of developing the technical blueprint is to clarify MEMS. There are existing and possible future disparities in manufacturing; once those differences are clarified, manufacturers can reach a consensus to establish a unified MEMS spec sheet and test standards.

MIG is a non-profit organization behind the new IEEE 2700-2014 standard. It was established to provide services to MEMS manufacturers, OEMs, and system integrators, to promote the standardization of sensor performance specifications, and to stimulate consumer electronics devices. Innovation, especially in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), electronic medical devices, connected cars, augmented reality, wearable devices.

Karen Lightman, executive director of MIG, said that the standardization of MEMS components and sensors is particularly important for OEMs and system integrators who rely on related technologies. Consumers will also benefit from this; and the new standard is established by IEEE-SA, NIST. , MIPI Alliance and MIG work together, Intel and Qualcomm and other semiconductor manufacturers are also involved.

The IEEE 2700-2014 standard will also help OEMs and software developers trying to integrate 6-axis, 9-axis, and even future 14-axis MEMS sensors with on-chip sensor hubs; those sensors include accelerometers, magnets, and sensors. Meters, gyroscopes, altimeters, hygrometers, thermometers, ambient light sensors, and proximity sensors. With common standards, sensor manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, system designers, and algorithm developers can benefit from the entire industrial supply chain.

The new standard can also reduce the burden on the sensor center suppliers. Once the test methods describing the performance of components and the evaluation performance are consistent, the interoperability of those advanced sensor technologies can be further promoted, and the sensor center can be matched. Different kinds of sensors from different suppliers.

Future MIG, MEMS Technology Working Group, iNEMI, ITRS, MIPI Alliance and other organizations will continue to promote more MEMS and sensor related standards.