Micro- and nanosystems/sensor technology

Sensors are used in everyday objects. With advances in micromachinery and easy-to-use microcontroller platforms, sensor applications have expanded beyond the more traditional areas of temperature, pressure and flow measurement. MARG sensors are a good example. Moreover, analog sensors such as potentiometers and force-sensing resistors are still widely used. Applications include manufacturing and machinery, aviation and aerospace, cars, medicine, robotics and many more.

MEMS is an innovative technology that, in one embodiment, generates ongoing improvements in areas such as the functionality of small microphones, small cameras and small electrical signal filters for wireless communication. In its other disruptive embodiment, MEMS technology creates entirely new kinds of products, such as inexpensive, multi-axis inertial motion sensors used in smartphone-based navigation and digital micromirror devices (DMD), which are arrays of MEMS micromirrors used for high-speed, efficient and reliable spatial light modulation in industrial, medical, telecom, security, and other applications.