Wearable device MEMS and sensor shipments

Market research firm IHS believes that Apple Watch will stimulate and establish fitness and medical monitoring standards on wearable electronic devices; therefore, the agency estimates that by 2015, sensor shipments for wearable electronic device applications will be presented Multiple growth, the first benefit is the leader in this field supplier STMicroelectronics (ST).

IHS anticipates strong user demand for wearable devices will allow shipments of sensor components used in such devices to grow seven-fold between 2013 and 2019; shipments of such sensors will be 67 million in 2013 In 2014, it is estimated that there will be approximately 85 million units, which will double to 1.75 units in the next year, and the estimated shipment volume in 2019 will be 466 million units.

Since more than one sensor is built into each wearable device, the growth rate of such sensors is much higher than that of wearable devices; IHS predicts that global wearable device shipments will be 50 million units in 2013. In 2019, it grew to 135 million. The agency also estimates that each wearable device will carry an average of 4.1 sensor components by 2019, which was 1.4 in 2013.

In addition, IHS anticipates that components such as humidity sensors and pulse sensors will move from mobile applications to wearable devices, including smart watches from manufacturers such as Samsung and Apple, which will further increase the wearable sensor output. Volume; The market's multiple growth in 2015 will be driven by Apple Watch. In addition to accelerometer, this smart watch also has gyroscopes, MEMS microphones, and pulse sensors.

"Similar to iPhones and iPads, IHS expects that Apple Watch will set a standard for sensor specifications for smartwatches," said Jeremie Bouchaud, senior analyst for MEMS and sensors at IHS. "Most other wearable device suppliers will follow Apple." Use the four sensors described above or add more sensors to the product to create differentiation."

ST is by far the largest supplier of MEMS and sensor components in the market for wearable devices. The company’s market share in 2013 was 26%, compared to 20% in 2012; except in discrete accelerometers. The market leader, ST's success in the wearable device application market comes from a powerful "bundled" sales strategy - the company usually sells sensors with other semiconductor products, such as 32-bit microcontrollers or wireless chips. .

In terms of sensor types, sensors used in wearable devices are mainly MEMS motion sensors, user interface sensors, physiological health sensors, and environmental sensors; among them, motion sensors are the most common among wearable device sensors, including accelerometers and gyroscopes. Gauges, magnetometers, pressure sensors, and integrated motion sensors.

The user interface MEMS sensor includes a MEMS microphone, a proximity sensor, and a MEMS display. The physiological health sensor is a sensor that measures pulse, blood oxygen, hydration, and skin temperature. The environmental sensor includes humidity, ambient temperature, and ultraviolet light. Sensing components.

"The main factor driving this phenomenon is that the mainstream products in the market have shifted from devices such as pedometers to more complex multi-function devices such as smart watches and smart glasses;" said Bouchaud: “Users want health and fitness monitoring functions. , And hope that wearable devices to expand the role of smart phones, but consumers have not really demanded environmental sensors. "He said that the humidity, ultraviolet and other environmental sensor applications are the main promoters of component suppliers and wearable device manufacturing Business.