Dr. Karl-Franz Reinhart
Microsystems and Thin Film Technology
Corporate Research and Development
Editorial
Microsystems – Technology for Success
Driving pleasure and safety, comfort and economy, engine performance linked with clean operation – these seemingly contradictory requirements are combined, better then ever, in today’s motor vehicles. Sensors play a key role in making this possible: They discern the vehicle’s motion, the engine’s state and the driver’s intent. The measured data they provide allow the systems to react with precision.
Despite their miniaturization, the sensors in use today operate with ever better reliability and accuracy – at the same time assuring economy due to large scale production. Microsystems technology (MST), which is based on integrated circuit manufacturing techniques, is therefore rapidly growing in importance. MST sensors surpass conventional electronic functions by integrating sophisticated mechanical function elements in order to measure physical variables.
Bosch is already using this technology in the manufacture of 40 percent of its sensors and ranks among the largest manufacturers of micromechanics, with a volume of 70 million units per year. Mass production of these systems, which requires substantial investments, has been implemented especially for the enormous volumes of sensor applications in the auto industry. But potential uses of MST sensors extend far beyond automotive applications. MST components are already being introduced in many new applications, such as bioanalytics, consumer applications and the life sciences.
Driving pleasure and safety, comfort and economy, engine performance linked with clean operation – these seemingly contradictory requirements are combined, better then ever, in today’s motor vehicles. Sensors play a key role in making this possible: They discern the vehicle’s motion, the engine’s state and the driver’s intent. The measured data they provide allow the systems to react with precision.
Despite their miniaturization, the sensors in use today operate with ever better reliability and accuracy – at the same time assuring economy due to large scale production. Microsystems technology (MST), which is based on integrated circuit manufacturing techniques, is therefore rapidly growing in importance. MST sensors surpass conventional electronic functions by integrating sophisticated mechanical function elements in order to measure physical variables.
Bosch is already using this technology in the manufacture of 40 percent of its sensors and ranks among the largest manufacturers of micromechanics, with a volume of 70 million units per year. Mass production of these systems, which requires substantial investments, has been implemented especially for the enormous volumes of sensor applications in the auto industry. But potential uses of MST sensors extend far beyond automotive applications. MST components are already being introduced in many new applications, such as bioanalytics, consumer applications and the life sciences.
Author of the Editorial
Responsible for the content
Robert Bosch GmbH
Dr. Karl-Franz Reinhart
FV/FLD
Postfach 10 60 50
70049 Stuttgart, Germany
Tel.: +49 711 811 - 71 62
Fax: +49 711 811 - 26 63 07
Dr. Karl-Franz Reinhart
FV/FLD
Postfach 10 60 50
70049 Stuttgart, Germany
Tel.: +49 711 811 - 71 62
Fax: +49 711 811 - 26 63 07
