InvenSense Expands into Automotive Market

San Jose, Calif. - InvenSense, Inc., a provider of MEMS sensor platforms, has entered the automotive market with the introduction of automotive sensor solutions for safety and non-safety applications. Entrance into the market was driven by increased demand for personalized in-vehicle experience, improved safety, assisted automated driving, and predictable maintenance systems. The company is developing MEMS devices for a host of applications including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electronic stability control (ESC), navigation/dead reckoning, lift gate motion detection, skid control, dash cam video stabilization, and audio noise cancellation and voice commands.

The MEMS sensor manufacturer is targeting automotive OEMs and subsystem suppliers that are looking for innovative solutions in order to improve system reliability, cost and time to market as the connected car becomes a bigger piece of the Internet of Things (IoT) market.

This is good timing for InvenSense with healthy growth predicted for the automotive sensor market. The market is forecast to reach about $13 billion by 2022, growing at an estimated 9.2 percent compound annual growth (CAGR), according to a new report released by Research and Markets. The report finds that automotive safety applications is one of the biggest drivers of sensor growth over the next several years.

The global automotive MEMS sensor market also shows good growth over the next five years. The $2.6 billion market in 2014 is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0 percent over the forecast period of 2015 to 2020, according to P&S Market Research. While automotive passenger safety and environmental concerns has resulted in the need for more advanced sensor-based safety features, the automotive infotainment market is expected to achieve the fastest growth for MEMS sensors over the forecast period with a CAGR of 9.2 percent.

The automotive sector represents 25 percent of the MEMS market and $2.57 billion in value in 2015, while still offering reasonable volumes and margins, according to Jérémie Bouchaud, director & senior principal analyst, MEMS & Sensors for IHS. “This market remains healthy as a result of the mandates on key safety systems and government pressure to reduce emissions in engines.”

What InvenSense brings to the table is its high-volume fabrication platform, high-performance MEMS-based motion tracking devices and microphones, algorithmic insights and advanced processor integration, said the company. It also formed a strategic alliance with a leading sensor and system integration partner for the development of automotive sensor solutions.

“To reduce the typical design cycle time in the automotive market, InvenSense has forged a strategic alliance with a leading sensor and system integration partner for the development of sensor technology solutions for automotive, including in-cabin infotainment, as well as the evolving safety applications,” said Behrooz Abdi, president and CEO of InvenSense, in a statement. “This alliance leverages InvenSense technology and expertise in MEMS-based inertial sensors and microphones coupled with the partner’s established automotive channels and in-depth insight into automotive development. This partnership has the potential to shorten time to market from five years to an expected two- to three-year span.”

“The automotive industry is approaching a tipping point of disruption, with innovations coming from companies outside the traditional automotive ecosystem, creating ever-increasing demand for novel sensor assisted systems,” Abdi further stated. “Through our innovative, consumer-oriented, high-performance sensors and software, in conjunction with our strategic partner, we will accelerate technology innovation and customer access to best-in-class new sensor solutions.”

A few of the company’s new automotive solutions include the IAM-20680 high-performance, low-power, AEC-Q100-tested 6-axis gyroscope and accelerometer combo. This product allows customers to mount the product in any orientation and in a small form factor. The IAM-20680 also offers best in class noise and offset stability, which meets the most demanding motion detection performance for a variety of in-cabin solutions, including navigation, lift gate motion detection and ADAS camera and image stabilization, the company said.

The company also offers the InvenSense Positioning Library (IPL) for the automotive market, which improves standard vehicle navigation systems by providing continuous and accurate navigation in areas of poor GNSS signal quality. “IPL combines inertial sensor data from the gyroscope and accelerometer with GNSS to provide always-available and more accurate location data. This capability is particularly effective when GNSS is inaccurate, such as in deep urban canyon environments, or in areas where GNSS is not available, such as tunnels or parking garages,” said InvenSense.

Newly developed gyroscope combos for safety applications, such as skid control, roll detection and electronic stability control, support the most demanding performance requirements, the company said.