Gyroscopes spin up in video games and handsets, says iSuppli
The global market for gyroscopes used in consumer electronics and handsets will expand to US$347.2 million in 2013, up from US$152.9 million in 2008, according to iSuppli.
When Nintendo wanted to enhance the sensitivity of its motion-sensitive video-game controllers, it turned to 3-axis gyroscope technology in the form of its Wii Motionplus add-on. Soon, a flood of other companies in the consumer electronics and handset markets also will turn to MEMS gyroscopes due to technological developments that have made these parts more attractive for such applications, iSuppli predicts. This will cause gyroscope revenue in these areas to more than double by 2013.
"Gyroscopes have always been too big, too power hungry and too expensive for mobile and consumer applications," said Richard Dixon, senior analyst for MEMS at iSuppli. "However, recent progress on silicon and quartz gyroscopes has changed the game literally. MEMS gyroscopes will penetrate gaming applications in much larger numbers later this year and in 2010. These sensors will also begin to make inroads into the handset market earlier than first anticipated - again beginning at the end 2009 or early in 2010 - for image stabilization and user interfaces."
A major driver behind the expansion of the gyroscope market is the flourishing number of offerings of multi-axis parts. Previously, there were just two major suppliers of 2-axis gyroscopes: Panasonic and InvenSense. However, this list grew in June when STMicroelectronics bolstered its portfolio by offering no less than 10 dual-axis gyroscopes. Tri-axis gyroscopes, a must for gaming, also are emerging.
While InvenSense already offers a two-package 3-axis gyroscope solution today, STMicroelectronics intends to introduce a monolithic solution in 2010.
iSuppli anticipates that revenues from shipments of multi-axis gyroscopes for consumer and wireless applications will overtake those single-axis devices by the end of the year and will account for 80% of the consumer gyroscope market by 2013.
"This represents a great opportunity for companies offering multi-axis gyroscopes and even parts combined with 3-axis accelerometers in low-cost inertial measurement units," Dixon said. "On the other hand, this will put pressure on those companies that only have a single-axis technology on their shelves."
When Nintendo wanted to enhance the sensitivity of its motion-sensitive video-game controllers, it turned to 3-axis gyroscope technology in the form of its Wii Motionplus add-on. Soon, a flood of other companies in the consumer electronics and handset markets also will turn to MEMS gyroscopes due to technological developments that have made these parts more attractive for such applications, iSuppli predicts. This will cause gyroscope revenue in these areas to more than double by 2013.
"Gyroscopes have always been too big, too power hungry and too expensive for mobile and consumer applications," said Richard Dixon, senior analyst for MEMS at iSuppli. "However, recent progress on silicon and quartz gyroscopes has changed the game literally. MEMS gyroscopes will penetrate gaming applications in much larger numbers later this year and in 2010. These sensors will also begin to make inroads into the handset market earlier than first anticipated - again beginning at the end 2009 or early in 2010 - for image stabilization and user interfaces."
A major driver behind the expansion of the gyroscope market is the flourishing number of offerings of multi-axis parts. Previously, there were just two major suppliers of 2-axis gyroscopes: Panasonic and InvenSense. However, this list grew in June when STMicroelectronics bolstered its portfolio by offering no less than 10 dual-axis gyroscopes. Tri-axis gyroscopes, a must for gaming, also are emerging.
While InvenSense already offers a two-package 3-axis gyroscope solution today, STMicroelectronics intends to introduce a monolithic solution in 2010.
iSuppli anticipates that revenues from shipments of multi-axis gyroscopes for consumer and wireless applications will overtake those single-axis devices by the end of the year and will account for 80% of the consumer gyroscope market by 2013.
"This represents a great opportunity for companies offering multi-axis gyroscopes and even parts combined with 3-axis accelerometers in low-cost inertial measurement units," Dixon said. "On the other hand, this will put pressure on those companies that only have a single-axis technology on their shelves."
Posts
No comments: