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Analysis |
Top Consumer and Mobile MEMS sensor suppliers for 2015
Consumer and mobile micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) sensor revenue declined by 3.4% in 2015 with slow growth expected to start from 2017.
While microphones and other MEMS categories grew, other categories declined -- most notably, motion sensors. The three leading consumer and mobile MEMS sensor suppliers globally, based on 2015 revenue, were STMicroelectronics at 17.85 percent, Knowles at 17.32 percent and InvenSense at 17.26 percent.Sensor companies have seen the reality of a slowing MEMS market and have been working to expand their offerings and business models
Outlook and Analysis
With less potential for organic volume growth due to slowing end-product markets, market-share competition will dominate in 2016. MEMS suppliers will therefore focus more on sensor improvement (power and performance), portfolio expansion and innovation (new sensor categories), acquisitions (rapid capability integration), new business models (software services based on sensors) and expansion into new product categories (drones, smart homes, etc.).
Even as motion sensors and other traditional MEMS markets slow down, there are new and growing opportunities, including the following:
- Virtual-reality headsets using motion sensors and microphones are a growing category in gaming, with HTC, Facebook and Sony all offering products.
- Drones that use motion sensors began to take off in 2015. While this is a segment with a lot of potential, regulatory issues may have an as yet unclear impact on future sales volume, especially when the potential for delivery drones from Amazon are considered.
- Home environmental monitoring, using gas, humidity and temperature sensors, show good opportunity for growth. This segment is led by smart home products from Nest and Honeywell, as well as carbon-monoxide detection regulations and growing consumer adoption of air-purifiers.
- E-cigarettes, using flow sensors, are also on the rise.