Bosch Sensortec: 10 Years of MEMS Sensors Innovation

STUTTGART, Germany, June 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Innovation enabling new consumer electronics applications 

Extending its product offering towards environmental and smart sensor systems 

MEMS sensors are a key technology for the connected world 

Ten years after its foundation as a start-up, Bosch Sensortec has achieved the position of the leading global provider of innovative MEMS-based sensors and solutions in the consumer electronics market. Its products enable new applications and innovative solutions across consumer electronics, as well as in areas such as wearables and the Internet of Things (IoT).

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Today, three out of four smart phones worldwide use Bosch Sensortec sensors. Bosch Sensortec is part of the Robert Bosch GmbH, the world-leading supplier of MEMS sensors, with 20 years of high volume MEMS production and a position at the forefront of MEMS innovation continuously driving miniaturization, intelligent sensor integration and the development of new measurands. Thanks to the success of Bosch Sensortec, 75 percent of all Bosch MEMS sensors are now used in consumer electronics.

Bosch Sensortec a pioneer for the CE market  

Bosch Sensortec provides inertial motion sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, geomagnetic sensors and integrated combinations of these. In addition, Bosch Sensortec is the market leader in the environmental consumer sensor space, providing barometric pressure sensors, humidity sensors and - as announced recently - integrated indoor air quality sensors.

Bosch Sensortec also extends its product offering towards intelligent sensor system solutions. In one recent example, Bosch Sensortec has launched two new sensors with an integrated "Fuser Core" for sensor data fusion in Android smart phones and wearable devices. These new sensor hubs significantly reduce power consumption for always-on sensor applications such as fitness tracking, indoor navigation and gesture recognition, helping OEMs to be more competitive and improving the end user experience. Bosch Sensortec's highly precise inertial sensors also facilitate upcoming advanced applications like virtual and augmented reality.

"Bosch's unparalleled experience and skill in MEMS processing enable Bosch Sensortec to develop innovative products that differentiate us from our competitors," said Dr. Stefan Finkbeiner, CEO and General Manager, Bosch Sensortec. "Bosch Sensortec is a pioneer, successfully making the link between Bosch's automotive heritage and the needs of the fast-moving consumer electronics world."

Since 1995, Bosch has delivered more than 5 billion MEMS sensors, which have enabled consumers to lead convenient, efficient and secure lives. Currently, more than 4 million MEMS sensors per day are shipped from Bosch's state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facility in Reutlingen, Germany.

The Bosch group provides sensors for a wide range of automotive and consumer electronics applications, as well as MEMS microphones from its Akustica subsidiary. It holds more than 1,000 patents and patent applications related to MEMS technology.

Statements from industry analysts  

"Among the ten biggest MEMS companies, Bosch has become a real titan," said Jean-Christophe Eloy, President & CEO, Yole Développement. "It is today the only MEMS company that is taking full manufacturing, engineering and commercial advantage of its positioning in dual markets, automotive and consumer. The creation of Bosch Sensortec in 2005 has provided the Bosch group with an incredible competitive advantage and has propelled the company to first place, with its total MEMS market size worth $1.2 billion, 50% higher than its closest competitor, and an incredible growth momentum."

For more information, go to http://www.yole.fr/

"In 2005, Bosch created Bosch Sensortec to go after the consumer MEMS market. When Bosch became the top manufacturer of MEMS sensors and actuators in 2013, and making history in the process as the first company to reach $1 billion in market revenue, most of the growth came from Bosch Sensortec," said Jérémie Bouchaud, Senior Director, MEMS & Sensors at IHS. "Bosch reinforced its leadership in the MEMS industry in 2014, where the company alone held 12% of the very fragmented MEMS market. It is clear that Bosch's bet on consumer applications paid off as this segment accounted for a third of Bosch's total MEMS revenue in 2014."

For more information, go to: https://technology.ihs.com

Press photos: 1-BST-21214, 1-BST-21215, 1-BST-20779

Videos:

Bosch Sensortec: Sensational 10 years

Integrated sensor hubs

Integrated Environmental Unit BME680

Integrated Environmental Unit BME280

Inertial Measurement Unit BMI160

Bosch MEMS enabling the Internet of Things and Services

MEMS sensor manufacturing

Acceleration sensor: how it works

For more information, go to:

Microphones for consumer applications from Akustica

Sensors - how technology maps the world around it

MEMS: the stars of the sensor world

Bosch sensors for automotive applications

Bosch press releases:

Bosch Sensortec launches MEMS sensors with integrated microcontroller for Android smart phones

Five billion Bosch MEMS sensors

Bosch Sensortec launches combo MEMS solution with integrated gas sensor

Bosch Sensortec GmbH is a fully owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, dedicated to the consumer electronics world offering a complete portfolio of micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and solutions that enable mobile devices to feel and sense the world around them. Bosch Sensortec develops and markets a wide portfolio of MEMS sensors and solutions for smart phones, tablets, wearable devices and IoT (Internet of Things) applications.   

The product portfolio includes 3-axis acceleration, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensors, integrated 6- and 9-axis as well as environmental sensors and a comprehensive software portfolio. Since its foundation in 2005 Bosch Sensortec emerged as the technology leader in the addressed markets. The Bosch Group has been the global market leader for MEMS sensors since 1998 and has to date sold more than 5 billion MEMS sensors.   

For more information, go to http://www.bosch-sensortec.com/

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 360,000 associates worldwide (as per April 1, 2015). The company generated salesof 49 billion euros in 2014.* Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology.
The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including its sales and service partners, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group's strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is "Invented for life."  

Additional information is available online at http://www.bosch.com, http://www.bosch-press.com, http://twitter.com/BoschPresse

*The sales figure disclosed for 2014 does not include the former joint ventures BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (now BSH Hausgeräte GmbH) and ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (now Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH), which have since been taken over completely.   

Contact: Tina Horstmann, phone: +49-7121-35-35924

Contact person for press inquiries: Christian Hoenicke, phone: +49-711-811-6285

SOURCE Bosch Sensortec