STMicroelectronics Leading the Charge for Sensing New User Interfaces at Mobile World Congress

GENEVA, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in the design and production of semiconductors for mobile and portable devices, will showcase its latest innovations at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 14-17, 2011. At its booth in Hall 7A/106, ST will parade the smart action of motion, touch and proximity sensors enabling natural user interfaces in tomorrow's mobile phones and other portable gadgets.

ST is the top supplier of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices for consumer and portable applications, with the leading market share in key motion-sensor types.(1) The Company's accelerometers and gyroscopes have enabled motion-activated user interfaces in many popular smart phones, game consoles and remotes. At the forefront of the MEMS technology development, ST has started integrating multiple sensors – including accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and pressure sensors - in one package, leading to giant leaps in functionality and performance.  On display at Mobile World Congress, ST's sensor fusion applications offer up to 10 degrees of freedom, combining 3-axis sensing of linear, angular and magnetic motion with temperature and barometer/altitude readings.

In next-generation mobile user interfaces, motion detection and gesture recognition is complemented with smart touch sensing and proximity detection. ST's comprehensive product portfolio addresses both capacitive and resistive touch-screen designs, from simple to complex, multi-touch applications, with high sensitivity and noise tolerance. In Barcelona, ST will demonstrate smart multi-touch solutions enabling 10-finger fast operation and simultaneous finger and stylus control, as well as a sensor that detects the proximity of the caller's ear or face and deactivate the phone screen during voice calls.

STMicroelectronics provides world-class solutions to both mobile platform suppliers and device manufacturers and ships billions of products to the mobile industry every year. In addition to MEMS and touch-sensing devices, ST's mobile offering includes power management chips, audio drivers, camera sensors and modules, image processors, interface and interconnect devices, protection and filtering products, radio frequency ICs, as well as standard and secure microcontrollers. As an active player in all major standardization initiatives, ST uses and promotes industry standards, open platforms, and interoperability to reduce complexity, costs, and time-to-market for its customers.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2010, the Company's net revenues were $10.35 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

(1) iSuppli: H2 2010 Consumer and Mobile MEMS Market Tracker, January 2011

SOURCE STMicroelectronics