由于汽車安全系統正在快速地加速采用組合式MEMS慣性傳感器，其營收今年將繼續保持直線上升態勢，預計今年它將成為汽車市場的一個新增長亮點。

全球汽車市場用組合式MEMS慣性傳感器的營收預計今年將從去年的9千萬美元快速上升到1億6千萬美元，增長率將達到引人側目的77%。去年的增長率更是驚人，達到338%，因為2011年的營收只有1千萬美元。


組合式MEMS慣性傳感器在一個封裝內集成了加速度計和陀螺儀，為汽車的電子穩定控制系統（EPS）提供慣性輸入，防止或最小程度地防止緊急剎車。

“EPS系統的安裝在北美、歐洲、以及法令越來越成熟的地區如澳大利亞、日本、加拿大和韓國是強制執行的，”MEMS和傳感器資深分析師Richard Dixon博士說，“但發展中國家如中國存在著巨大的增長機會，考慮到中國市場的巨大規模，中國對EPS系統的全球滲透率有重大影響。而這反過來為汽車組合式MEMS慣性傳感器提供了巨大的增長原動力和勢頭。”

為什么組合式傳感器有這么大增長？

目前汽車EPS系統有三種架構：作為一個單獨的EPS引擎控制單元(ECU)存在于一塊PCB上；附在汽車剎車調制器上以節省走線；或存在于氣囊ECU中。在這三種可用的位置里，目前的趨勢傾向于在氣囊ECU中安裝EPS系統，以實現更小的占板面板和更高的效率，因為這一位置上的ECU有空間限制，因此它傾向于尺寸更小的架構。
我們被告知，如果使用像Continental的組合式傳感器EPS系統，與采用分立式傳感器搭建出來的相同EPS系統，組合式MEMS慣性傳感器可以將空間需求降低五倍。
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A non-combo solution also exists in the form of the sensors separately mounted on the PCB. But deploying the sensors in a combo form factor saves not only on packaging cost but also on expensive real estate for the semiconductors being used, since the two sensors in the combo package share the same application-specific integrated circuit.

成本是一個重要因素

A paramount issue for ESC systems is cost. Cost is especially important because ESC formerly was considered an optional feature—but since being mandated by governments—it now has attained the same required status as the seat belt.

As a result, the entire supply chain and price structure for automotive combo sensors has been experiencing huge pressure, exerted from car makers down the chain. Tier 1 companies then pass on this pressure to their suppliers, accounting for the accelerated move to provide efficient combo sensor solutions for inertial sensors in the system.

Because of such pressure, some top-tier companies have indicated that only legacy businesses will use older arrangements featuring separate sensors—not a combo solution—on a printed circuit board in the future. All new car models will use combo sensors.

博世和村田是2家主要供應商

The major suppliers of automotive combo inertial sensors are Bosch of Germany and Japan’s Murata (formerly VTI). Two other potential manufacturers, Panasonic of Japan and Massachusetts-based Analog Devices, will need to develop similar solutions to have a chance in the market.

For its part, Panasonic has indicated that a product will be available by 2014. Panasonic Industrial makes the gyroscope part of the solution, while Panasonic Electric Works makes the accelerometer component.

However, the two entities do not have a good track record of working together, so it remains to be seen how soon a unified combo sensor solution from Panasonic will come to market.

Meanwhile, Analog Devices is divulging little information, but it will almost certainly develop a combo sensor solution, IHS iSuppli believes, based on an analysis of developments surrounding the competition.

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