Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what's up and sideways (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/the-engineer-guy-shows-how-a-smartphone-accelerometer-works/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/the-engineer-guy-shows-how-a-smartphone-accelerometer-works/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/the-engineer-guy-shows-how-a-smartphone-accelerometer-works/#comments Image

We love finding out how things work, and arguably one of the most important parts of the smartphones and tablets we thrive on is the accelerometer gauging our device's orientation. Imagine our delight, then, when we see the University of Illinois' Bill Hammack (i.e. The Engineer Guy) giving a visual rundown of how accelerometers work. Although it's certainly the Cliff's Notes version of what's going on in your Android phone or iPhone, the video does a great job of explaining the basic concepts behind three-axis motion sensing and goes on to illustrate how MEMS chips boil the idea down to the silicon form that's needed for our mobile hardware. Hammack contends that it's one of the coolest (and unsung) parts of a smartphone, and we'd definitely agree; you can see why in the clip after the break.

Continue reading Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what's up and sideways (video)

Engineer Guy shows how a phone accelerometer works, knows what's up and sideways (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometeraccelerometerscellphonecellphoneshow it is madehow it workshow its madeHowItIsMadeHowItsMadeHowItWorksmemsmobilepostcrossmotionmotion sensorMotionSensorsciencesensorsiliconsmartphonesmartphonestablettablet pctablet pcsTabletPcTabletPcstabletsuniversity of illinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversityOfIllinoisUniversityOfIllinoisAtUrbana-champaignTue, 22 May 2012 20:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Purdue University creates 'bass' powered medical implant, knows where it hertz]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/purdue-university-creates-bass-powered-medical-implant-knows/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/purdue-university-creates-bass-powered-medical-implant-knows/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/purdue-university-creates-bass-powered-medical-implant-knows/#comments We've seen all kinds of medical implants over the years, but none that had a musical preference -- until now. Researchers at Purdue University have created a pressure sensitive microelectromechanical system (MEMS) that uses sound waves as an energy source. The proof-of-concept has a vibrating cantilever that's receptive to sound -- or music -- in the 200 - 500Hz frequency spectrum, which is towards the bottom end of the audible range. The subcutaneous implant converts the low-frequency vibrations into energy, and then stores it in a capacitor. Once the cantilever stops vibrating, it sends an electrical charge to a sensor and takes a pressure reading, the result is then transmitted out via radio waves for monitoring purposes. The immediate real world applications include diagnosing and treating incontinence, but we're already wondering if that self-powering mp3 player implant could finally become a reality?

Purdue University creates 'bass' powered medical implant, knows where it hertz originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobasscantileverhertzhzimplantlow midslow-frequencyLowMidsmedical implantMedicalImplantMEMSmicroelectromechanical systemMicroelectromechanicalSystemmidsmusicpurduePurdue UniversityPurdueUniversityradiosoundsubcutaneousSun, 29 Jan 2012 05:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Qualcomm buys Pixtronix to make for better Mirasol displays?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/qualcomm-buys-pixtronix/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/qualcomm-buys-pixtronix/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/qualcomm-buys-pixtronix/#comments Qualcomm's whipped out some flipping great wadges of cash in order to snap up Pixtronix for its PerfectLight MEMS-based display tech. It reportedly cost between $175 - $200 million and is expected to be merged into the company's super-low power Mirasol-based displays. Compared to the Kyobo eReader we played with at CES, PerfectLight has a wider viewing angle (170 degree), supports full speed video playback and much better RGB modulation. Depending on how successful the marriage is, it could spell the end of the final hurdles that have hampered the widespread adoption of the technology.

Qualcomm buys Pixtronix to make for better Mirasol displays? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcquisitionBusinessBuyoutCESCES 2012Ces2012e booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersKyoboKyobo eReaderKyoboEreaderMEMSMEMS DisplayMemsDisplayMergerMirasolMirasol DisplayMirasol E-ReaderMirasolDisplayMirasolE-readerPerfectLightPerfectLight MemsPerfectlightMemsPixtronixPurchaseQualcommQualcomm PixtronixQualcommPixtronixThu, 26 Jan 2012 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[IMEC working with holograms, mirrored pixels to prevent 3D movie headaches]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/imec-working-with-holograms-mirrored-pixels-to-prevent-3d-movie/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/imec-working-with-holograms-mirrored-pixels-to-prevent-3d-movie/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/25/imec-working-with-holograms-mirrored-pixels-to-prevent-3d-movie/#comments Let's face it, 3D movies are amazing but there are times when you'll walk away with a killer headache. A group of researchers at IMEC believes that holographic video might be the best way around this problem and has been working on a means of constructing holographic displays by shining lasers on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) platforms capable of moving up and down like small, reflective pistons. Here's the cool part: each pixel would have a spring-like mechanism attached to it that could be moved by applying voltage to it. In the first stage of the technology, a laser is bounced off a MEMS-less chip containing an image, the diffracted light interfering to create a 3D picture. From here, the team can adjust the image by replacing pixels with small, mirrored platforms that can alternate their direction to create a moving projection. It gets technical after this, but you can take a gander at the video after the break for a full demo and explanation.

Continue reading IMEC working with holograms, mirrored pixels to prevent 3D movie headaches

IMEC working with holograms, mirrored pixels to prevent 3D movie headaches originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D movies3dMoviesheadachehologramholographicholographic displaysHolographicDisplaysImecMEMSmicroelectromechanicalmicroelectromechanical systemsMicroelectromechanicalSystemsreflective pistonsReflectivePistonsvideoSun, 25 Dec 2011 18:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Knowles Electronics Mems Joystick for Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/knowles-electronics-mems-joystick-for-samsung-galaxy-tab-ninten/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/knowles-electronics-mems-joystick-for-samsung-galaxy-tab-ninten/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/knowles-electronics-mems-joystick-for-samsung-galaxy-tab-ninten/#comments With gaming on tablets, the visual experience is often top-notch, but the controls are unfamiliar at best -- even inadequate at times. But adding a traditional joystick is impractical, especially when aesthetics is a key selling point for manufacturers. Chicago-based Knowles Electronics has a fairly practical solution, however, and hopes that some manufacturers will adopt its Mems Joystick. At just 1.6mm tall, the joystick is slim enough for a device to maintain a svelte profile, and the 40 microamps it consumes during normal operation is relatively negligible, according to company reps. Tablets are just the start -- Knowles built a series of prototypes to demonstrate a variety of potential applications.

We took the joystick for a spin on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Motorola Atrix, Nintendo 3DS and a pair of laptops. All of the joystick prototypes connected using Bluetooth or USB, and were designed specifically for this CEATEC demonstration -- sadly they won't be available for purchase, though manufacturers could implement the controller into similar products. It took only a few seconds to get accustomed to the pair of joysticks mounted to the back of the Tab. Controlling gameplay felt natural, and we definitely preferred playing with a clear view of the display. We also navigated through Google Maps, and scrolled a web page -- both experiences felt superior to moving around the touchscreen. The 3DS joystick functioned similarly to the native controller included with that device, though Knowles reps noted that it's significantly smaller, and uses less power -- and without compromise, it seems.

Jump past the break for a walkthrough of the devices we saw today, but try not to fall in love -- you won't be able to use the Joystick anytime soon, if manufacturers decide to implement them at all.

Gallery: Mems Joystick KJ-33000 for Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nintendo 3DS hands-on

Continue reading Knowles Electronics Mems Joystick for Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video)

Knowles Electronics Mems Joystick for Samsung Galaxy Tab, Nintendo 3DS hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryceatecceatec 2011ceatec japanCeatec2011CeatecJapanchibacomponentscontrolcontrolsgamegaminghands-oninput deviceinput devicesInputDeviceInputDevicesjapanjoystickknowlesKnowles ElectronicsKnowlesElectronicsmemsMems JoystickMemsJoystickmobilepostcrossoemprototypetablettokyotokyo japanTokyoJapanvideoFri, 07 Oct 2011 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Green Goose sensors monitor your life, you earn experience points (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/green-goose-sensors-monitor-your-life-you-earn-experience-point/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/green-goose-sensors-monitor-your-life-you-earn-experience-point/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/green-goose-sensors-monitor-your-life-you-earn-experience-point/#comments We're pretty certain that once embedded wireless sensors catch on, they'll pervade every aspect of our lives, and Green Goose is building a microcosm of that eventuality in the form of a role-playing game. The five-person SF Bay Area startup has embedded custom 915MHz radios and MEMS accelerometers in a variety of tiny transmitters which you can mount to household objects -- like a water bottle, bicycle, or the toothbrush above -- which report back to the receiver with your actions and thereby increase your score. Brush your teeth on time, take your vitamins, or exercise repeatedly within a couple hundred feet of the receiver, and you'll eventually level up. (Or, optionally, muck with the sensor just right, and it'll register points anyhow.) Presently, that level isn't worth anything, but founder Brian Krejcarek says there are tentative plans to tie these points into a real game and an API to build the idea out, and he's presently looking for partner companies here at the Launch Conference in San Francisco to help roll out the sensors (which cost approximately $4 each) under branded marketing initiatives of some sort. If you don't want to wait, the company will sell starter kits starting February 28th for $24. Not bad for a head start on the future, right?

Update: VentureBeat reports that Green Goose raised $100,000 in funding at the conference. Another interesting note: ReadWriteWeb reports that the sensors were originally pitched as a money-saving tool.

Update 2: $100,000, not $100 million. Whoops.

Gallery: Green Goose lifestyle sensors

Green Goose lifestyle sensors

Green Goose sensors monitor your life, you earn experience points (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>915MHzaccelerometergamegamingGreen GooseGreenGoosehands-onLaunch ConferenceLaunchConferenceMEMSRPGsensorsensorssmart sensorsSmartSensorsstartupWed, 23 Feb 2011 22:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Qualcomm lays down $1 billion for new Mirasol plant in Taiwan, catering small and medium devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/02/qualcomm-lays-down-1-billion-for-new-mirasol-plant-in-taiwan-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/02/qualcomm-lays-down-1-billion-for-new-mirasol-plant-in-taiwan-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/02/qualcomm-lays-down-1-billion-for-new-mirasol-plant-in-taiwan-c/#comments Good news, digital bookworms! After months of rumoring, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs has just announced that Qualcomm will really be building a new Mirasol plant over there. Specifically, the $1 billion, seven-hectare factory will reside in the Hsinchu Longtan Science Park to mass-produce small and medium flavors of said transflective display, meaning the Snapdragon maker will, for the first time, be able to churn out something smaller than the current lone 5.7-inch model. Yep, those must be the low-power smartphone screens that Qualcomm talked about previously, which sure sound delicious. Now, what's up with our little Pixel Qi?

Qualcomm lays down $1 billion for new Mirasol plant in Taiwan, catering small and medium devices originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildingcolor displayColorDisplayconstructiondisplayDisplay technologyDisplayTechnologye booke bookse readere-bookse-readere-readersEBookEBooksereaderfactoryinvestmentmanufacturemanufacturingmass productionMassProductionmemsmirasolmirasol displayMirasolDisplayplantproductionqualcommtaiwanSun, 02 Jan 2011 23:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitachi's MEMS display: big aspirations in a little prototype]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/hitachis-mems-display-big-aspirations-in-a-little-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/hitachis-mems-display-big-aspirations-in-a-little-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/hitachis-mems-display-big-aspirations-in-a-little-prototype/#comments We know the following to be true: microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology can foster some very inventive gadgetry, and it's a wonderful four-turn, 45-point Scrabble word (barring special tiles and presuming an abnormally-large board). That said, the MEMS display sector is still quite small and still a ways from reaching the market (hello, Mirasol), which makes every appearance a bit more interesting than the last. Hitachi's little showing caused quite the crowds at its CEATEC booth, with a pair of 2.5-inch QVGA prototypes built using Pixtronix's PerfectLight MEMS display tech within a LCD infrastructure. The color came through on the first screen, and animations was fairly fluid (with the exception of one or two brief moments of lag). The other display on hand was monochrome with a backlight that flickered on and off as a generic desk lamp shone directly onto it. It was still legible enough without the backlight, but it definitely took some straining.

Pixtronix is promising 24-bit color depth, 170-degree viewing angles, and a 75 percent power reduction over equivalent LCD displays. As for Hitachi, the company reportedly plans to release displays in the 10-inch and under market by early 2012 -- so yes, in case you were wondering, these'll be back for next CEATEC, too. Enjoy the pictures below, so you have something to look back on.

Gallery: Hitachi MEMS display eyes-on

Hitachi's MEMS display: big aspirations in a little prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceatecceatec 2010Ceatec2010displayeyes oneyes-onEyesOnhands onhands-onHandsOnhitchaimemsmems displayMemsDisplayFri, 08 Oct 2010 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[World's smallest violin uses MEMS, plays only for you (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/worlds-smallest-violin-uses-mems-plays-only-for-you-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/worlds-smallest-violin-uses-mems-plays-only-for-you-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/worlds-smallest-violin-uses-mems-plays-only-for-you-video/#comments You might not have heard of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), but there are likely a bunch in your new smartphone -- they make possible the tiny accelerometers and gyroscopes needed to detect motion as your device swings around. However, last week students at the University of Twente demonstrated a brand new micrometer-scale system: a tiny musical instrument that plucks strings (those "folded flexures" above) one-tenth of a human hair wide. Six microscopic resonators fit on a microchip, one resonator per musical tone, and series of the chips can be combined into a MIDI interface to play entire songs. Though the micronium needs to be amplified 10,000 times before they're audible through standard speakers, the instrument's the real deal -- watch it play a wide selection of tunes (including some Mario Bros) in a video after the break. One burning question remains, however: is this nano-violin open source?

Continue reading World's smallest violin uses MEMS, plays only for you (video)

World's smallest violin uses MEMS, plays only for you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>instrumentMEMSmicroelectromechanical systemsMicroelectromechanicalSystemsmicroniummusicmusical instrumentmusical instrumentsMusicalInstrumentMusicalInstrumentssciencesoundTwenteUniversity of TwenteUniversityOfTwentevideoMon, 04 Oct 2010 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Purdue's 'self-calibrating' MEMS could produce the most accurate sensors yet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/purdues-self-calibrating-mems-could-produce-the-most-accurate/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/purdues-self-calibrating-mems-could-produce-the-most-accurate/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/purdues-self-calibrating-mems-could-produce-the-most-accurate/#commentsMicro electromechanical systems, or MEMS, aren't anything new. But Purdue University's Jason Vaughn Clark has ideas that are far grander than those we've seen already. Mr. Clark has purportedly developed a new take on an old spin, with electro micro metrology (EMM) enabling engineers to "account for process variations by determining the precise movement and force that's being applied to, or sensed by, a MEMS device." These self-calibrating machines are the first to do so without any external references, which would allow nanotechnologists, crime forensics researchers and a whole host of others to determine what actually happens at a microscopic level. In theory, the gurus working on this stuff long to improve the accuracy of atomic force microscopes and to eventually create a diminutive AFM-on-a-chip, which -- according to Clark -- could "open the door to the nanoworld to a much larger number of groups or individuals." We're waiting.

Purdue's 'self-calibrating' MEMS could produce the most accurate sensors yet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimeEMMforensicsmemsmicro metrologyMicroMetrologynanotechnanotechnologyPurduePurdue universityPurdueUniversitysciencesensorsensorsuniversityThu, 12 Aug 2010 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/ifixit-and-chipworks-teardown-the-iphone-4s-gyroscope/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/ifixit-and-chipworks-teardown-the-iphone-4s-gyroscope/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/ifixit-and-chipworks-teardown-the-iphone-4s-gyroscope/#comments You didn't think the folks at iFixit would simply teardown the iPhone 4 and call it a day, did you? They've now gone the extra mile and done a detailed teardown of the iPhone 4's gyroscope with a little help from Chipworks. That's of course a MEMS (or microelectromechanical system) gyroscope and, according to Chipworks, nearly identical to an off-the-shelf STMicroelectronics L3G4200D gyroscope, which is actually what they used for the teardown. What's more, they also went even further and put another gyroscope (not used in the iPhone 4) under an electron microscope just to illustrate how incredibly complex and minute the structure of MEMS gyroscopes are. Head on past the break for a glimpse of that, and hit up the link below for the complete teardown.

Continue reading iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope

iFixit and Chipworks teardown the iPhone 4's gyroscope originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applechipworksgyrogyroscopeifixitiphoneiphone 4Iphone4memsmems gyroscopeMemsGyroscopeteardownWed, 30 Jun 2010 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Arterial tandem: coronary drill gets cleared for use, MEMS sensor distinguishes between kinds of plaque]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/26/arterial-tandem-coronary-drill-gets-cleared-for-use-mems-senso/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/26/arterial-tandem-coronary-drill-gets-cleared-for-use-mems-senso/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/26/arterial-tandem-coronary-drill-gets-cleared-for-use-mems-senso/#comments We know discussing things involving "arteries" and "coronary plaque" generally don't do much for one's appetite, but being the holidays and all, we honestly can't think of a more fitting way to remind you not to pig out this evening. Up first is a MEMS-based sensor designed by downright enlightened researchers at the University of Southern California, which is used to "distinguish between stable and unstable atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries." The idea here is to more easily determine whether a patient needs immediate surgery or simple lifestyle changes in order to remedy artery issues, though the process is still awaiting clinical approval before it can be used en masse. In related news, Pathway Medical has just received European clearance to sell its Jetstream G2 NXT coronary drill overseas (or "peripheral atherectomy catheter," as it were), which does exactly what you'd expect it to: clear clogged blood vessels in the treatment of PAD. If you're not already grossed out, feel free to tap the links below for more information on head past the break for a couple of video demonstrations. Mmm, honey ham!

Continue reading Arterial tandem: coronary drill gets cleared for use, MEMS sensor distinguishes between kinds of plaque

Arterial tandem: coronary drill gets cleared for use, MEMS sensor distinguishes between kinds of plaque originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coronarydental healthDentalHealthhealthcareheartJetstream G2 NXTJetstreamG2Nxtmedical marijuanaMedicalMarijuanaMEMSpathwaypathway medicalPathwayMedicalplaquesensorsensorsteeth whiteningTeethWhiteningSat, 26 Dec 2009 15:42:00 EST<![CDATA[STMicroelectronics' 3-axis MEMS gyroscope gives a new level of control to your mobile]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/stmicroelectronics-3-axis-mems-gyroscope-gives-a-new-level-of-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/stmicroelectronics-3-axis-mems-gyroscope-gives-a-new-level-of-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/stmicroelectronics-3-axis-mems-gyroscope-gives-a-new-level-of-c/#commentsMan, talk about timely. We heard right around 11 months ago that MEMS gyroscopes would be hitting an array of handsets in 2009, and while it's looking like that estimate will be just a touch off, you won't catch us kvetching with "early 2010." STMicroelectronics has just announced its new 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, which promises 360 degree "angular-rate detection for high-precision 3D gesture and motion recognition in mobile phones, game controllers, personal navigation systems and other portable devices." The gyro is said to provide two separate outputs for each of the three axes at the same time: a 400dps full-scale value for slow motion, and a 1,600dps full-scale value to detect and measure speedy gestures and movements. We're told that samples of the tech are available now with mass production scheduled for Q1 2010; and yeah PSP, it's totally cool if you keep sweating. NGage is about to be back... with a vengeance!

[Via FarEastGizmos]

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STMicroelectronics' 3-axis MEMS gyroscope gives a new level of control to your mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-axis accelerometer3-axisAccelerometeraccelerometergestureGyroscopeMEMSMEMS GyroscopeMemsGyroscopemobilemotionmotion recognitionMotionRecognitionperipheralssensingsensorststmicrostmicroelectronicsMon, 16 Nov 2009 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[STMicroelectronics' 3-axis MEMS gyroscope gives a new level of control to your mobile]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/stmicroelectronics-3-axis-mems-gyroscope-gives-a-new-level-of-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/stmicroelectronics-3-axis-mems-gyroscope-gives-a-new-level-of-c/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/stmicroelectronics-3-axis-mems-gyroscope-gives-a-new-level-of-c/#commentsMan, talk about timely. We heard right around 11 months ago that MEMS gyroscopes would be hitting an array of handsets in 2009, and while it's looking like that estimate will be just a touch off, you won't catch up kvetching with "early 2010." STMicroelectronics has just announced its new 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, which promises 360 degree "angular-rate detection for high-precision 3D gesture and motion recognition in mobile phones, game controllers, personal navigation systems and other portable devices." The gyro is said to provide two separate outputs for each of the three axes at the same time: a 400dps full-scale value for slow motion, and a 1,600dps full-scale value to detect and measure speedy gestures and movements. We're told that samples of the tech are available now with mass production scheduled for Q1 2010; and yeah PSP, it's totally cool if you keep sweating. NGage is about to be back... with a vengeance!

Filed under: ,

STMicroelectronics' 3-axis MEMS gyroscope gives a new level of control to your mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-axis accelerometer3-axisAccelerometeraccelerometergestureGyroscopeMEMSMEMS GyroscopeMemsGyroscopemotionmotion recognitionMotionRecognitionsensingsensorststmicrostmicroelectronicsMon, 16 Nov 2009 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung and Uni-Pixel team up for better, cheaper TMOS displays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/samsung-and-uni-pixel-team-up-for-better-cheaper-tmos-displays/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/samsung-and-uni-pixel-team-up-for-better-cheaper-tmos-displays/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/samsung-and-uni-pixel-team-up-for-better-cheaper-tmos-displays/#comments
Uni-Pixel has developed a new display technology that could succeed LCD and LED displays, and if all goes according to plan we might see something come to market as soon as next year. Opcuity uses one layer of MEMS film in in a TMOS (multiplexed optical shutter) device for results that are said to be ten times brighter and sixty percent cheaper to manufacture than LCDs (which use five layers). Since TMOS displays are very similar to LCDs, existing manufacturing lines can be used -- lowering start-up costs and rescuing older assembly lines in the process. According to the company's CFO, the manufacturing process "subtracts from existing LCD lines--you just need to remove some equipment that is no longer needed." Samsung and Uni-Pixel have teamed up to produce 4-inch displays using the technology, but who knows? Maybe Microsoft Research's interactive office will become a reality sooner than you think.

[Via OLED-Info]

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Samsung and Uni-Pixel team up for better, cheaper TMOS displays originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigcheaplcdmemsoledopcuityresearchsamsungtmosuni-pixelunipixelMon, 19 Oct 2009 23:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Mizzou's nuclear battery to power things smaller than your brain can imagine]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/10/mizzous-nuclear-battery-to-power-things-smaller-than-your-brain/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/10/mizzous-nuclear-battery-to-power-things-smaller-than-your-brain/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/10/mizzous-nuclear-battery-to-power-things-smaller-than-your-brain/#commentsOh yeah, everyone loves the extended battery, but are we really kosher with the added bulge? A team of boffins at the University of Missouri certainly aren't, as they've spent the last good while of their lives researching and developing a new nuclear battery that could be used to power devices much smaller than, well, most anything. The radioisotope cell, as it's called, can reportedly "provide power density that is six orders of magnitude higher than chemical batteries," and while some may question the safety of this potentially volatile device, the liquid semiconductor (used instead of a solid semiconductor) should help ease concerns. The current iteration of the device is about the size of a penny, and it's intended to power a variety of MEMS systems. Now, if only these guys could find a way to make a standard AA last longer than a week in our Wiimote, we'd be pleased as punch.

[Via BBC, thanks Jim]

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Mizzou's nuclear battery to power things smaller than your brain can imagine originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterydiscoveryelectricityenergyinventionliquid semiconductorLiquidSemiconductormemsMissourinanonanotechnanotechologynuclearnuclear batteryNuclearBatterypowerradioisotoperadioisotope batteryRadioisotopeBatteryradioisotopesresearchuniversitySat, 10 Oct 2009 11:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Funai Eco Scan projector adds multitouch capabilities to your bedroom wall (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/funai-eco-scan-projector-adds-multitouch-capabilities-to-your-be/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/funai-eco-scan-projector-adds-multitouch-capabilities-to-your-be/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/funai-eco-scan-projector-adds-multitouch-capabilities-to-your-be/#comments Here's hoping every pico projector outfit on the planet is paying attention to what's going down at CEATEC, otherwise they can pretty much forget about competing with what Funai is boasting. Seen here in Japan, this prototype projector utilized a Nippon Signal MEMS scanner and a great deal of top-secret technology in order to actually add multitouch capabilities to whatever surface is lucky enough to receive the projected image. You read right -- if you use this PJ to beam up an image on your bathroom wall, school whiteboard or any other surface, you can count on that surface having multitouch capabilities while the image is live. Once projected, users simply twist and turn the image in order to have it modified in real-time, and while there are obviously far more enterprise-based uses for this than consumer-based uses, there's no denying the awesomeness. Have a peek of the beamer in action after the break, and expect it to go commercial sometime in 2010 (if we're lucky).

[Via Tech-On!]

Gallery: Funai Eco Scan projector adds multitouch capabilities to your bedroom wall

Continue reading Funai Eco Scan projector adds multitouch capabilities to your bedroom wall (video)

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Funai Eco Scan projector adds multitouch capabilities to your bedroom wall (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009Eco-Scanengadget videoEngadgetVideofeaturedvideofeaturesFunaiFunai ElectricFunaiElectrichands-onlaserlaser projectorLaserProjectorMEMSmultitouchnipponNippon SignalNipponSignalprojectorprototypevideoThu, 08 Oct 2009 06:11:00 EST<![CDATA[NEMS takes step forward, MEMS looking nervously over shoulder]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/nems-takes-step-forward-mems-looking-nervously-over-shoulder/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/nems-takes-step-forward-mems-looking-nervously-over-shoulder/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/27/nems-takes-step-forward-mems-looking-nervously-over-shoulder/#comments
Just as it's starting to seem like MEMS motion sensor technology is gaining more widespread use, we're now hearing rumblings of activity from the developers of its eventual successor: NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems). To contextualize this discussion (and to give laypeople a shot at understanding), MEMS sensors are the magic behind the Wii MotionPlus as well as a stunning tech demo recently conducted on a Toshiba TG01. The nascent nano version promises even greater sensitivity, and now scientists from TU Delft in the Netherlands claim they have successfully measured the influence of a single electron on an 800nm-long carbon nanowire. Just detecting such an event is a feat in itself, while the ability to measure its effects can be used in a huge range of ways: from transportation and medicine to ultra-sensitive gaming controllers. While accurate comparisons between the Dutch breakthrough and current generation sensors cannot yet be drawn, we can confidently say that this marks an important step toward making our dreams of playing a nanoscale piano a gargantuan reality.

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NEMS takes step forward, MEMS looking nervously over shoulder originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometergyroscopeMEMSmicroelectromechanicalsystemsmotion sensingmotion sensorMotionPlusMotionSensingMotionSensornanoelectromechanicalsystemsNEMSsensorsensorsTG01Toshiba TG01ToshibaTg01TU DelftTuDelftWii MotionPlusWiiMotionplusMon, 27 Jul 2009 08:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba TG01 gets third-party motion sensor for large picture viewing, not virtual golf]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/toshiba-tg01-gets-third-party-motion-sensor-attachment-for-large/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/toshiba-tg01-gets-third-party-motion-sensor-attachment-for-large/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/toshiba-tg01-gets-third-party-motion-sensor-attachment-for-large/#comments Looking for a way to further push the Snapdragon processor while constrained with a 4.1-inch screen, the Japanese-based Usuda Research Institute and Systems Corp has tacked on a MEMS motion sensor to Toshiba's T-01A, also known as the TG01, for motion-based navigation around what it's touting is a 2,000-inch picture. According to Nikkei, this "MotionPlus" like adapter has been shown to work alongside the camera, potentially paving the way for some AR application like we've seen with Tegra. It's hard to tell from the videos just how accurate it is, but we'd love to see this go official -- after a few cosmetic improvements, of course. Check out footage of the dongle in action after the break.

[Via WMPoweruser]

Continue reading Toshiba TG01 gets third-party motion sensor for large picture viewing, not virtual golf

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Toshiba TG01 gets third-party motion sensor for large picture viewing, not virtual golf originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>memsmems motion sensormems sensorMemsMotionSensorMemsSensormobilentt docomonttdocomotg01toshibatoshiba tg01ToshibaTg01usudausuda research institute and systems corpUsudaResearchInstituteAndSystemsCorpWed, 22 Jul 2009 19:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba TG01 gets third-party motion sensor for large picture viewing, not virtual golf]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/toshiba-tg01-gets-third-party-motion-sensor-attachment-for-large/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/toshiba-tg01-gets-third-party-motion-sensor-attachment-for-large/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/toshiba-tg01-gets-third-party-motion-sensor-attachment-for-large/#comments Looking for a way to further push the Snapdragon processor while constrained with a 4.1-inch screen, the Japanese-based Usuda Research Institute and Systems Corp has tacked on a MEMS motion sensor to Toshiba's T-01A, also known as the TG01, for motion-based navigation around what it's touting is a 2,000-inch picture. According to Nikkei, this "MotionPlus" like adapter has been shown to work alongside the camera, potentially paving the way for some AR application like we've seen with Tegra. It's hard to tell from the videos just how accurate it is, but we'd love to see this go official -- after a few cosmetic improvements, of course. Check out footage of the dongle in action after the break.

[Via WMPoweruser]

Continue reading Toshiba TG01 gets third-party motion sensor for large picture viewing, not virtual golf

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Toshiba TG01 gets third-party motion sensor for large picture viewing, not virtual golf originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>memsmems motion sensormems sensorMemsMotionSensorMemsSensortg01toshibatoshiba tg01ToshibaTg01usudausuda research institute and systems corpUsudaResearchInstituteAndSystemsCorpWed, 22 Jul 2009 19:44:00 EST<![CDATA[InvenSense gloats about world's first 6-axis MEMS-based motion sensing solution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/invensense-gloats-about-worlds-first-6-axis-mems-based-motion-s/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/invensense-gloats-about-worlds-first-6-axis-mems-based-motion-s/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/invensense-gloats-about-worlds-first-6-axis-mems-based-motion-s/#comments
We tell ya, some proud folks work at InvenSense. After boasting last year about its Wii MotionPlus-powering IDG-600 motion sensor, the company is set to gloat once more at E3 this year. The cause for celebration? Its 6-axis motion processing solution, which it's calling a world's first. Said solution weds its IME-3000 3-axis accelerometer with its IDG dual-axis family of gyros in order to produce a wicked small 6-axis motion sensor. In theory, at least, this creation is small enough to add MotionPlus-like capabilities to smartphones and other ridiculously small devices, with even TV remotes holding the promise of one day letting you "roll through" the EPG. Currently, the only big-name devices utilizing 5- or 6-axis motion functionality is Logitech's MX Air Mouse and the aforementioned MotionPlus accessory, but obviously InvenSense is hungry for more. Too bad that DSi already launched, right?

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InvenSense gloats about world's first 6-axis MEMS-based motion sensing solution originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d6-axise3e3 2009E32009gyroscopeIDGInvenSenseISZisz-650memsmicrosoftmotion plusmotion sensingmotionplusMotionSensingnintendosensingsensorsonywiiWii Motion Pluswii motionpluswiimoteWiiMotionPlusThu, 28 May 2009 14:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's MEMS shutter could massively improve high megapixel cameraphones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/samsungs-mems-shutter-could-massively-improve-high-megapixel-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/samsungs-mems-shutter-could-massively-improve-high-megapixel-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/samsungs-mems-shutter-could-massively-improve-high-megapixel-ca/#comments
We won't go so far as to say that SE and LG are waiting for this here technology to go commercial -- after all, we're still years (at best) away from that -- but considering that the ninth iteration of your favorite smartphone is likely destined to boast a 453 megapixel camera, we're thrilled to see someone working to make those captures worth looking at. Over in Japan, Sammy is teasing a new MEMS shutter that measures just 2.2 millimeters in diameter and would essentially allow cameraphones to grab blur-free images even with ultra-high megapixel sensors. Feel free to dive into the read link if you're into technobabble; otherwise, just be sure to pay attention in around a decade when this stuff actually has a bearing on your life.

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Samsung's MEMS shutter could massively improve high megapixel cameraphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameracameraphoneindium tin oxideIndiumTinOxideITOMEMSMEMS shutterMemsShuttermobileperipheralsSamsungshutterFri, 15 May 2009 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's MEMS shutter could massively improve high megapixel cameraphones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/samsungs-mems-shutter-could-massively-improve-high-megapixel-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/samsungs-mems-shutter-could-massively-improve-high-megapixel-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/samsungs-mems-shutter-could-massively-improve-high-megapixel-ca/#comments
We won't go so far as to say that SE and LG are waiting for this here technology to go commercial -- after all, we're still years (at best) away from that -- but considering that the ninth iteration of your favorite smartphone is likely destined to boast a 453 megapixel camera, we're thrilled to see someone working to make those captures worth looking at. Over in Japan, Sammy is teasing a new MEMS shutter that measures just 2.2 millimeters in diameter and would essentially allow cameraphones to grab blur-free images even with ultra-high megapixel sensors. Feel free to dive into the read link if you're into technobabble; otherwise, just be sure to pay attention in around a decade when this stuff actually has a bearing on your life.

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Samsung's MEMS shutter could massively improve high megapixel cameraphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameracameraphoneindium tin oxideIndiumTinOxideITOMEMSMEMS shutterMemsShutterSamsungshutterFri, 15 May 2009 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Quantum PI's nanoTrek sensors pick up vibration and motion your Wiimote could never dream of]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/quantum-pis-nanotrek-sensors-pick-up-vibration-and-motion-your/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/quantum-pis-nanotrek-sensors-pick-up-vibration-and-motion-your/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/quantum-pis-nanotrek-sensors-pick-up-vibration-and-motion-your/#comments
Quantum PI has just built the first motion sensor chip to use "quantum tunneling," which sounds theoretically unsafe, but we'll follow along. The nanoTrek sensors are classified as NEMS (Nano Electric Mechanical Systems) as opposed to the "bulky" MEMS sensors that can be found everywhere from the Wii to the iPhone. nanoTrek's sensing area is a mere 50 x 50 microns, and its sensitivity is 5 to 10 times greater than MEMS chips. There are all sorts of boring industrial applications to such a sensor, but we're looking forward to the not-too-distant-future when we can be completely disappointed by a brand new version of Super Monkey Ball.

[Via The Inquirer]

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Quantum PI's nanoTrek sensors pick up vibration and motion your Wiimote could never dream of originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerrometeriphonememsnanotreknemsquantum piquantum tunnelingQuantumPiQuantumTunnelingsensorsensorswiiFri, 01 May 2009 09:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Inventec's mirasol-equipped V112 smartphone goes on display]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/inventecs-mirasol-equipped-v112-smartphone-goes-on-display/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/inventecs-mirasol-equipped-v112-smartphone-goes-on-display/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/inventecs-mirasol-equipped-v112-smartphone-goes-on-display/#comments We couldn't get the thing to turn on -- prototype buffoonery, zapped battery, or a classic case of trade show jitters, we figure -- but Inventec's curious V112 was on display inside Qualcomm's booth at CTIA. Why Qualcomm, you ask? Well, Qualcomm owns Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, which has been pushing its mirasol display tech for several years now; the main draw is that it's super high-contrast which eliminates the need for a backlight in many situations where a traditional LCD would need a little help, and the WinMo-powered V112 uses a small mirasol strip as a secondary display surrounded by nav controls. Even though we weren't getting any Windows Mobile action, we did manage to engage the mirasol display (also known as "the cool part") where we saw an example of what the V112 might be able to do without turning on the battery-destroying LCD up top: show basic status information and the current time. It's a good idea; we're not sure that the V112's implementation is perfect since there's zero tactility to the d-pad, but you've got to start somewhere, and mirasol could use as many commercial implementations as it can get.

Gallery: Hands-on with Inventec's Mirasol-equipped V112 smartphone


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Inventec's mirasol-equipped V112 smartphone goes on display originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ctiactia 2009Ctia2009featuresinventecmemsmirasolqualcommv112windows mobileWindowsMobilewinmoFri, 03 Apr 2009 20:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Inventec's mirasol-equipped V112 smartphone goes on display]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/inventecs-mirasol-equipped-v112-smartphone-goes-on-display/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/inventecs-mirasol-equipped-v112-smartphone-goes-on-display/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/inventecs-mirasol-equipped-v112-smartphone-goes-on-display/#comments We couldn't get the thing to turn on -- prototype buffoonery, zapped battery, or a classic case of trade show jitters, we figure -- but Inventec's curious V112 was on display inside Qualcomm's booth at CTIA. Why Qualcomm, you ask? Well, Qualcomm owns Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, which has been pushing its mirasol display tech for several years now; the main draw is that it's super high-contrast which eliminates the need for a backlight in many situations where a traditional LCD would need a little help, and the WinMo-powered V112 uses a small mirasol strip as a secondary display surrounded by nav controls. Even though we weren't getting any Windows Mobile action, we did manage to engage the mirasol display (also known as "the cool part") where we saw an example of what the V112 might be able to do without turning on the battery-destroying LCD up top: show basic status information and the current time. It's a good idea; we're not sure that the V112's implementation is perfect since there's zero tactility to the d-pad, but you've got to start somewhere, and mirasol could use as many commercial implementations as it can get.

Gallery: Hands-on with Inventec's Mirasol-equipped V112 smartphone


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Inventec's mirasol-equipped V112 smartphone goes on display originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ctiactia 2009Ctia2009featuresinventecmemsmirasolmobileothersqualcommv112windows mobileWindowsMobilewinmoFri, 03 Apr 2009 20:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung hedges its bets with UniPixel's TMOS display technology]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/samsung-hedges-its-bets-with-unipixels-tmos-display-technology/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/samsung-hedges-its-bets-with-unipixels-tmos-display-technology/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/samsung-hedges-its-bets-with-unipixels-tmos-display-technology/#commentsUniPixel Opcuity design
Here's a new one to add to the display technology lexicon -- TMOS, which stands for "time multiplexed optical shutter," is being developed by UniPixel in its Opcuity products. The technology is interesting enough to get Samsung to get in on, and the promise to provide better image quality over LCD and OLED displays while being up to 60-percent cheaper to manufacture than LCDs makes it easy to see why. We haven't even seen a prototype of this technology, but we're able to piece together that the display centers around UniPixel's Opcuity "Active Layer Film," basically an array of micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) shutters that sit in front of the illumination source that will strobe between red, green and blue to produce color; basically, it's a bit of DLP (MEMS and persistence of vision) combined with LCD technology (flat backlight with a shutter). Sounds great, but like we said, it's still in the labs. Not to be naysayers, but one challenge will be keeping the MEMS shutters functional in larger displays -- a 50-inch display has pixels about 0.5-mm in size, and MEMS really do rely on the "micro" part of their name to work.

[Thanks, Vanbrothers]

Read - Samsung and UniPixel press release
Read - UniPixel technology

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Samsung hedges its bets with UniPixel's TMOS display technology originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdmemsopcuityotherssamsungtechnologytmosunpixelWed, 04 Feb 2009 17:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyborg beetles commandeered for test flight, laser beams not (yet) included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/cyborg-beetles-commandeered-for-test-flight-laser-beams-not-ye/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/cyborg-beetles-commandeered-for-test-flight-laser-beams-not-ye/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/cyborg-beetles-commandeered-for-test-flight-laser-beams-not-ye/#comments Remember that DARPA initiative from a few years back to create cyborg insects? With funding from the agency, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have managed to control a rhinoceros beetle via radio signals, demonstrated in a flight test shown on video at this week's IEEE MEMS 2009 conference. A module placed on the arthropod uses six electrodes affixed to the brain and muscles to commandeer its free will. The device weighs 1.3g -- much less than the 3g payload these guys can handle, and with enough wiggle room to attach sensors for surveillance. Ultimately, scientists say they want to use the beetle's own sensors -- namely, its eyes -- to capture intel and its own body energy to power the apparatus. Keep an eye on this one, we expect it to play a major role in the impending robots vs. humans war.

[Thanks, Mimosa]

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Cyborg beetles commandeered for test flight, laser beams not (yet) included originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beetleberkeleycyborgcyborgsdarpaieeeieee mems 2009IeeeMems2009memsmems 2009Mems2009robotuc berkeleyUcBerkeleyuniversity of californiaUniversityOfCaliforniaThu, 29 Jan 2009 03:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Qualcomm's mirasol display tech shuffles into GPS prototype]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/qualcomms-mirasol-display-tech-shuffles-into-gps-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/qualcomms-mirasol-display-tech-shuffles-into-gps-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/qualcomms-mirasol-display-tech-shuffles-into-gps-prototype/#comments
Qualcomm's mirasol display technology has had quite a rough time gaining mass appeal, but if it could really break into, say, the GPS market, it might just be onto something. Here at CES, G-CORE will be showcasing the first ever GPS device to utilize the tech, though it's probably not the GPS you're dreaming of. The Mini Caddy is simply a GPS Range Finder, though the application makes sense given just how frequently such a device will be viewed in direct sunlight. Within it will be a 1.2-inch bichrome mirasol display, 1GB of internal memory and map data of up to 25,000 golf courses worldwide. Obviously, no pricing or release information has been decided upon, but you catch the release in full after the break.

Continue reading Qualcomm's mirasol display tech shuffles into GPS prototype

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Qualcomm's mirasol display tech shuffles into GPS prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2009Ces2009G-COREgolfGolf Range FindergolfingGolfRangeFinderGPSMEMSMini CaddyMiniCaddymirasolprototypeQualcommThu, 08 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[MEMS gyroscopes rumored to hit array of phones in 2009]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/mems-gyroscopes-rumored-to-hit-array-of-phones-in-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/mems-gyroscopes-rumored-to-hit-array-of-phones-in-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/mems-gyroscopes-rumored-to-hit-array-of-phones-in-2009/#commentsDetails on this one are freakishly scarce, but DigiTimes has it that a number of recognizable handset makers are looking to incorporate MEMS gyroscopes into their 2009 smartphones. It's anticipated that such devices would be used to sense motion in one form or another, with brands like Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson and Apple (we know you're thinking, so stop) expected to welcome the tech with open arms. So, why the sudden interest in G-sensors? Falling prices, of course -- and the natural expectation of consumers for their future phones to be entirely more sensitive to their feelings than the one they're using currently.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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MEMS gyroscopes rumored to hit array of phones in 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>g-sensorgyroscopegyroscopesMEMSmotion sensingmotion sensorMotionSensingMotionSensorsensorsmartphoneFri, 12 Dec 2008 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[MEMS gyroscopes rumored to hit array of phones in 2009]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/mems-gyroscopes-rumored-to-hit-array-of-phones-in-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/mems-gyroscopes-rumored-to-hit-array-of-phones-in-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/mems-gyroscopes-rumored-to-hit-array-of-phones-in-2009/#commentsDetails on this one are freakishly scarce, but DigiTimes has it that a number of recognizable handset makers are looking to incorporate MEMS gyroscopes into their 2009 smartphones. It's anticipated that such devices would be used to sense motion in one form or another, with brands like Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson and Apple (we know you're thinking, so stop) expected to welcome the tech with open arms. So, why the sudden interest in G-sensors? Falling prices, of course -- and the natural expectation of consumers for their future phones to be entirely more sensitive to their feelings than the one they're using currently.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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MEMS gyroscopes rumored to hit array of phones in 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>g-sensorgyroscopegyroscopesMEMSmobilemotion sensingmotion sensorMotionSensingMotionSensorperipheralssensorsmartphoneFri, 12 Dec 2008 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Color mirasol-equipped Freestyle Audio DAP gets spec'd, no closer to release]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/color-mirasol-equipped-freestyle-audio-dap-gets-specd-no-close/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/color-mirasol-equipped-freestyle-audio-dap-gets-specd-no-close/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/color-mirasol-equipped-freestyle-audio-dap-gets-specd-no-close/#commentsWell, wouldn't you know it? Just after we bash Qualcomm for talking up its second color mirasol-based design before shipping the first, along comes a little justification of our actions. Over in San Francisco, said company is trumpeting an item that we first heard about back in May, but regrettably, it doesn't sound as if we're any closer to getting a release date. What we are told is the device's name: the Freestyle Audio Soundwave Ltd. Edition, or -- more formally -- the FA300. It'll boast a 0.9-inch color mirasol display, a waterproof casing, built-in Bluetooth, and a whole host of other niceties that we're sure to find out about before the next decade dawns. 'Til then, we'd suggest a hearty helping of patience.

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Color mirasol-equipped Freestyle Audio DAP gets spec'd, no closer to release originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>color mirasolColorMirasolctiactia 2008Ctia2008dapfa300freestyle audioFreestyleAudioIMODmemsmirasolpmpportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoqualcommSoundwaveSoundwave Ltd. EditionSoundwaveLtd.EditionFri, 12 Sep 2008 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Skullcandy to cram color mirasol display into MFM Pro headphones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/skullcandy-to-cram-color-mirasol-display-into-mfm-pro-headphones/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/skullcandy-to-cram-color-mirasol-display-into-mfm-pro-headphones/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/12/skullcandy-to-cram-color-mirasol-display-into-mfm-pro-headphones/#comments
Remember that Freestyle Audio player that was supposed to blow folks away with its integrated color mirasol display? Yeah, that one that still hasn't shipped? Qualcomm is apparently uninterested in that tiny little factoid, as it's proudly pumping the MFM Pro headphones as the "second color mirasol-enabled design for the US market." According to Jim Cathey, vice president of business development for Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, the deal with Skullcandy is being made to "move mirasol displays into the hands of more consumers," but considering just how long we've been waiting for the aforementioned DAP, we'd say the burden of proof is squarely in its court. Oh, and the ship date for these cans? There isn't one.

[Via Slashgear]

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Skullcandy to cram color mirasol display into MFM Pro headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocansdapdisplayheadphoneheadphonesmemsMFM ProMfmPromirasolmp3 playerMp3Playermusic playerMusicPlayerpmpportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoqualcommSkullcandyFri, 12 Sep 2008 04:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Underlying MotionPlus tech isn't a Nintendo exclusive]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/08/underlying-motionplus-tech-isnt-a-nintendo-exclusive/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/08/underlying-motionplus-tech-isnt-a-nintendo-exclusive/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/08/underlying-motionplus-tech-isnt-a-nintendo-exclusive/#commentsHow very interesting. InvenSense, which is licensing its motion-sensing MEMS technology to Nintendo for that new MotionPlus add-on, has now stated that its Nintendo partnership is "not an exclusive relationship." InvenSense won't let slip exactly who else is courting them for the tech, but we have to think the usual suspects (Microsoft, Sony) are at least giving the gyroscopic technology a passing glance. Of course, InvenSense might be looking to folks outside the gaming space as well, and there's no guarantee Microsoft and Sony would even try for a Wiimote killer this generation, but if the Big Three don't all have robust motion-sensing controls of some sort ready by the time the next generation rolls around, it certainly won't be InvenSense's fault.

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

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Underlying MotionPlus tech isn't a Nintendo exclusive originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gyroscopeinvensensememsmicrosoftnintendosonywiiwiimoteFri, 08 Aug 2008 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Duke micro-bots learning to dance, probe cellular architectures]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/duke-micro-bots-learning-to-dance-probe-cellular-architectures/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/duke-micro-bots-learning-to-dance-probe-cellular-architectures/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/03/duke-micro-bots-learning-to-dance-probe-cellular-architectures/#commentsWe won't even front: Duke's quasi-invisibility cloak is far cooler than this, but a team of microscopic robots sure have the potential to do more good than a glorified figment of someone's imagination. Bruce Donald, a Duke professor of computer science and biochemistry, has teamed up with a few other mad scientists in order to create ridiculously tiny robots that can dance on objects smaller than a pin's head. According to Mr. Donald, they are "almost 100 times smaller than any previous robotic designs of their kind and weigh even less." Sure, watching these critters do the tango is undoubtedly entertaining, but he's hoping to collaborate with the medical center in order to "probe the molecular and cellular architectures of very small things such as cells." We appreciate the dedication to mankind and all, but don't pretend like you don't goof off with these guys on your coffee breaks, Bruce.

[Via Slashdot]

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Duke micro-bots learning to dance, probe cellular architectures originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balletdukeduke universityDukeUniversitymemsmicro-robotsmicroelectromechanicalMicroscopicrobotscienceuniversityTue, 03 Jun 2008 23:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with the Hisense C108 and other MEMS devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/02/hands-on-with-the-hisense-c108-and-other-mems-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/02/hands-on-with-the-hisense-c108-and-other-mems-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/02/hands-on-with-the-hisense-c108-and-other-mems-devices/#comments
Qualcomm's making a big push to let handset manufacturers know that its mirasol display technology is a sharp way to cut power consumption, thanks to the fact that the screens are really freakin' good at reflecting ambient light. Part of the problem, of course, is that virtually all phones outside of emerging markets demand color displays; mirasol tech isn't quite there yet, but it's getting there, and Qualcomm was showing off a nonfunctional example of what a high-end color mirasol phone could look like (think Motorola Q9, with more mirasol). The Hisense C108 candybar is an ultra low-end unit with the distinction of being the world's first phone to employ a mirasol screen in production, so we just had to play around with it. We admit, it's stellar at reflecting light even when conditions aren't the best, but obviously a backlight's still a necessity for using the phone in darkness. As for the phone itself... well, let's just keep its price point in perspective before we harsh on it, alright?

Gallery: Hands-on with the Hisense C108 and other MEMS devices


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Hands-on with the Hisense C108 and other MEMS devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c108ctiafeaturesgsmhisensememsmirasolmobileothersqualcommWed, 02 Apr 2008 11:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyborg insects survive to adulthood, ensure our doom]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/20/cyborg-insects-survive-to-adulthood-ensure-our-doom/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/20/cyborg-insects-survive-to-adulthood-ensure-our-doom/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/20/cyborg-insects-survive-to-adulthood-ensure-our-doom/#commentsRemember those cyborg insects that seemed so much like a pipe dream just two short years ago? Yeah, those frackin' things have somehow survived into adulthood, and are closing in on being ready to infiltrate enemy camps and extract vital information. According to a recent update on the DARPA project, the insects -- which have "modified body structures and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) embedded" within -- have lasted into adulthood, and now those behind the endeavor are hoping to enable remote control of the bugs via "mechano-sensor activation" or something similar. Additionally, scientists are hoping to harness the energy emitted during locomotion to actually power the internal MEMS. Sure, as long as these critters can be swatted down with a newspaper, we're solid, but we aren't too sure we dig where this could be headed.

[Via Wired]

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Cyborg insects survive to adulthood, ensure our doom originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyborgDARPAHi-MEMSinsectmemsmilitarypentagonThu, 20 Mar 2008 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[MEMS-based smart fuses could guarantee desired explosions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/23/mems-based-smart-fuses-could-guarantee-desired-explosions/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/23/mems-based-smart-fuses-could-guarantee-desired-explosions/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/23/mems-based-smart-fuses-could-guarantee-desired-explosions/#commentsWhile we certainly hope the average (read: not GI) jane / joe isn't overly concerned about the rate at which homegrown explosions detonate as desired, we understand the Army's need to have more faith in their own munitions. Reportedly, a new "smart fuse" conjured up at Georgia Tech could soon prevent bombs from experiencing fuse failure by using "semiconductor fabrication equipment to make hundreds of ultra-high precision detonators on a wafer at the same time." In addition to cutting down on the use of toxic heavy metals and increasing the safety of weapon production, the intelligent MEMS fuse will supposedly "incorporate built-in arm and fail-safe mechanisms that virtually guarantee that munitions go off when they should, every time." Weapons that fire when needed -- now there's a concept.

[Image courtesy of Rich's Incredible Pyro]

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MEMS-based smart fuses could guarantee desired explosions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armybombdefenseexplosionfusegeorgia techGeorgiaTechgthttp:www.engadget.com20071223mems-based-smart-fuses-could-memsmicroelectromechanical systemsMicroelectromechanicalSystemsuniversitywarweaponweaponryweaponsSun, 23 Dec 2007 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Qualcomm's MEMS-based e-paper handles mobile video with ease]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/qualcomms-mems-based-e-paper-handles-mobile-video-with-ease/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/qualcomms-mems-based-e-paper-handles-mobile-video-with-ease/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/qualcomms-mems-based-e-paper-handles-mobile-video-with-ease/#commentsWe already know that Qualcomm and MEMS displays go hand in hand, but now the company is looking to seep into the mobile realm with an iteration that can supposedly handle fast-changing video clips without breaking a sweat. Put simply, the company's electronic-paper display "employs microscopic mechanical switches that turn pixels on and off at rates more than fast enough to display video," and unlike slower alternatives, this variation can switch on / off pixels in "just tens of microseconds." Furthermore, these units will offer up considerable energy savings when not viewing video. As it stands, full color versions are still quite a ways from commercialization, but a two-color flavor is scheduled to appear in a Hisense handset next year.

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Qualcomm's MEMS-based e-paper handles mobile video with ease originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bi-stabledisplaye paperE-PaperEPaperhisensememsqualcommThu, 01 Nov 2007 02:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Acoustic Research ARWH1 headset looks familiar for being a world's first]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/24/acoustic-research-arwh1-headset-looks-familiar-for-being-a-world/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/24/acoustic-research-arwh1-headset-looks-familiar-for-being-a-world/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/24/acoustic-research-arwh1-headset-looks-familiar-for-being-a-world/#comments
Oh, Qualcomm, how soon you forget. Just a few months after the Lubix UBHS-PH2 Bluetooth headset became the world's first device announced to ship with Qualcomm's MEMS display tech, the big Q is at CTIA touting the Acoustic Research ARWH1 headset as the first device with such a display to hit the market -- even though it's just a rebrand of the exact same Lubix headset. Sneaky! Expect to see the AR version in stores this November for $99.

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Acoustic Research ARWH1 headset looks familiar for being a world's first originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acoustic researchAcousticResearcharwh1audiovoxheadsetmemsportable audioportableaudioqualcommWed, 24 Oct 2007 14:58:00 EST