Discuss the effects of MEMS on product design, giving detailed examples of at least two product histories - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... product design in industrial application systems and in the manufacturing of accelerometers is very elaborate, being evidenced by developments in iPhone and TAHE refrigerators, as shall be seen in the discussion which ensues forthwith.
The reason behind iPhone and TAHE refrigerators increased volume of sales is because of the integration of MEMS technology into their operating systems, since this approach highly promotes effective and finer product design.
MEMS technology has greatly promoted iPhone technology and product design by incorporating the gyroscope technology into its product design, since 2008. A gyroscope is a device that is used for measuring and maintaining orientation, based on the fundamental principles of the conservation of angular momentum. The applicability of the MEMS technology when using the gyroscope in order to further iPhone product designs is underscored by the fact that these gyroscopes use spinning rotors at the centre, in order to read changes that have taken place in orientation. It is for this reason that this kind of gyroscope is referred to as MEMS gyroscope (ADI, 2013, 1).
The MEMS technology specifically achieves this feat through the process of integration. Specifically, MEMS does this by integrating electronic and mechanical components, and embedding the same into the entire system, at a very small scale. This feat can easily be achieved through the use of micro-machined silicon sensors and ASIC. For instance, the AGDI 2022 FP6AQ chip is found in the iPhone 4 and it also serves as the MEMS gyroscope which is reputed for having been designed by STMicroelectronics (Kolesar, 1998, 1).
There is also the use of chip work which helps embed the gyroscope into the entire MEMS system. The same chip work is found in iPhone 4 and is identical to an off-the-shelf STMicroelectronics which is known as the L3G4200D. Since 2008, the use of GK10A also came in handy, since it oscillates or vibrates when the drive signal is triggered or ...Download file to see next pagesRead More