14 DAY TRIAL // Thanks to record sales of Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices during the final quarter of 2011, gyroscopes were the top revenue generator in the dominant consumer and mobile segment of the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) market, according to a research paper by IHS iSuppli.
Citing an IHS iSuppli MEMS Market Tracker report, Jérémie Bouchaud, director and senior principal analyst for MEMS & sensors at IHS, notes that gyroscopes made roughly $655.4 million in 2011 - 66 percent increase from $394.5 million in 2010.
IHS notes that gyroscopes improve the motion-based interface of the iDevice, especially for gaming, whereas accelerometers can only orientate phones and tablets to the viewer’s perspective relative to their holding position - vertical or horizontal.
The research firm also found there are applications for gyroscopes in smartphones that also include optical image stabilization and navigation-related functions.
Jérémie Bouchaud remarked that “Smartphones and media tablets are by far the main adopters of the 3-axis gyroscope, and the blockbuster sales of the iPhone and iPad in the fourth quarter of 2011 boosted the 3-axis gyroscope market.”
“Of the $655 million total revenue generated by the gyroscope space, the 3-axis segment accounted for $462 million, or 71 percent. Apple was the main consumer, accounting for 62 percent consumption of 3-axis gyroscopes, with other manufacturers like Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics also ramping up their adoption of the device last year.”
The analyst added that, “Among suppliers, STMicroelectronics was the leading producer of both gyroscopes and accelerometers, with Apple accounting for half of the company’s MEMS business in 2011. STMicroelectronics is the sole supplier of gyroscopes and accelerometers for the iPhone and iPad.”
There are configurations known as 6-axis inertial measurement units (IMU) that feature three accelerometers and three gyroscopes in one “combo” package, and the iPad 3 might be the first mass-selling Apple device to boast this type of hardware.