subject: World Semiconductor Sensor Sales Set To Hit $10.9bn [print this page] World semiconductor sensor sales are set to increase rapidly by 2016, largely driven by products which have gained the ability to automatically control and protect themselves, according to a recently published report.
The predictions by IC Insights indicate that worldwide sensor sales are set to increase at an annual rate of 18% between 2011 and 2016, hitting $10.9 billion (6.9 billion).
Accelerometers, gyros, and magnetic-field sensors will help to drive market growth, as stated by the report, 2012 Optoelectronics, Sensors/Actuators, and Discretes.
So far this year, sensor sales are predicted to grow by 18% to $5.7 billion, easily surpassing the $4.8 billion record which was set in 2011.
The annual sensor sales have only dropped once since the 1990s, falling by 2% during the 2009 recession before increasing again in 2010 when they grew by 53% said the report.
IC Insights stated that semiconductor sensor sales will continue to experience double growth rates right up to 2016 as more and more products are able to control and protect themselves, respond to movements in the market, pick up changes and support new user interfaces.
Sensors make up a significant part of the semiconductor market segment that comes to include actuators, such as micro-mirror devices, surface acoustic wave filters, microfluidic chips, inkjet nozzle components and a number of other products that respond to electronic signals.
The majority of sensors use reed switches to make sure that they function correctly and furthermore are commonly seen in automotive, security and robotic products.
The fastest growing and biggest product category is largely made up of accelerometers and gyroscope devices and is set to increase by an average annual rate of around 20% to $5.9 billion in 2016 that compared to $2.4 billion in 2011.
Furthermore, accelerometers and gyroscopes along with the majority of pressure sensors make use of microelectromechnical systems (MEMS), structures which were specifically designed to measure and detect changes around them.
These sorts of devices are getting more and more popular, and now account for over 70% of the total sensor revenues in comparison to 54% in 2005. This clearly demonstrates how much the market has developed over the last few years.
