Optical MEMS Finding Greater Opportunities in Non-Telecom Products

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 1, 2003 - Even though the bursting of the telecom bubble has greatly diminished commercial expectation for optical MEMS, the technology has found significant traction in an increasingly greater number of applications, from LASIK eye surgery to the Oscars. High-tech market research firm, In-Stat/MDR reports that optical MEMS are extremely well suited to products that demand high-quality imaging and/or utilize lasers, and where their small form factor can open the door to new market opportunities. As a result, sales of optical MEMS, into segments other than telecommunications, are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% over the next five years.

�Over the course of the past year, many of those developing MEMS�based telecom solutions have made a last ditch effort to capture more immediate opportunities in other markets because optical networking applications have slipped beyond reach for the near future,� says Marlene Bourne, a Senior Analyst with In-Stat/MDR. �However, as these companies quickly discovered, it is not as easy as it might seem at first glance.� Despite the fact that next-generation imaging systems and optical networking both use MEMS mirrors, the architectures required for displays are quite dissimilar from those used for optical switching. As such, the companies involved in optical MEMS (beyond telecom) are very different from those that have made a name for themselves in optical networking.

In-Stat/MDR has also found that:

The biggest application for optical MEMS is a variety of display subsystems � including those that are portable, integrated, and wearable. Other areas benefiting from these devices include bar code scanning, adaptive optics systems, and commercial printing, to name just a few.

Much of the real movement of optical MEMS into markets beyond telecom has occurred only very recently. While mirror arrays have made the biggest splash to date, deformable mirrors and micro lens arrays have been quietly moving into the market.

The report, Optical MEMS: Light Speed Ahead (#IN030882EA), takes a look at the most promising of the seemingly endless commercial possibilities for optical MEMS, and the many applications into which these devices have already gained a foothold � excluding the optical networking sector. It takes a look at the different components that have been developed, who the suppliers are, the end-uses for which optical MEMS are most suitable, and the markets that offer the best prospects for success. Worldwide revenues and unit shipments are forecast through 2007.

To purchase this report, or for more information, please contact Rick Vogelei at 480.609.4533; rvogelei@reedbusiness.com. The report price is $2,995 U.S. Dollars.

For more information, contact:

Marlene Bourne, Senior Analyst

Phone: 480-609-4541

Email: mbourne@reedbusiness.com

Kirsten Skedd, Marketing Manager

Phone: 480-609-4534

Email: kskedd@reedbusiness.com

MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT

Report Title: Optical MEMS: Light Speed Ahead

Service: MEMS Markets & Technologies

Report Number: IN030882EA

Publication Date: June 2003

Number of Pages: 33

Report Price: $2,995 U.S. Dollars

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