Product

State of the art

Our company's main activity is to produce authentication systems. The field of authentication is still very unexplored despite the hundreds of possible applications in the fields of security and privacy. Today's most common (and almost unique) way of biometrical authentication is the use of finger prints. We are introducing a new type of simple and quick authentication system, based on dynamic biometrics (vibration created by the finger pressure). More than an authentication system, our product belongs to an emerging industry called MEMS.

What is MEMS technology ?

MEMS stands for Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems. This technology is the integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronics on a common silicon substrate through microfabrication technology.

Electronics: they are fabricated using integrated circuit (IC) process sequences.

Micromechanics: they are fabricated using "micromachining" processes that selectively etch away parts of the silicon wafer or add new structural layers to form the mechanical and electromechanical devices.

MEMS

MEMS promises to revolutionize nearly every product category by bringing together silicon-based microelectronics with micromachining technology, making possible the realization of complete systems-on-a-chip. MEMS allow the development of smart products, augmenting the computational ability of microelectronics with the perception and control capabilities of microsensors, thus expanding the space of possible designs and applications.

Microelectronic integrated circuits can be considered as the thinking part of a system and MEMS provide this decision-making entity with sensors, to allow microsystems to sense and control the environment. Sensors gather information from the environment through measuring physical, biological, and chemical phenomena. The electronics then process this information and through some decision making processes direct the actuators to respond in an appropriate way, thereby controlling the environment for some desired outcome or purpose. MEMS devices being manufactured using batch fabrication techniques similar to those used for integrated circuits, unprecedented levels of functionality, reliability, and sophistication can be placed on a small silicon chip at a relatively low cost.

MEMS applications

There are many fields for which MEMS technology can be useful. Some of them are listed below :

Biotechnology and medical industry: MEMS technology is enabling new discoveries in science and engineering such as microsystems for DNA amplification and identification, accelerometers (for pacemakers), blood pressure monitors, micromachined microscopes, biochips for detection of hazardous chemical and biological agents, and microsystems for high-throughput drug screening and selection.

Computers and communications: Using MEMS technology can significantly improve electrical components such as inductors and tunable capacitors compared to their integrated counterparts. This will improve the overall performance of communication circuits, while the total circuit area, power consumption and cost will be reduced. The mechanical switch developed by several research groups, is a key component with huge potential in various microwave circuits, showing quality factors much higher than anything previously available.

Automobile: MEMS accelerometers are replacing conventional accelerometers for crash air-bag deployment systems in automobiles, making it possible to integrate the accelerometer and electronics onto a single silicon chip at a cost 90% cheaper than previous systems, being even much smaller, more functional, lighter, and more reliable.

MEMS market

The MEMS market is expanding quickly, and expected to triple within 4 years. When much of the MEMS market so far has come from the automotive industry, experts see the share of biometrical and medical devices in this market around 16%.

Total MEMS Revenue 2001-2006
source: In-Stat/MDR

Conclusion

The MEMS technology is being used in an every day increasing number of areas in various branches of the industry. MEMS-based devices are proving themselves in chip-making equipment, making them usable in more sofisticated technologies such as semi-conductor making process.

Tactim introduces a new application for MEMS technology: human being privacy and authentication. Indeed, the authentication machine Tactim is building relies on a micro-chip built on the MEMS technology. The development of this technology has made possible its use in these crucial domains that are Security and Privacy, and Tactim is the first company to use it to build a simple affordable-cost authentication device.