Micro-mirrors help change human-computer interaction

The light reflected back from the object is captured and analysed for 3D imaging and gesture applications. The use of MEMS technology to realise the mirror enables small and robust systems with high-performance and low-energy characteristics suited to a wide variety of consumer devices, creating new dimensions in the natural interaction of people with technology.

MEMS meld mechanical and electrical principles in tiny machines that can sense motion, the environment or actuate and move liquids - as in an ink-jet thermal print head - or objects such as mirrors in projection systems. Here the 'machine' is a very small mirror that is actuated using the same electro-static principle that makes our hair stand on end.

ST's MEMS expertise enabled the development of the industry's smallest and slimmest projection engine, which fits into the screen of a laptop or tablet computer and offers an ultra-wide field of view. Moreover, manufactured using ST's state-of-the-art smart-power technology, the micro-mirror packs exceptional electro-static actuation, extremely low power consumption and hardware safety mechanisms that provide protection from hacking and malfunctions, onto the silicon.

Benedetto Vigna, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group, STMicroelectronics, commented: "Through its far-reaching MEMS technologies, ST has for years contributed to significant advances in user interfaces via motion, touch and sound and the inevitable adoption of Perceptual Computing is an exciting leap that adds 3D vision. Only a company with the full range of expertise that ST owns could overcome the significant power, actuation, inertial and jitter issues to build the right micro-mirror and integrate the AFE and digital logic onto a single low-power die to achieve the form-factors necessary for mainstream device integration."

"The natural user-interface revolution with Perceptual Computing is upon us, and the mirror technology that ST has developed is an important contribution. Intel and its partners are redefining how people interact with their devices for gaming, entertainment and content creation through a best-in-class depth sensor that delivers PCs and tablets 3D vision for new, immersive experiences," added Sagi Ben Moshe, Director, Depth Camera Engineering, Intel.