SensorDynamics

SensorDynamics is an Austrian semiconductor company specialising in developing and manufacturing high-volume micro- and wireless semiconductor sensor systems that satisfy industry demands for extremely high standards of quality, flexibility and energy efficiency. Guaranteed fail-safe functionality of products and a principle of right first time illustrate the company's technical aspirations and deep-rooted innovative strength. The sensor specialist has succeeded in cost-attractive integration of MEMS, ASIC, firmware plus test and calibration algorithms in single package. Intelligent combinations of hardware and software algorithms make its sensor systems absolutely fail-safe. In this way, SensorDynamics not only lives up to the standards of safety-critical car manufacturers, it is also the default choice for other industrial customers who demand a high degree of fail-safe functionality in their applications.

SensorDynamics develops and produces custom-made designs and standard components for use in vehicle stabilization, occupant protection, navigation systems, keyless go systems or autonomous energy generators for wireless and battery free controllers for industrial and automotive application.1

With its head quarters in Graz-Lebring, Austria, SensorDynamics has offices in Italy, Germany, Slovenia, France and a worldwide sales and distribution network. The company employs about 120 people.

History

SensorDynamics AG was founded in October 2002 based near Graz, Austria. Financed by national and international Private Equity and Venture Capital investors the company closed successful financing rounds in 2004 and 2007.2 Alread in 2004 SensorDynamics was successfully certified according ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949 in 2005. In 2005 SensorDynamics was ranked under the top 100 European high tech companies by Tornado Insider3 and awarded the Fast Forward Award 2005 in Austria.4 From the beginning the Company strongly cooperated with the Institute of Silicon Technology Fraunhofer Society in Itzehoe and expanded this cooperation with long term agreements in 2007.5 In October 2007 SensorDynamics started a deep cooperation with US consumer electronics supplier Kionix(Kionix Website).67 Since July 2008 as well holds an enviromental certification to DIN-ISO 14001. In August 2008 ENOCEAN and SD announced the launch of their energy harvesting single chip RF Transceiver.8

Product Portfolio

SensorDynamics focuses on three product groups, for each of which the company has created a development platform to guarantee a maximum re-use of silicon proven analogue and digital IPs. This is the basis for both application-specific developments and adaptations of existing products.

Inertial microsensor systems (IMSS)

SensorDynamics has achieved a first in combining motion sensors (angular rate and/or acceleration) with analogue-digital electronics (ASIC) in one package to form a large-scale integrated microsensor system that guarantees absolute fail-safe functionality. Applications include electronic stabilization systems, rollover detection and navigation sets for ’blind reckoning’ without GPS support. IMSS from SensorDynamics are certified to AEC-Q100 or are re-certified after being customized for the application.

Intelligent sensor interface circuits (ISIF)

SensorDynamics has a wealth of expertise in the development and manufacturing of intelligent electronic signal conditioning circuitry of macrosensors such as core and planar coils, resistors, capacitive and magnetoresistive sensors. Cooperation with the customer produces application-specific sensor systems that combine macrosensors and electronic signal conditioning at module level.

Wireless sensors (WISE)

Examples of wireless sensors are to be found in ‘Keyless go’ or tyre pressure systems. However, wireless and batteryless sensor systems are increasingly adopted in industrial applications; especially automation such as smart LF/RF applications. Energy harvesting, in other words powering devices from the energy produced by movement, heat or light, is drawing more attention. Sensor systems that incorporate energy use optimisation management – integrated processing of sensor signals through to the transmission of control signals at radio frequencies – are a special discipline of SensorDynamics.

Executive Board

• Hubertus Christ (CEO)
• Herbert Gartner (CFO)

Management and Team

The company has about 120 employees across three European locations. Their key qualifications include: extensive experience in sensor system development, MEMS and semiconductor technology, testing and quality assurance; deep knowledge of the automotive electronics market; and applications expertise. SensorDynamics as a company has been operational as such since 2003, although the nucleus of the development team came together for decades.

Quality and environmental management

As SensorDynamics is providing sensitive integrated products and systems to the automotive market, the quality and environmental management system is based on the ISO/TS16949 and ISO14001 standard.?? SD satisfies all existing and future automotive quality requirements (i.e. ISO/TS16949, ISO 14001, IEC61508, ISO 26262, AEC-Q100) and ongoing implementation of quality control in all areas and product development according to APQP.

References

• DEWB
• BusinessWeek
• EnOcean and SensorDynamics announce Energy Harvesting Single Chip RF Transceiver
• SensorDynamics Launches Gyroscope for Industrial, Medical and Consumer Applications
• SensorDynamics Launches Low-Cost 6DoF-IMU With Continuous Self Diagnosis
• SensorDynamics and Audix Corporation sign Greater China business development agreement
• Austria's SensorDynamics finds a bright spot in the automotive industry

External Links

official sensordynamics website