The ultra-small MEMS mirrors supplied by ST, along with ASIC control devices, move thousands of times per second to scan infrared beams and draw an invisible grid on objects in front. The light reflected from the objects is captured and analyzed for use in 3D imaging and motion recognition applications. By utilizing MEMS technology to enable small, robust, high-performance, low-power systems for various consumer devices, this technology has elevated natural human interaction to a new level.

MEMS fuses mechanical and electrical principles within a microscopic 'machine structure' to detect movement and the environment, or to move objects such as the liquid in an inkjet thermal print head or the mirror in a projection system. Here, the 'machine structure' refers to a microscopic mirror that operates by applying the electrostatic principle that makes your hair stand on end.

Leveraging its MEMS expertise, ST has realized the industry's smallest and thinnest projection engine. It is sized to fit into laptop or tablet screens and provides a wider field of view. In addition, it incorporates ST’s cutting-edge Smart Power technology to provide excellent electrostatic actuation, extremely low power consumption, and a hardware-based security mechanism that prevents hacking and failure on silicon.

Sagi Ben Moshe, Director of Depth Camera Engineering at Intel, said, “We are working to revolutionize the natural user interface of perceptual computing, and the mirror technology developed by ST plays a key role in the revolution led by Intel. Intel and our partners are rewriting the way people interact with devices for gaming, entertainment, and content creation by providing best-in-class depth sensors for 3D vision that enables new immersive experiences on PCs and tablets.”

Benedetto Vigna, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Analog, MEMS, and Sensors Group at ST, said, “ST has contributed significantly to the advancement of user interfaces involving motion, touch, and sound for years, expanding its impact across various domains with MEMS technology. Now, we have made a major leap forward by adding 3D vision through the inevitable adoption of perceptual computing.” He added, “Only a company with complete expertise like ST can solve power, actuation, inertia, and jitter issues to produce suitable micromirrors and integrate analog front-ends and digital logic onto a single low-power die, thereby achieving the form factor required for the integration of key devices.”