Today, most digital systems require a synchronization signal: the famous clock. Did you know that a quartz crystal is usually used as an electrical filter to generate this signal? If so, you may also know that quartz crystals can't be directly integrated on integrated circuits, which limits system miniaturization.
Wouldn't it be great if we could replace these bulky quartz crystals with MEMS? At µTIC, we are working on just that! We are indeed researching how we can create the best possible MEMS resonator filter that will match the performance of a quartz, but at a tiny fraction of the size and cost!
Microfluidic systems are opening up incredible opportunities in Health sciences. Just think for example of portable blood glucose sensors or implantable drug delivery systems! Although so promising after decades of research, microfluidic systems still lack true integration with control and sensing devices. For instance, large external pumps are still required to make these systems work, making them not as portable as promised.
At µTIC, one of our projects is to integrate MEMS devices along IC within a microfluidic network to provide vital on-board functions such as pumping, mixing and flow measurement, which will eventually enable truly autonomous lab-on-a-chip systems!
Ultrasonic sensing is already used in everyday life: just think of baby ultrasound imaging. However, wouldn't it be great if we could do the same (or better), but without the huge expensive equipment these sensors are attached to?
µTIC is working on high performance MEMS ultrasonic transducers that can be integrated directly with IC. Instead of not fitting in a room, these sensors will soon be able to fit in your pocket... or your artery!