Emerging Silicon-Based Magnetic Sensors Which Include Anisotropic Magnetoresistive (AMR) and Giant-Magnetoresistive (GMR) Sensors Are Finding New Applications and Challenging the Conventional Hall Sensors.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c49941) announces the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report Magnetic Sensors-Emerging Technology Developments to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Magnetic Sensors-Emerging Technology provides analyses of hall sensors, fluxgate, search coil, anisotropic/giant/colossal magnetoresistance sensors, giant magetoimpedance, and SQUID among others, along with key drivers, challenges, restraints, analysis and forecasts of technologies that shape the future semiconductor testing industry.

This analysis is available through our Technical Insights Growth Partnership Service program. With this program, clients receive industry-leading market research such as this, along with technical and econometric data as well as many interactive features including Analyst Inquiry Time and Client Councils.

Technologies

The following technologies are covered in this research:

* Hall sensors

* Fluxgate

* Search coil

* Anisotropic/giant/colossal magnetoresistance sensors, giant magetoimpedance

* SQUID

Technology Overview

Widespread Adoption in a Multitude of Applications Combined with Growth of Hard Disk Area Density to Boost Technology Developments

Magnetic sensors have come a long way from purely serving navigation purposes in ancient times. The technology for sensing magnetic fields has evolved due to the ever-increasing need for improved sensitivity, smaller form factor, and compatibility with electronic systems. "In the medical industry, ultra-sensitive superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) are finding a niche, and many new applications are proposed for high temperature SQUID systems," according to the analyst of the study. "These applications provide detection capabilities beyond existing technologies and serving applications such as airport security and structural stability among others."

Emerging silicon-based magnetic sensors which include anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) and giant-magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors are finding new applications and challenging the conventional hall sensors. In addition, ultra-large magnetoresistance are observed in new materials which is far more superior to the GMR effect. Every year, over three hundred million hard disks are manufactured all over the world. In every hard disk, lies a magnetic read head that is likely to be using the GMR sensing technology. The significant growth of about 60 percent in hard disk area density each year is bolstered by GMR technology. To sustain growth in the near future, companies are likely to be investing in GMR technologies to support higher area density for hard disks.

Miniaturization and Development of Killer Applications Expected to Boost Advancements in this Space

In the current business scenario, miniaturization plays an important role in technological advancement. Micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) and silicon processing provide the platforms for miniaturizing sensor dimensions and integration with mechanical and electronic features. Sensors based on MEMS technologies and smart sensors are the focus of the current sensor development. MEMS technology not only shrink device dimension, but also integrate the sensors with electronics and mechanical components in a minimal space.

In addition, sensors built on silicon wafers are ubiquitous in the industry and have been successful in providing more electronic and signal processing features to the sensors, thus increasing production and lowering costs. "In addition to their use in compassing applications, AMR sensors have potential to make inroads against hall effect sensors in high-volume (for example, automotive or other) applications, particularly if their prices decline," explains the analyst. "'Killer applications' such as these are likely to boost the development of such magnetic sensors."

Topics Covered:

-1. Executive Summary
 --1. Scope and Methodology
 ---1. Scope
 ---2. Research Methodology
 --2. Research Overview and Key Findings
 ---1. Research Overview
 ---2. Key Findings

-2. Magnetic Sensor Technologies--Principles; Applications; and Trends
 --1. Technology Snapshot
 ---1. From Compasses to GMR Read Heads
 ---2. Vector and Scalar Magnetometers
 --2. Types of Magnetic Sensor Technologies
 ---1. Low-Field Vector Sensors
 ---2. Earth's Field Vector Sensors
 ---3. High-Field Vector Sensors
 ---4. Scalar Magnetometers
 --3. Applications Analysis; Trends; and Issues
 ---1. Assessment of Applications
 ---2. Trends and Issues

-3. Research and Development Highlights
 --1. Academia--Global Developments
 ---1. Chip-Scale Magnetic Sensor--National Institute Of Standards and
        Technology--USA
 ---2. Sensor Based on Ballistic Magnetoresistance--State University
        of New York at Buffalo--USA
 ---3. Giant Magnetoimpedance Sensors--University of Paris--France
 ---4. Magnetic Biosensor for Detecting Highly Dangerous Bacterial
        Species--University of Marburg--Germany
 ---5. Using Cheap Noncryogenic Sensors for Cryogenic Applications
        --Laboratorio Oficial de Metroloxia de Galicia--Spain
 ---6. Automatic Calibration Techniques for Hall Sensors--Swiss
        Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne--Switzerland
 ---7. Bioapplication of High-Temperature SQUID Sensor--Tyohashi
        Institute of Technology--Japan
 ---8. Breakthrough for Nanomagnetic Measurement--Center for Material
        Elaboration and Structural Studies--France
 ---9. The Tongue Drive--North Carolina State University at Raleigh
        --USA
 ---10. Dual-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor System for Electronic
         Compasses--University of Lecce--Italy
 ---11. A Step Closer to Superconductor Memories--Augsberg University
         --Germany
 ---12. Bridging Magnetic and Electronic World--University of Twente
         --Netherlands
 ---13. Bose-Einstein Condensates Sensors--Heidelberg University
         --Germany
 --2. Corporates--Global Developments
 ---1. Advances in Catheter Tracking--Ascension Technology Corporation
        --USA
 ---2. State-of-the-Art Miniature Sensor Chip--Sick AG--Germany
 ---3. Very High Resolution Position Sensor--Renishaw--USA
 ---4. Low-Voltage Hall Sensors--Allegro Microsystems Inc.--USA
 ---5. Magnetic Linear Position Sensor--iC Haus--Germany
 ---6. Sensors for Extreme Environments--Siemens AG--Germany
 ---7. Wear-Resistant Sensors and New Mounting Systems-Balluff
        --Germany

-4. Technology Adoption Factor Analysis
 --1. Driving Factors
 ---1. Automobiles
 ---2. Hard Disk Read Head
 ---3. Miniaturization and Integration
 ---4. Demand for Hall Sensors; Some Opportunities for AMR Sensors
 ---5. Biomedical Applications
 ---6. Emerging Applications
 --2. Major Restraints and Challenges
 ---1. Complexity and Cost
 ---2. Problems Arising from Miniaturization
 ---3. Challenges Related to SQUID Sensors
 --3. In the Near Term
 ---1. Miniaturization and Integration
 ---2. Hall Sensors--The Industry Workhorse
 ---3. GMI Effect
 ---4. Is SQUID Going to Be Big?

-5. Key Contacts and Selected Patents
 --1. Key Contacts
 ---1. Academia
 ---2. Industry
 --2. Key Patents Related to this Sector
 ---1. Patents I
 ---2. Patents II

-6. Decision Support Database
 --1. Decision Support Database Tables - Automobiles; Aerospace; and
       Military
 ---1. Car Production--World (1999 to 2006)
 ---2. Number of Commercial Ships--World (1999 to 2006)
 ---3. Number of Military Ships--World (1999 to 2006)
 ---4. Number of Submarines--World (1999 to 2006)
 --2. Decision Support Database Tables - Geophysical Location System
 ---1. Mining and Mineral Exploring Companies
 ---2. Number of Mining and Mineral Exploration Companies--World
 --3. Decision Support Database Tables - Medical
 ---1. Mortality due to Circulatory Diseases--World (1999 to 2006)
 ---2. Mortality due to Coronary Heart Disease--World (1999 to 2006)

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