Mitsubishi Electric Selects MEMSIC's Thermal Accelerometer for Latest Generation Handset.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

N. ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2004

Mitsubishi Model No. V401D Handset for Vodafone Japan to use MEMSIC Accelerometer for Image Orientation, Pedometer and Entertainment Functions

MEMSIC, the leading provider of CMOS-based MEMS accelerometers/sensors, announced that it has been selected to supply its thermal accelerometers product to Mitsubishi Electric  for its newest handset design, the V401D for Vodafone Japan. The accelerometer will be used in several modes, and will provide inputs for a variety of applications. In the image orientation mode, the accelerometer will sense the phone position, and signal the display to show the image in either portrait or landscape mode. The accelerometer will also function as a pedometer, allowing the user to count steps and measure traveled distances during anything form a slow walk to a brisk run. Future applications will include using the sensor as a game input device.

"Shock resistance in hand-held devices is a primary concern, since MEMSIC's device is stiction free and has passed 10,000 g operating shock testing, it was an excellent choice for Mitsubishi Electric in this application" said MEMSIC CEO, Dr. Yang Zhao. "Our highly reliable thermal accelerometer product does not require special manufacturing systems, has a FIT rate of 0.99, and in 2003 had an overall return rate of just 6.5ppm. Once again MEMSIC has demonstrated that in demanding applications, MEMSIC accelerometers provide the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry."

"The MEMSIC accelerometer was the perfect choice for this application", stated Mr. Tsunetaka Shingai, GM for Mitsubishi Electric Mobile Terminal Center Purchasing Department, "the high shock survivability, reliability, and manufacturability allowed us to easily meet our project goals."

Through established manufacturing partnerships in Asia with TSMC and Fujitsu, MEMSIC has reduced operational costs by outsourcing nearly 90% of its manufacturing, resulting in products that offer the highest reliability, meet the most stringent quality standards, and offer customers a significant lower cost of ownership vs. competing technologies. MEMSIC also recently opened its new 45,000 square foot facility in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. About a two-hour drive from Shanghai, this new facility has a manufacturing capacity of 3M units per month.

As the only dual axis accelerometer fabricated on a monolithic CMOS process, MEMSIC's cost effective products are advancing into many new consumer applications. MEMSIC technology is being used for virtually any application that requires the sensing of motion, acceleration, vibration or tilt.

About MEMSIC, Inc.

MEMSIC, Inc. is a semi fabless IC company that specializes in MEMS (Micro Electric Mechanical Systems) ICs (Integrated Circuits). MEMSIC has developed and brought to market a unique CMOS-based accelerometer that contains no moving parts. MEMSIC's product combines the sensor and associated electronics onto a single chip that is manufactured on a standard, sub-micron CMOS process. By breaking the traditional technology barriers in cost and reliability, MEMSIC technology turns traditionally expensive and not-so-reliable MEMS accelerometers into highly affordable standard IC products with the highest long-term reliability and performance available today in the IC industry.