MEMSIC's V.P. of Technology, Albert Leung, Ph.D., Wins Top Manning Innovation Award

    ANDOVER, Mass.--Oct. 12, 2001--MEMSIC, Incorporated announced today that Dr. Albert Leung, Vice President of Technology at MEMSIC was recently awarded the prestigious Preston Manning $100,000 Principal Award for his invention "Accelerometer without Moving Parts". One of Canada's top innovation awards, the Preston Manning award is given to Canadian innovators who successfully create and market a new concept, process, or procedure.
    Dr. Leung's invention, which serves as the basis for MEMSIC, Inc.'s sensor technology, is dubbed the world's first MEMS inertial sensor with no moving parts. Instead of the mechanical make up ("proof mass") of the typical MEMS inertial sensor, Leung's device relies on a heated cushion of air within the chip to detect motion. "My device is quite different," says Dr. Leung. "The sensitivity doesn't depend on a proof mass. Even if we have an extremely large over-range signal (physical shock), up to tens of thousands of g's, it will not break." The sensor, together with the signal conditioning circuit, is integrated onto a sub-micron CMOS platform which can be inexpensively produced in a standard CMOS foundry. Typical applications include; automotive, inclination, shock detection, gaming, medical, and appliances. "It can be manufactured at very low cost because there's no need to set up a fabrication line specifically for the accelerometer," Leung says.
    Albert M. Leung received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1974, 1977, and 1981, respectively. After spending 2 years at the University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario), he joined the School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, B.C. Canada) in 1984 as Professor. He currently holds the position of Vice President of Technology at MEMSIC, Inc. in Andover, MA.

    About MEMSIC, Inc.

    MEMSIC is a Venture Capital backed organization with a strategic corporate investment from Analog Devices, Incorporated and whose venture funding is derived, in part, from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company . The company has developed and brought to market a unique MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology which utilizes the principle of free convection to provide the sensing function. This revolutionary MEMS structure is integrated on a state-of-the-art control circuit that provides superior performance and functionality at low cost.
    For more information on Dr. Albert Leung and MEMSIC products please contact Holly Sateriale at 978.623.8188 or visit the company's website at www.memsic.com.