Sensonor

Sensonor AS
Public
Industry MEMS
Founded 1985
Headquarters Horten, Norway
Products Gyros, IMUs, pressure sensors
Number of employees
 60
Website http://www.sensonor.com

Sensonor AS is a Norwegian producer and developer of MEMS gyro and pressure sensors. Sensonor was owned by Infineon Technologies from June 2003 [1] until February 2009,[2] under the name Infineon Technologies SensoNor. In this period, the company was world leading in the TPMS market. Since 2009 the company has focused on MEMS gyros, and the main product line has been the gyros STIM202, STIM210 and the IMU STIM300. The company has 60 employees and is localised in Vestfold, Norway, with offices and fabs in Horten (front end) and at Skoppum (back end). The CEO is Jørgen Bredesen.

Business

The main product of Sensonor has long been MEMS manufactured pressure sensors, gyros and inertial measurement systems. After the transition into an independent company, the company has made it clear that it wants to develop new products in the gyroscope and night vision business.[3] The main products are the inertial measurement units STIM210 and STIM300.[4]

History

The company was first established in Horten in 1985, and was founded on knowledge and research from Akers Electronics.[5]

In the 1990s Sensonor had international success with SA20, a sensor for airbag systems. It was made up of a piezoresistive beam of silicon.[6] Around 35 million sensors were sold all over the world, and the company had an estimated 60-70% of the European market for airbag sensors.[7]

However, Sensonor failed in developing their next generation of the crash sensor, SA30, which was eventually given up.[8] This led to a decrease in the revenues from 170m NOK in 1997 to 50m NOK in 1999.[9] Thus, the early 2000s (decade) were economically difficult years for the business and stock market speculation increased the instabilities. Eventually, Sensonor was purchased in full by the large German semiconductor company Infineon Technologies.[10]

In parallel with the development of the SA30 sensor, Sensonor had also been working on a pressure sensor, named SP12. It was designed for usage in TPMS applications, i.e. monitoring of the air pressure in car tires. As with earlier products, SP12 was also based on piezoresistive elements implanted in a silicon crystal, but additionally, the silicon wafer was encapsulated between two Pyrex glass wafers.[11][12] It was this technology which made the Norwegian company an interesting investment for Infineon.[13]

Later, Sensonor developed improved versions, SP30 and SP35. Today, these are still sold to producers of TPMS-systems through cooperation with Infineon. In February 2009, Infineon announced that Sensonor were to be sold to Norwegian private investors, in a move that would "benefit both SensoNor and Infineon".[14]

In February 2012, the company filed for bankruptcy, and in April 2012, new owners purchased the estate and reestablished the company.[15]

References

  1. ↑ SmallTimes.com, 23. juni 2003: Infineon: Sensonor agrees to acquisition
  2. ↑ tu.no, 20. februar 2009: SensoNor igjen på norske hender
  3. ↑ gjengangeren.no, 18. February 2009: Eierskifte skaper handlingsrom
  4. ↑ sensonor.com, 12. April 2012
  5. ↑ forskning.no, 10. oktober 2002: Mikroelektronikkens Grand old man
  6. ↑ hive.no, 20. februar 2009
  7. ↑ hibu.no, 20.februar 2009
  8. ↑ etn.se 1.april 2000
  9. ↑ forskning.no, 10. oktober 2002: Mikroelektronikkens Grand old man
  10. ↑ SmallTimes.com, 23. juni 2003: Infineon: SensoNor agrees to acquisition
  11. ↑ sensonor.no, 20. February 2009 TPMS Technology
  12. ↑ hive.no 20. februar 2009 Sensonor SW4 intro
  13. ↑ SmallTimes.com, 26. juli 2006: Tire sensor maker ready to take U.S. market for a ride
  14. ↑ tu.no, 20. februar 2009: SensoNor igjen på norske hender
  15. ↑ Gjengangeren.no, 30.mars 2012: Nye eiere på Sensonor
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