Behind InvenSense’s acquisition of Analog Devices’ MEMS microphone division

InvenSense recently acquired Analog Devices’ MEMS microphone division, and is expanding its product line. This is a big step for InvenSense, says the Lyon, France-based electronics market evaluation firm Yole Développement. As demonstrated by STMicroelectronics and Bosch Sensortec, proposing a large range of sensors is critical to finding success in the mobile market. This explanation can be found in Yole's recent analysis (see figure below).

This acquisition now gives InvenSense easy access to high-quality MEMS microphone technologies. InvenSense has announced its intention to combine motion and audio sensing, along with algorithms and embedded software, to create the next generation of sensor systems-on-chips.
Their strategy will make InvenSense one of the best MEMS industrial candidates in the mobile phone and tablet markets, says Yole. Another strong benefit is that Apple is using ADI MEMS microphones in some of its products. Therefore, InvenSense can also use this deal as a way to enter the Apple supply chain. This could add some additional synergy, since the MEMS die of ADI's MEMS microphone is manufactured by TSMC, the main InvenSense foundry.
 For more on InvenSense and MEMS, see http://electronicproducts-com-develop.go-vip.net/Sensors_and_Transducers/Sensors_and_Transducers/Evolution_of_MEMS_toward_a_semiconductor_model.aspx?terms=mems%20microphone%20invensense