MEMS and sensors

Which MEMS sensor has been used to decide when to deploy car airbags?

  1. AAccelerometer
  2. BMEMS microphone
  3. CDMD
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Accelerometer

An accelerometer detects the sudden deceleration of a collision, and the decision to deploy the airbag is based on its magnitude and time profile. MEMS accelerometers are small, reliable and cheap to mass-produce, and their adoption in cars helped them spread.

Practice this topic Back to topic

More MEMS and sensors questions

  1. When removing an SiO2 sacrificial layer to free a MEMS structure, which method is suitable for preventing stiction?
  2. Which MEMS fabrication method builds movable structures by processing thin films deposited on the substrate?
  3. Which correctly describes how MEMS sensors are combined with their signal-processing circuits?
  4. Why does a MEMS accelerometer detect about 1 G of acceleration even when stationary?
  5. What is the processing called that combines information from accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers and other sensors to determine orientation and motion more accurately?