Press Releases

Image sensors and their core component, the photodiode, are indispensable in numerous applications, whether in process, measurement, automotive or safety technology. In the near-infrared range, which is particularly important for many analytical applications, silicon-based photodiodes do not yet offer sufficient sensitivity. Therefore, other materials are used, but they are expensive and sometimes harmful to the environment. In a new project at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, sensitive silicon-based photodiodes, which are more cost-efficient in production, are now being developed for the first time. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany (BMBF) funds the MesSi project with 566,000 euros for a period of three years.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a significant health risk. In about half of patients, the blood clot breaks away from the vein wall and travels to the lungs, where it can cause a pulmonary embolism. Approximately 25% of people who suffer a pulmonary embolism die as a result. This makes it the third leading cause of cardiovascular death worldwide, after stroke and heart attack. The danger: In up to two-thirds of all cases of thrombosis, people have no symptoms. This makes early detection a major challenge. The EU project "ThrombUS+" brings together 18 European partners to develop a new, portable diagnostic device. The EU is funding the project with €9.5 million as part of the Horizon Europe Innovation Action.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS develops and manufactures individual heatable test chips for the characterization of new gas sensor materials. Deposited sensing layers and their application-specific parameters, such as sensitivity and selectivity, can thus be specifically evaluated. Customized chip designs allow the optimal and highly accurate characterization of these thin films.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS presents a groundbreaking demonstrator for predictive maintenance of industrial equipment. The demonstrator uses advanced sensor technology combined with artificial intelligence (AI)-based data processing to detect potential machine damage at an early stage and avoid costly downtime.

The institutes Fraunhofer ISIT, IPMS and ENAS are presenting a pioneering initiative to promote MEMS-based ultrasonic sensor technology at SENSOR+TEST in Nuremberg, Germany. Their one-stop shop offers customized solutions for companies that want to benefit from the advantages of this technology.

Following an invitation from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, French President Emmanuel Macron made the first official French state visit to Germany in 24 years. During their three-day schedule, both presidents also visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS in Dresden to highlight the importance of collaboration between France and Germany in ensuring Europe's technological sovereignty, particularly in the field of microelectronics.

A groundbreaking integration technology for the simultaneous measurement of various water parameters using ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) is presented by the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS. The newly developed n-well integration technology makes it possible to measure pH values, nitrate, phosphate and potassium concentrations in parallel and continuously with only one sensor chip. This innovation opens new horizons for environmental and bioanalytics.

In a joint development project spanning around one year, important progress was made in the production of “Smart power technologies”. Fraunhofer IPMS provided significant support to the semiconductor manufacturer Infineon by supplying selected process modules within the entire CMOS process value chain on 300 mm wafers.

As part of the HOT project (High-performance transparent and flexible microelectronics for photonic and optical applications), scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS have developed a semi-transparent microdisplay. This microdisplay is significantly lighter than conventional combiner-based optical see-through near-to-eye systems and offers high resolution. The microdisplay will be presented at the SID Display Week 2024 in San Jose, USA, at the German Pavilion, booth number 1124.

Compact and ultra-compact near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy systems for the evaluation of organic substances are critical to industries as diverse as food, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. On-site, non-destructive analysis provides confidence in quality control and saves time. The non-resonant Scanning Mirror Micro Spectrometer (SMMS) platform developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS offers a compact and cost-effective alternative to expensive benchtop devices based on line sensors and also allows individual spectrometer configuration.