The silicon magnetic sensor market is set to commence a period of strong growth in 2010 as demand surges from the automotive, industrial and consumer markets, according to iSuppli Corp.

Global silicon magnetic sensor revenue will reach $1.4 billion in 2013, up from $821 million in 2009. This equates to slightly more than 5 billion magnetic sensor ICs and switches, up from about 2.8 billion units in 2009.

These devices are used in industrial motors that require accurate knowledge of rotor position to control loads; automotive sensor ICs that measure rotation speed angle, and position; and in consumer products.

Because of this wide variety of uses and products, pricing for such sensor ranges from less than 10 cents for simple switches to several dollars for sophisticated programmable sensor chips.

To learn more about this topic, see iSuppli's new report entitled: Magnetic Sensors Headed for the Big Time.

Meanwhile, one company is already doing something interesting with magnetic sensors.

STMicroelectronics has integrated a 3-axis digital accelerometer with a 3-axis digital magnetic sensor in a single 5x5x1mm module, aimed at enhancing mobile navigation and location-based services.

Any more interesting integration going on out there? Send me a note at nicolas.mokhoff@ubm.com