Technology

Flextronics to Build Micromem’s 'Lab-on-a-Chip'

12 September 2014

Electronics manufacturing services provider Flextronics has signed an agreement with Micromem Technologies Inc. to build the company’s “lab-on-a-chip”used in vehicles to measure oil levels, temperature and oil condition.

Under the terms of the agreement Flextronics will exclusively manufacture and distribute Micromem’s oil pan plug sensor suite. Micromem’s lab-on-a-chip, resides inside a standard oil pan drain plug and measures various vehicle properties, including oil pan level, crankcase pressure, 3-axis orientation of the vehicle, temperature and the condition of the engine oil in real time.

The ability to measure the condition of the engine oil in real time is an improvement over traditional manual sampling and lab analysis of the engine oil, according to Micromem.

The device communicates wirelessly via the automobile’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This eliminates all traditional wires, oil pan penetrations and labor associated with installing traditional sensors in the oil pan, Micromem said.

The product is self-powered and does not need to rely on vehicle power.

Chris Obey, president of Flextronics Automotive, said the multiple integrated function that will be performed by Micromem’s lab-on-a-chip technology “is a game changer for the automotive industry.”

Joseph Fuda, CEO of Micromem, said that partnering with Flextronics allows Micromem to “incorporate more advanced technology into the automotive industries ever changing requirements.”

The relationship with Flextronics provides Micromem with access to the entire automotive industry for the lab-on-a-chip product and will help the company develop and deliver other products, Micromem said.

Flextronics is based in Singapore and provides a variety of design, manufacturing and supply chain services to a variety of industries.

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