Japanese electronics vendor TDK Corporation will acquire microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) company InvenSense for $1.3 billion.
As part of its medium-term, three-year plan, TDK says it will focus on the automotive market, manufacturing devices, and energy and information and communications technology (ICT). The company believes sensors and actuators will be a major strategic growth area to unlock new business opportunities in the Internet of Things (IoT). Currently TDK sells magnetic sensors that use thin-film magnetic technology, as well as a line of pressure, temperature, electric current and various other sensor types.
With the acquisition of InvenSense, TDK says it will be able to strengthen its sensor product lineups and technologies to become a broader player in the market for IoT, the automotive market and ICT by accelerating sensor production for next-generation platforms. After the acquisition is complete, InvenSense will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of TDK.
InvenSense is best known for its flagship six-axis and nine-axis motion sensors, but it also expanded its portfolio to include inertial, environmental, microphone and ultrasonic sensors. The company’s products have been included in consumer devices such as smartphones, drones, wearables, gaming, inertial navigation, and optical and electronic image stabilization for cameras. Future plans for InvenSense include IoT, the automotive and industrial markets, as well as products for indoor navigation, virtual reality, augmented reality and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
