Cost-Driven Design of Smart Microsystems

Today's professionals are constantly striving to create sensor technology and systems with lower cost and higher efficiency. Miniaturization and standardization have become critical drivers for cost reduction in the design and development process, giving rise to a new era of smart sensors and actuators. These devices contain more components, but normally provide significant cost savings due to wider applicability and mass production. This first-of-its-kind resource presents methods for cost optimization of smart microsystems to help you select highly cost-efficient implementation variants. Written by leading experts, the book offers detailed coverage of the key topics that you need to understand for your work in the field, such as methods for cost estimation, holistic design optimization, a methodology for a cost-driven design, and applied cost optimization. This practical book focuses on fundamental cost influences rather than absolute numbers, helping you appreciate relative values which reflect the competitive advantage of the various design implementations. Moreover, you find specific recommendations on which cost-reduction methods will be most advantageous in varying situations. This forward-looking volume provides keen insight into the underlying factors which drive the current economics and determine future trends of smart microsystems.