Reducing supporting control electronics to single ICs lets New Scale provide motion systems on the same scale as its miniature motors, currently less than 2 x 2 x 6 mm.

AustriaMicroSystems, a designer and manufacturer of analog ICs for medical, industry, and automotive applications, and New Scale Technologies Inc., Victor N.Y. (newscale.com) developer and manufacturer of miniature motion systems and the Squiggle motor, have completed a Series B preferred equity transaction. The Austrian-based firm made a $6 million investment in exchange for a 25% minority share in privately-held New Scale.

The investment underscores a strategic partnership for product development and new business development in which the companies will combine AustriaMicrosystems' analog ICs with New Scale's piezoelectric Squiggle motors to create small motion systems. The partners are working to combine tiny Squiggle motors — the world's smallest linear motors — with custom motor controller and position sensor ICs from AustriaMicrosystems.