Cell phones and a slew of emerging devices will power the market for consumer electronics and cell phone microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensors toward solid, uninterrupted growth in 2010 and beyond, according to the market research firm iSuppli Corp.

Revenue for MEMS sensors and actuators used in consumer electronics and mobile handsets is projected to reach $1.5 billion in 2010, up 22.9% from $1.3 billion last year. “Unlike most industries, the consumer and mobile MEMS market did not suffer a decline last year-even at the height of the global economic downturn-and growth ranging from 17% to as much as 28% will continue during the next four years,” said Jérémie Bouchaud, principal analyst for MEMS and sensors at iSuppli.

MEMS sensors and actuators are employed in a variety of additional sectors, including data processing, automotive and other high-value markets embracing the industrial, medical, wired communications and aerospace-defense segments.

Nonetheless, consumer and mobile MEMS-already among the largest MEMS markets-are projected to become the biggest MEMS space by 2014. Here, sensors find their way into everyday devices such as laptops, MP3 players, remote controllers and portable navigation devices.

In particular, new consumer products will drive existing and future opportunities, iSuppli believes. The MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes used for e-books and slate tablets like the iPad from Apple Inc. will amount to $105 million in 2014, compared to $3 million in 2009.

Also helping spur expansion of the consumer and mobile MEMS market are various new emerging devices coming into fruition in 2010 and 2011. Among them are 3-axis gyroscopes, pico-projectors, and RF MEMS switches and varactors, iSuppli data show.