MEMS microphone has footprint under 1 x 1 mm

MEMS microphone has footprint under 1 x 1 mm

Thanks to a combination of design and manufacturing techniques brought together through corporate acquisition, the AKU230 monolithic MEMS microphone resides on an 0.84 x 0.84-mm die. With a 0.70-mm2 footprint that is 30% smaller than any previous mic, it is believed to be not only the smallest fully integrated microphone, but also the smallest fully integrated MEMS device of any type. The tiny size opens new possibilities for single- and multiple-microphone designs in thin consumer devices such as palm-sized video cameras, laptops, netbooks, and tablet computers.

The microphone — which puts MEMS microphone membrane, amplifier, and sigma-delta converter on a single CMOS die — has a range of 50 Hz to 22 kHz and an output that is a pulse-density-modulated (PDM) single-bit digital output stream, which enables multiplexing of stereo data on a single wire. Response is highly linear (THD of 2% typ), sensitivity is typically −26 dBFS at 1 kHz and 94 dB SPL, and the SNR is 56 dBA typ.

The device is available in a robust 3.76 x 4.72-mm-footprint LGA package so it can fit into pre-existing designs and, at just 1.25-mm tall, it is also 30% thinner than previous digital microphones, suiting it for even thinner form factors. ($1.30 ea / 10,000 — available now.)

By Richard Comerford

Akustica , Pittsburgh , PA
Information 412-390-1730

http://www.akustica.com