Micro-acoustics take centre stage

Designers and purchasers alike are applauding the progression of ever-smaller, even-smarter acoustic interface options.

Designers and purchasers alike are applauding the progression of ever-smaller, even-smarter acoustic interface options.

Until a few years ago, Emkay Innovative Products' greatest claim to fame was landing its microphones on the moon and Mars, courtesy of its long-time customer NASA.

But today under the more familiar name of Knowles Acoustics (parent company Knowles Electronics is a leading hearing aid developer), the company is back in the spotlight as the long time pioneer in acoustic interface development.

A year ago, the company launched the world's first MEMS surface mount microphone.

And whereas other micro-audio companies may still be testing in this area, Knowles Acoustics has already released its second- and third-generation SMD devices for "zero-height" and "pre-amplified" audio applications.

Electronics OEMs liked what they heard last year from Knowles Acoustics: lower manufacturing costs; smaller and thinner products; and higher product performance.

Now, global consumer electronics manufacturers are bringing the company's Sisonic line of silicon microphones to market inside mobile phones, PDAs, DVCs and the latest audio-dependent consumer devices.

For electronics manufacturers, Sisonic surface mount microphones finally bring SMD capabilities to audio component selection.

Sisonic microphones are unaffected by high surface mounting temperatures, so the product is supplied on tape-and-reel and can be run through standard automatic pick-and-place equipment, just like traditional surface mount equipment.

Not that the future of micro-audio belongs to SMD alone, or to any single acoustic technology.

The engineering teams at Knowles Acoustics have remained unabashedly guilty regarding investigative sidesteps, whether to Mars or to other spaces unknown.

Research-driven since the 1950s the company continues to develop a range of micro-acoustic technologies that includes sound porting, microphones, speakers and software.

On a mission to perfect the "acoustic interface", the company has extensive offerings in the areas of SMD microphones, condenser microphones, specialty transducers, customised subassemblies and sound conditioning software.

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