Knowles announced on Thursday its new 70 dB Signal-to-Noise (SNR) microphone for far-field IoT applications and active noise cancelling (ANC) ear applications. The company continues to expand its position in audio input technology and broaden its product portfolio, as voice increasingly becomes the primary user interface for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and hearable applications.
The bottom-port analog MEMS microphone also features a high acoustic overload point which improves barge-in performance across devices. In addition, its flat frequency response improves algorithm performance, ideal for active noise cancellation headsets.
“Our focus and investment in microphones is enabling our broader audio strategy which combines leading edge acoustics with digital signal processing and algorithms to solve our customers’ most difficult challenges in the mobile, ear and IoT markets,” said Jeffrey Niew, President and CEO of Knowles. “We remain uniquely positioned across these end markets and well aligned with our customers’ roadmaps to deliver best-in-class audio input solutions for their next-generation platforms.”
“Consumers are seeking voice activation across a broader range of devices and applications – and the need to do so from greater distances in various environments,” said Greg Doll, Vice President of Product Management at Knowles. “An array of tightly matched Knowles’ 70 dB SNR microphones improves far-field voice recognition, ideal for smart speakers, displays, cameras, home security and more.
“As the world’s largest turnkey MEMS microphone supplier serving the mobile, ear, and IoT markets, Knowles has a strong focus on customer support and success,” said Doll. “Our unique technologies and products leverage our proprietary manufacturing techniques and global scale, and enable us to deliver high quality, performance, and value to our customers.”
In April, Knowles announced that it has sampled the new IA-610 smart microphone, combining a MEMS microphone with an open digital signal processor (DSP) into a single subminiature package. This complete and customizable solution is similar in size to a MEMS microphone found in today’s leading mobile electronic devices.
The IA-610 smart microphone provides an open DSP platform, enabling OEMs and third-party software developers to create and customize advanced features, or leverage Knowles industry-leading software and algorithms for a turnkey solution.
The IA-610 enables features like voice wake with voice commands, spatial recordings, and acoustic event detection, such as breaking glass or an infant crying. With voice rapidly emerging as the primary user interface, the IA-610 is the industry’s first customizable solution in a single package which simplifies audio design and can reduce total system costs.
This microphone is currently sampling to customers and will be ready for mass production in the first quarter of next year.
