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USound, ST deliver samples of MEMS micro-speakers

USound, ST deliver samples of MEMS micro-speakers

Technology News |
By Peter Clarke



This puts the collaboration behind a previous prediction. Ten months ago when ST was revealed as USound’s manufacturing partner ST predicted the piezoelectric MEMS actuator would move into volume production in 3Q17 and would ship in consumer products before the end of 2017 (see ST is USound’s piezoMEMS partner). A spokesperson for ST said mass production is now planned in 2Q18 with a design win already in hand.

USound has a patented micro-speaker that replaces the conventional balanced-armature electrodynamic transducers for handsets with a piezoelectric MEMS actuator. The expectation is that this will reduce power consumption while improving sound quality. The production delay was due to a minor change of design to further improve performance and to extend the range of applications covered by the first product in the market, the spokesperson said.

In R&D USound worked with niobium-doped lead zirconate titanate (Nb-doped PZT) as a piezoelectric material and PZT is thought to be the material of choice within ST’s PeTra (piezoelectric transducer) thin-film-piezoelectric technology. USound intended to use packaging technology to integrate ASICs, MEMS and passive components in one device with a thin and compact form factor.

With less than half the weight of conventional micro-speakers this should provide opportunities for design wins in wearable technology such as headphones and augemented reality/virtual reality headgear.

Next: Demo


“This successful project combines USound’s design flair and ST’s extensive investment in MEMS expertise and processes, including our advanced thin-film piezo technology PeTra,” said Anton Hofmeister, general manager of ST’s MEMS microactuators division, in a statement. ST said USound plans to demonstrate prototype AR/VR glasses containing multiple MEMS speakers per side, to invited guests at ST’s private suite during CES 2018.

According to ithe USound website the company has Moon and Ganymede chip products for in-sound and near-sound applications respectively, and is developing a variety of reference designs.

Related links and articled:

www.st.com

www.usound.com

News articles:

Analog, MEMS and sensor startups to follow in 2018

ST is USound’s piezoMEMS partner

Are MEMS speakers ready to kick out the voice coil?

Hermann Hauser invests in MEMS speaker startup

ST adds piezoelectric MEMS to process portfolio

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