Tag Archives: ABI Research

Teeny, tiny bugs—microphone-type bugs, that is

This is more a microscale story than anything else but the image is too good to pass up,

MEMmicrophone

Cirrus Logic MEM microphone Courtesy: ABIresearch

A Sept. 11, 2015 news item on Azonano makes the announcement about the world’s smallest MEM (usually it’s called MEMS for micro-electro-mechanical systems) microphone,

ABI Research’s teardown of a recently released high profile smartphone found that Cirrus Logic introduced the world’s smallest MEM microphone. It is 30% smaller than the smallest MEM microphone and less than half the size of MEM microphones typically found in mobile devices.

Miniature microphones are sometimes referred to as “bugs.” To put this in perspective, Cirrus Logic’s MEM microphone is one-sixth the size of a bed bug.

A Sept. 10, 2015 ABI Research news release, which originated the news item, expands on the theme,

Jim Mielke, VP of Engineering at ABI Research, comments, “Rather than simply shrinking the typical MEM microphone, Cirrus Logic’s WM1706 MEM microphone, which ABI Research named after its die markings, is the first to integrate an amplifier/interface IC and the MEM sensor.”

Along with the record-setting MEM microphone, the phone has a Cirrus Logic audio codec. This codec sits alongside a Qualcomm MSM8939 chipset, a Skyworks power amplifier, Qorvo RF switches and a Broadcom NFC solution.

ABI Research provides technology market research and technology intelligence for industry innovators. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. ABI Research was established in 1990. …

For anyone interested in Cirrus Logic, here’s their website.