Following its acquisition by Bosch 18months ago, Akustica has used the parent company's manufacturing facilities in Germany to deliver the AKU230 digital CMOS MEMS microphone. It measures just 0.7mm² and has a user-selectable left or right channel option for use in multiple microphone applications, such as microphone array on embedded camera modules in laptop PCs or tablets. The top-ported, surface mount digital output microphone integrates an acoustic transducer, pre-amplifier and sigma delta modulator in a single chip, using the company's patented monolithic CMOS MEMS technology. The form factor, interface circuitry and performance are designed to industry standards, so it can be designed into high-volume camera modules or mass-market mobile computers. The footprint is 3.76x4.72x1.25mm, which is also 30% thinner than the previous generation of digital microphones. The sensitivity control and stereo-microphone data multiplexing is suitable for dual microphone arrays that create directionality and noise suppression to enhance audio quality. It is also immune to RF and EM interference, improving voice capture and allowing the microphone can be placed anywhere on the board, regardless of proximity to displays, Wi-Fi antennae or other sources of interference.
