World's smallest MEMS microphones with a digital interface

TDK-EPC presents what it claims to be the smallest commercially available MEMS microphone worldwide with an integrated digital interface. The EPCOS T4030 measures only 3.25 x 2.25 x 1.1 mm, making the microphone about 60 percent smaller than alternative products. This allows significantly more compact designs of mobile phones and consumer electronics applications such as MP3 players and digital cameras.

The T4030 has a sensitivity of -26 dB FS (full scale), and a signal-to-noise ratio of 60 dBA. Even at a sound level of 100 dB, the distortion factor is under 1 percent. Its frequency response is characterized by high bandwidth and low amplitude fluctuations.

The T4030 is largely insensitive to electromagnetic interference thanks to a digital PDM (pulse density modulation) output. The suppression of the power supply noise is -82 dB FS.

Two channels can also be transmitted via one signal line, making stereo applications much simpler to implement than in analog technology. The supply voltage range is between 1.64 and 2.86 V. The power consumption is 650microA and is reduced to less than 10microA in standby operation.

Thanks to its compact dimensions and outstanding electrical properties, the microphone is also predestined for applications with high requirements on audio quality. This also includes high-quality video and VoIP (Voice over IP) systems, telephone conference installations, beam-forming and noise-suppression systems.

The T4030 is manufactured in the CSMP (chip-sized MEMS package) technology, which was developed for SAW filters and has already proved itself in billions of mobile phones.

It thus benefits from matured EPCOS production processes as well as more than 15 years experience in the development of MEMS microphones.

TDK-EPC also uses the proven technology of SAW production for the final electro-acoustic measurement. The MEMS microphones are RoHS-compatible and suitable for lead-free SMD reflow solder processes.

Visit TDK-EPC Corporation at www.epcos.com/publications_saw