Some Industry News

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Industry News
Microphone makers ready for cheaper, smarter MEMS line

China (mainland) – Microphone makers in the region, spurred on by a huge market demand, are up and ready to ramp up production of silicon microphones with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processing technology. Worldwide shipment is forecast to reach nearly 1.6 billion units in 2011, growing by a compound annual growth rate of 43 percent from 600 million units in 2008, according to France-based market research company Yole Developpement. The growth is attributed to the booming portable consumer electronics market that includes mobile phones, digital still cameras, laptops, personal navigation devices, Bluetooth headsets and other portable recording devices.
The MEMS microphones market is estimated to have reached nearly $300 million in 2008. The mobile phone segment, with sales nearing 1.4 billion handsets annually, accounts for the lion’s share of this market. In close second is the digital still camera/digital video camera segment, which is expected to seize a major share leading to 2011.

Microfabrication increase yield of smarter products
MEMS, sometimes referred to as micromachines or microsystems technology, integrates mechanical elements, sensors, actuators and electronics on a conventional silicon substrate. Using microfabrication technology, its electronics components are assembled via IC process sequences while the micromechanical components are made by etching away parts of the silicon wafer or adding new structural layers.
MEMS devices are relatively cheaper to produce since it employs batch fabrication techniques. The technology to produce the device further allows the integration of new levels of functionality, reliability and sophistication on a small silicon chip. The technology enables the creation of complete systems-on-a-chip, which in turn leads to the development of smarter products.
MEMS silicon microphones offer the same acoustic performance as that of electret condenser microphones (ECMs) but without the cumbersome size of the latter. Unlike ECMs, silicon microphones with MEMS can withstand higher temperatures during surface mounting processes in consumer electronic products. It also exhibits a better performance in terms of reliability, uniformity, flexibility and power consumption.

Suppliers up capacities for likely demand swell
The significant penetration of MEMS microphones in consumer electronics is expected to begin next year, as pioneers Knowles, Wolfson, Analog Devices, Freescale, ST, Infineon and Omron look to add more solutions incorporating the technology.
China suppliers are closely monitoring movements from these developers. Some makers have begun production of sample batches while others are expanding production lines to meet the surge in demand. For instance, Shangdong Goer Acoustics Technology Co. Ltd has invested $12 million into a new production line with a planned capacity of about 500,000 MEMS microphones per month. Products from this factory are designedmainly for use with laptops and mobile phones. The microelectroacoustics maker has also developed technologies that address performance problems such as stress and conglutination.
Meanwhile, Suzhou MEMSensing Microsystems Co. Ltd will begin mass production of its proprietary MEMS microphones. The company holds six chips and encapsulation design patents for MEMS microphones.
AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, which mass-produced its first line of MEMS microphones in 2007, has announced plans to increase investments in MEMS microphones R&D. To ensure further innovation, it has inked a cross-licensing agreement with Knowles and established technological ties with US-based Stanford University.