Abstract: A microphone includes an interposer, a lid, and a base. The interposer includes at least one wall portion that forms a cavity. The wall portion includes a first side and a second side that are opposite from each other. The lid is coupled to the first side of the interposer and the base is coupled to the second side of the interposer such that the lid and the base enclose the cavity. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is disposed in the cavity. The interposer structurally supports one or both of the lid and the base. The interposer includes a plurality of plated regions that are configured to electrically connect the lid and the base. The plated regions are configured to at least partially be exposed and open to the cavity.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone includes a base having a port extending there through. A MEMS die is coupled to the base, and the MEMS die includes a diaphragm and a back plate. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is coupled to the base and the MEMS die. A cover is coupled to the base, and the cover includes customer pads. The customer pads on the cover are connected electrically to the ASIC, and the cover is arranged to form an air tight seal with the base and enclose the MEMS die and the ASIC. The microphone is connected to a customer board at the cover and arranged such that sound enters through the port in the base.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) apparatus includes a base. A MEMS device is disposed on the base. A cover encloses the MEMS device on the base. A port extends through the base, and the MEMS device is disposed over the port. A diaphragm is embedded within the base and has at least some portions that extend across the port. In an open position, the diaphragm allows the passage of sound energy from the exterior of the apparatus to the interior of the apparatus. In a closed position, the diaphragm makes contact with an outer surface of the port to at least partially block the passage of sound energy from the exterior of the apparatus to the interior of the apparatus.

Abstract: A printed transistor has a first gate (202) printed and disposed on a first side of a printed deposit of semiconductor material (201) and a second printed gate (301) disposed on an opposite side of the printed deposit of semiconductor material. By one approach these elements are provided using a serial printing process. By another approach these elements are provided through use of a lamination process.

Abstract: An inverter circuit (500) having a drive transistor (102) that operably couples to a voltage bias input (101) (and where that drive transistor controls the inverter circuit output by opening and closing a connection between the output (105) and ground (104)) is further operably coupled to a feedback switch (401). In a preferred approach the feedback switch is itself also operably coupled to the voltage bias input and the output and preferably serves, when the drive transistor is switched “off,” to responsively couple the voltage bias input to the drive transistor in such a way as to cause a gate terminal of the drive transistor to have its polarity relative to a source terminal of the drive transistor reversed and hence permit the inverter circuit to operate across a substantially full potential operating range of the drive transistor.

Abstract: An object (201) (such as a containment mechanism) supports both a functional electrical circuit (203) and an electrical circuit (202) to which the functional electrical circuit is responsive. In a preferred approach the functional electrical circuit has both a low power state of operation and a higher power state of operation. Upon detecting (104) that an area of connectivity of the electrical circuit has been severed (via, for example, corresponding manipulation of the object itself), the functional electrical circuit responsively operates (106) using the higher power state of operation.

Abstract: One facilitates determination of a path that comprises a plurality of specific locations (201). In an optional though preferred embodiment these specific locations comprise locations where a given functional ink will preferably be printed using a continuous printing spray. Also in an optional though preferred embodiment this path will also avoid at least one predetermined area (701) where such a functional ink should not be printed. In a preferred approach this process (100) generally provides for identifying (101) these specific locations and further identifying (102), when applicable, the one or more predetermined areas to be avoided.