Semiconductor Junction Microphone Patents (Class 381/175)
  • Patent number: 8942394
    Abstract: A MEMS acoustic transducer provided with a substrate having cavity, and a membrane suspended above the cavity and fixed peripherally to the substrate, with the possibility of oscillation, through at least one membrane anchorage. The membrane comprises at least one spring arranged in the proximity of the anchorage and facing it, and is designed to act in tension or compression in a direction lying in the same plane as said membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Sebastiano Conti, Matteo Perletti
  • Patent number: 8934649
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes substrate having a cavity. A dielectric layer is disposed on a second side of substrate at periphery of the cavity. A backplate structure is formed with the dielectric layer on a first side of the substrate and exposed by the cavity. The backplate structure includes at least a first backplate and a second backplate. The first backplate and the second backplate are electric disconnected and have venting holes to connect the cavity and the chamber. A diaphragm is disposed above the backplate structure by a distance, so as to form a chamber between the backplate structure and the diaphragm. A periphery of the diaphragm is embedded in the dielectric layer. The diaphragm serves as a common electrode. The first backplate and the second backplate respectively serve as a first electrode unit and a second electrode unit in conjugation with the diaphragm to form separate two capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Solid State System Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Hsing Lee, Tsung-Min Hsieh, Jhyy-Cheng Liou
  • Patent number: 8934648
    Abstract: A microphone includes a diaphragm assembly supported by a substrate. The diaphragm assembly includes at least one carrier, a diaphragm, and at least one spring coupling the diaphragm to the at least one carrier such that the diaphragm is spaced from the at least one carrier. An insulator (or separate insulators) between the substrate and the at least one carrier electrically isolates the diaphragm and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason W. Weigold
  • Patent number: 8921956
    Abstract: MEMS devices with a rigid backplate and a method of making a MEMS device with a rigid backplate are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate and a backplate supported by the substrate. The backplate includes elongated protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alfons Dehe
  • Patent number: 8902604
    Abstract: A component support allows cost-effective, space-saving and low-stress packaging of MEMS components having a sensitive structure. The component support is suited, in particular, for MEMS components, which are mounted in the cavity of a housing and are intended to be electrically contacted. The component support is produced as a composite part in the form of a hollow body open on one side, the composite part being made essentially of a three-dimensionally shaped carrier foil flexible in its shaping, and an encasing material. The encasing material is molded onto one side of the carrier foil, so that the carrier foil is situated on the inner wall of the component support. At least one mounting surface for at least one component is formed on the inner wall having the carrier foil. The carrier foil is also provided with contact surfaces and insulated conductive paths for electrically contacting the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Zoellin, Ricardo Ehrenpfordt, Ulrike Scholz
  • Patent number: 8897470
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated semiconductor device, comprising: providing a substrate having a first region and a second region; and forming a semiconductor unit on the first region and forming a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) unit on the second region in one process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsueh-I Huang, Ming-Tung Lee, Shuo-Lun Tu
  • Patent number: 8867772
    Abstract: To stably obtain high acoustic resistance required for pressure equalization in a non-directional condenser microphone unit. A diaphragm 8 whose circumferential edge is attached to a diaphragm holder 4 and a fixed electrode 6 made of a metal material and arranged to face the diaphragm at a predetermined interval through an electrically insulating spacer 5 are provided, and the rear space of the above-mentioned diaphragm is closed to constitute the non-directional condenser microphone unit. A blind groove 16a is formed by an etching process at a portion which is in contact with the spacer 5 and in the fixed electrode 6 so that the rear space between the diaphragm and the fixed electrode may communicate with the outside, and a communication part formed between the groove 16a and the spacer 5 may be used as acoustic resistance for pressure equalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 8855337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a micromachined microphone and an accelerometer from a wafer 1 having a first layer 2, the method comprising the steps of dividing the first layer 2 into a microphone layer 5 and into an accelerometer layer 6, covering a front side of the microphone layer 5 and a front side of the accelerometer layer 6 with a continuous second layer 7, covering the second layer 7 with a third layer 8, forming a plurality of trenches 9 in the third layer 8, removing a part 10 of the wafer 1 below a back side of the microphone layer 5, forming at least two wafer trenches 11 in the wafer 1 below a back side of the accelerometer layer 6, and removing a part 12, 13 of the second layer 7 through the plurality of trenches 9 formed in the third layer 8. The micromachined microphone and the accelerometer according to the invention is advantageous over prior art as it allows for body noise cancellation in order to minimize structure borne sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Twan van Lippen, Geert Langereis, Martijn Goossens
  • Patent number: 8842858
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electret condenser microphone which comprises an exterior sidewall structure attached to a carrier. The exterior sidewall structure comprises a non-conductive base material carrying first and second electrical wiring patterns electrically connected to first and second electrical traces, respectively, of the carrier. A diaphragm holder, carrying a conductive microphone diaphragm is attached to the sidewall structure to establish electrical connection between a conductive microphone diaphragm and one of the first and second electrical wiring patterns of the sidewall structure. A conductive perforated backplate is arranged in spaced relationship to the conductive microphone diaphragm. The conductive perforated backplate is electrically connected to another one of the first and second wiring patterns of the sidewall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Lillelund
  • Patent number: 8842859
    Abstract: A packaged microphone has a base with a top face, a lid coupled to the base and forming an interior, and a MEMS microphone (i.e., a die or chip) secured to the top face of the base within the interior. The packaged microphone also includes a circuit chip secured to the top face of the base within the interior. The circuit chip has a top surface with a top pad, a bottom surface with a bottom pad, and a via. The bottom pad is electrically connected to the base, and the via electrically connects the top pad with the bottom pad. A wire bond is connected between the MEMS microphone and the top pad on the circuit chip. The MEMS microphone is electrically connected to the bottom pad and the base through the via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Delaus, Kathleen O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 8837754
    Abstract: A MEMS transducer has a micromechanical sensing structure and a package. The package is provided with a substrate, carrying first electrical-connection elements, and with a lid, coupled to the substrate to define an internal cavity, in which the micromechanical sensing structure is housed. The lid is formed by: a cap layer having a first surface and a second surface, set opposite to one another, the first surface defining an external face of the package and the second surface facing the substrate inside the package; and a wall structure, set between the cap layer and the substrate, and having a coupling face coupled to the substrate. At least a first electrical component is coupled to the second surface of the cap layer, inside the package, and the coupling face of the wall structure carries second electrical-connection elements, electrically connected to the first electrical component and to the first electrical-connection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics S.r.l., STMicroelectronics (Malta) Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Formosa, Mark Anthony Azzopardi, Mario Francesco Cortese, Mark Shaw, Alex Gritti, Luca Maggi, Filippo David
  • Patent number: 8824706
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for glass-encapsulated microphones. In one aspect, a glass-encapsulated microphone may include a glass substrate, an electromechanical microphone device, an integrated circuit device, and a cover glass. The cover glass may be bonded to the glass substrate with an adhesive, such as epoxy, or a metal bond ring. The cover glass may have any of a number of configurations. In some configurations, the cover glass may define an aperture for the electromechanical microphone device at an edge of the glass-encapsulated microphone. In some configurations, the cover glass may define a cavity to accommodate the integrated circuit device that is separate from a cavity that accommodates the electromechanical microphone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Jason Stephanou, David William Burns
  • Patent number: 8818007
    Abstract: A device and method for generating or recovering acoustic energy are provided, including a substrate; at least one deformable cavity disposed in the substrate and being delimited by at least one mobile or deformable wall, the at least one deformable cavity extending in a lateral direction in the substrate defined by a first plane parallel to an upper surface of the substrate; at least one opening disposed in an upper portion of the at least one deformable cavity, configured to transmit at least one pulse produced in the at least one deformable cavity to an ambient atmosphere, the at least one pulse being a pressure pulse, a depression pulse, a partial vacuum pulse, or a combination thereof; and at least one actuator configured to generate a force in the first plane that displaces or deforms, or displaces and deforms, the at least one mobile or deformable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventor: Philippe Robert
  • Patent number: 8818010
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microphone unit comprising a film substrate (1), electrically conductive layers (15, 16) which are formed on both substrate surfaces of the film substrate (11), and an electrical acoustic transducer unit (12) which is provided on the film substrate (11) and comprises a diaphragm capable of converting a sound pressure to an electrical signal. In the microphone unit, the linear expansion coefficient of the film substrate (11), including the electrically conductive layers (15, 16), falls within the range of 0.8 to 2.5 times, inclusive, the linear expansion coefficient of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Tomio Ishida
  • Patent number: 8787601
    Abstract: A condenser microphone includes a substrate having a cavity, first and second spacers defining an opening, a diaphragm having a rectangular shape positioned inside of the opening, and a plate having a rectangular shape positioned just above the diaphragm. Plate joint portions integrally interconnected with two sides of the plate are directly attached onto the second spacer. Supports, which are attached onto the second spacer across the opening and project inwardly of the opening, are connected to the prescribed portions of the diaphragm via third spacers relatively to the other two sides of the plate. The center portion of the diaphragm can be designed in a multilayered structure, and the peripheral portion can be bent outwardly. In addition, both ends of the diaphragm are fixed in position, while free ends of the diaphragm vibrate due to sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihisa Suzuki, Yukitoshi Suzuki, Nariyasu Yaguchi, Kazushi Sakurauchi
  • Patent number: 8781140
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) microphone assembly includes a MEMS structure, a base portion, and a lid. The MEMS structure includes a diaphragm that responds to changes in sound pressure and the MEMS structure contributes to a vertical dimension of the assembly. The MEMS structure is supported by the base portion. The lid partially but not completely encloses the MEMS structure, such that the portion of the MEMS structure is not surrounded by the lid, the lid, and the base portion form a boundary with and are exposed to the environment external to the microphone assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Lautenschlager, Galen Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 8767983
    Abstract: A module including a micro-electro-mechanical microphone is disclosed. One embodiment provides a substrate having a trough-shaped depression and a micro-electro-mechanical microphone. The micro-electro-mechanical microphone is mounted into the trough-shaped depression of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Horst Theuss, Jochen Dangelmaier, Jens Krause, Albert Auburger, Bernd Stadler
  • Patent number: 8755541
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical microphone and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The microphone has a moveable diaphragm and a fixed backplate that create a variable capacitance. A fixed anchor electrically coupled to the diaphragm has an electrode that measures the variable capacitance, but also measures an unwanted, additive, parasitic capacitance. Various embodiments include a reference electrode, manufactured in the same deposition layer as the diaphragm or anchor, that measures only the parasitic capacitance. A circuit is provided either on-chip or off-chip that subtracts the capacitance measured at the reference electrode from that measured at the anchor, thereby producing only the desired variable capacitance as output. Because the reference electrode is deposited at the same time as the diaphragm or anchor, only minimal changes are required to existing manufacturing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang Liu, Kuang L. Yang
  • Patent number: 8737663
    Abstract: Illustrative acoustic transducers are provided. A monolithic semiconductor layer defines a plate, two or more flexible extensions and at least a portion of a support structure. Acoustic pressure transferred to the plate results in tensile strain of the flexible extensions. The flexible extensions exhibit varying electrical characteristics responsive to the tensile strain. An electric signal corresponding to the acoustic pressure can be derived from the varying electrical characteristics and processed for further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Adel Jilani, James McKinnell, Jennifer Wu, Melinda Valencia
  • Patent number: 8731220
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a silicon substrate, a diaphragm connected to the silicon substrate, a backplate opposed from the diaphragm for forming an air gap. The backplate defines a plurality of first through holes and a plurality of second through holes surrounded by the first through holes, each of the first through holes being formed by a straight boundary and an arc boundary, the radius of the second boundary being greater than half the width of the first boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., American Audio Components Inc.
    Inventors: Rui Zhang, Lin-lin Wang, Zhou Ge, Xiao-lin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8724832
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for sense elements in an electromechanical microphone device. In one aspect, a piezoelectric sense element may include a glass substrate, electrode layers, piezoelectric layers, and elastic layers. The elastic layers may serve to modify the neutral plane of the piezoelectric sense element. Including an elastic layer or layers to modify the neutral plane of the piezoelectric sense element may serve to configure the sense element such that the piezoelectric layer generates a voltage in response to a sound wave or may serve to increase the sensitivity of the sense element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Jason Stephanou, David William Burns
  • Patent number: 8705776
    Abstract: A System and method to provide a cost-effective implementation of a microphone package, very good microphone performance being achieved even with a high degree of miniaturization. A microphone package includes a MEMS microphone component having a microphone diaphragm, and a housing having a housing base and a housing cover, the housing enclosing the back-side volume of the microphone component, and an acoustic access channel to the microphone diaphragm being provided in the housing which is closed off with respect to the back-side volume and which connects at least one sound opening in the housing to one side of the microphone diaphragm. An interposer is mounted inside the housing which defines the acoustic access channel to the microphone diaphragm in that the interposer is coupled to the sound opening in the housing, and has at least one exit opening above which the microphone component together with the microphone diaphragm is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Knauss, Scott Naugle, Andy Doller, Eric Ochs
  • Patent number: 8705777
    Abstract: Disclosed are a MEMS microphone and a method of manufacturing the same. The MEMS microphone includes: a substrate; a rear acoustic chamber formed inside a front surface of the substrate; a vibrating plate formed on the substrate and having an exhaust hole; a fixed electrode formed on the vibrating plate; and a fixed electrode support supported by a bottom of the rear acoustic chamber and connected to the fixed electrode through the exhaust hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang Han Je, Jae Woo Lee, Woo Seok Yang, Jong Dae Kim
  • Patent number: 8697470
    Abstract: MEMS microphone packages and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. One method for fabricating a MEMS microphone package, includes providing a substrate, forming a cavity enclosed by a top cover part, wherein a housing wall part surrounds and supports the top cover part, and the substrate supports the housing wall part and the cover part, forming a MEMS sensing element and an IC chip inside the cavity, forming an opening comprising an acoustic passage connecting the cavity to an ambient space, and forming a conductive casing enclosing the top cover part and the housing wall, wherein the conductive casing is soldered to a PCB board and is electrically connected to a common analog ground lead on the PCB board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Mems Corporation
    Inventor: Yunlong Wang
  • Patent number: 8699728
    Abstract: A vibrating electrode plate 24 that senses a sound pressure faces a counter electrode plate 25 to form a capacitance type acoustic sensor. Acoustic perforations are opened in the counter electrode plate 25 in order to allow vibration to pass through. The acoustic perforations opened in the counter electrode plate 25 include plural acoustic perforations 31 having a relatively small opening area and one acoustic perforation 36 having a relatively large opening area. The acoustic perforations 31 and 36 are disposed into a lattice shape at equal intervals. Assuming that L is a width of a diaphragm 28, in the counter electrode plate 25, the acoustic perforation 36 having the large opening area is provided within a circular region a having a radius r=L/4 around a position facing a center of the diaphragm 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kasai, Masaki Munechika, Toshiyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8693711
    Abstract: A capacitive transducer and fabrication method are disclosed. The capacitive transducer includes a substrate, a first electrode mounted on the substrate, a cap having a through-hole and a cavity beside the through-hole, a second electrode mounted on the cap across the through-hole. The second electrode is deformable in response to pressure fluctuations applied thereto via the through-hole and defines, together with the first electrode, as a capacitor. The capacitor includes a capacitance variable with the pressure fluctuations and the cavity defines a back chamber for the deformable second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tzong-Che Ho, Lung-Tai Chen, Yao-Jung Lee, Chao-Ta Huang, Li-Chi Pan, Yu-Sheng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8687827
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone chip with an expanded back chamber includes a first chip unit and a second chip unit. The first chip unit has a first substrate, a vibration membrane layer is formed above an end of the first substrate, and a space is formed below the vibration membrane layer of the first substrate, so that the vibration membrane layer is suspended above the first substrate to vibrate. The second chip unit has a second substrate to couple with another end of the first substrate, and a groove is formed in the second substrate with a width larger than that of the space; when the first substrate and the second substrate are coupled together, the groove and the space are connected together to act as the back chamber of the vibration membrane layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Jen Chen, Kuan-Hsun Chiu, Chun-Chieh Wang, Ming-Li Hsu
  • Patent number: 8670580
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided, including a conductive substrate, an electret diaphragm, a plurality of spacers, a first electrode, and two second electrodes. The conductive substrate has a plurality of openings. The spacers are disposed between the conductive substrate and the electret diaphragm to define an acoustic projecting portion and two acoustic receiving portions on the electret diaphragm. The first electrode is disposed on the acoustic projecting portion and coupled with the conductive substrate for generating an acoustic signal. The second electrodes are disposed on the acoustic receiving portions and coupled with the conductive substrate, wherein the acoustic receiving portions receive the acoustic signal and vibrate to vary an electrical field between the second electrodes and the conductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Fang-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 8670579
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a cover, a housing engaging with the cover for forming a cavity, at least one transducer accommodated in the cavity, and a conductive case covering the cover and the sidewall of the housing. The housing includes a cover and a sidewall extending from the base. The conductive case defines a first part covering the cover, a second part extending from the first part for covering the sidewall and a third part perpendicularly extending from the second part for covering a periphery part of the base, the third part forming an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignees: AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., American Audio Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhi-Jiang Wu, Xing-Fu Chen, Yong-Ze Su
  • Publication number: 20140037116
    Abstract: Embodiments show a method for fabricating a cavity structure, a semiconductor structure, a cavity structure for a semiconductor device and a semiconductor microphone fabricated by the same. In some embodiments the method for fabricating a cavity structure comprises providing a first layer, depositing a carbon layer on the first layer, covering at least partially the carbon layer with a second layer to define the cavity structure, removing by means of dry etching the carbon layer between the first and second layer so that the cavity structure is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Friza, Thomas Grille, Klaus Muemmler, Guenter Zieger, Carsten Ahrens
  • Patent number: 8625832
    Abstract: Packages for electronic amplification include a packaged microphone device that includes a housing and an acoustic transducer disposed therein. The housing includes an exterior top surface and an exterior bottom surface that includes electrical terminals disposed thereon. The package microphone device can include a flexible substrate having a top portion, a bottom portion and a flexible middle portion. The flexible middle portion is folded around the housing such that the top portion at least partially overlays and attaches to the exterior top surface of the housing and the bottom portion at least partially overlays and attaches to the exterior bottom surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Lillelund
  • Patent number: 8625823
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone. The MEMS microphone includes a membrane, a spring, and a first layer having a backplate, and a first OTS structure. The spring has a first end coupled to the membrane, and a second end mounted to a support. The first OTS structure is released from the backplate and coupled to a structure other than the backplate, and is configured to stop movement of the membrane in a first direction after the membrane has moved a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Buck
  • Patent number: 8620014
    Abstract: A miniaturized microphone maintaining the properties of a microphone chip and achieving a smaller mounting area. The microphone includes a package which includes a first and second member. At least one of the first second members includes a recess. The microphone also includes a circuit element installed on an inner surface of the first member. Additionally, the microphone includes a microphone chip arranged on a surface on an opposite side of an installing surface of the circuit element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Tomofumi Maekawa, Naoto Kuratani, Tsuyoshi Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8611566
    Abstract: A MEMS microphone having an improved noise performance due to reduced DC leakage current is provided. For that, a minimum distance between a signal line of the MEMS microphone and other conducting structures is maintained. Further, a DC guard structure fencing at least a section of the signal line is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Epcos AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pahl, Anton Leidl, Matthias Jungkunz, Andreas Beer
  • Patent number: 8611565
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a MEMS directional sensor system capable of determining direction from at least two microphones to a sound source over a wide range of frequencies is disclosed. By utilizing a stiff beam stand-off architecture that relies on a unique manufacturing technique in a MEMS device, such as described herein, a very small set of microphones, on the order of a few micrometers, can be designed with unsurpassed ability to detect a sound source location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Luke J. Currano, Danny Gee
  • Patent number: 8600083
    Abstract: An electrostatic speaker and a method for manufacturing the speaker are disclosed. Said speaker comprises a vibrating film; an electrode portion disposed on a surface of the vibrating film and joined with the vibrating film; and a conductive backplate spaced from the electrode portion by a distance, the conductive backplate forming a plurality of holes, the vibrating film being deformed and vibrated to generate and release a sound through the holes due to a variation of an electric field generated between the conductive backplate and the electrode portion, wherein the conductive backplate is covered by a polymer layer serving as a protective film. The covering polymer layer on the conductive backplate is capable of improving the stability of the electrostatic speaker and increasing its lifespan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Electrets Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dar-ming Chiang, Jen-luan Chen, I-hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8600079
    Abstract: The invention provides an amplifier circuit of a capacitor microphone of which the noise resistance against noise of a supply voltage is enhanced. In an amplifier circuit of a capacitor microphone of the invention, while a noise component of a supply voltage is applied to one inversion input terminal of an operational amplifier of an amplification portion through a parasitic capacitor existing between an external power supply wiring and an external wiring that are adjacent to each other, the problem noise component of the supply voltage is applied to the other non-inversion input terminal by capacitive coupling to an internal power supply wiring. Therefore, the noise component is cancelled at the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: SANYO Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kimura, Masahito Kanaya, Takashi Tokano
  • Patent number: 8594347
    Abstract: A microphone is provided. The microphone has a housing; an acoustic port located in the housing; a substrate coupled with the housing; an integrated circuit positioned onto the substrate; and two or more MEMS transducers mounted on the substrate wherein the transducers are connected in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics LLC
    Inventors: William A. Ryan, Michael Abry, Peter V. Loeppert
  • Patent number: 8577063
    Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone devices and methods for packaging the same include a package housing, an interior lid, and an integrated MEMS microphone die. The package housing includes a sound port therethrough for communicating sound from outside the package housing to an interior of the package housing. The interior lid is mounted to an interior surface of the package housing to define an interior lid cavity, and includes a back volume port therethrough. The MEMS microphone die is mounted on the interior lid over the back volume port, and includes a movable membrane. The back volume port is configured to allow the interior lid cavity and the MEMS movable membrane to communicate, thereby increasing the back volume of the MEMS microphone die and enhancing the sound performance of the packaged MEMS microphone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Jicheng Yang
  • Patent number: 8571249
    Abstract: A silicon microphone package is provided, including an integrated microphone die having opposing first and second surfaces, a first cover member formed over the first surface of the integrated microphone die to form a first chamber therebetween, and a second cover member formed over the second surface of the integrated microphone die to form a second chamber therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: General MEMS Corporation
    Inventor: Yunlong Wang
  • Patent number: 8555483
    Abstract: A vibrating element manufacturing method by which adhesion is stabilized and yield is improved, a vibrating element, a vibrating actuator, a lens barrel and a camera system. A vibrating element manufacturing method is provided with a first step of arranging an elastic body on a holding member, a second step of forming an electromechanical transducing element by injection molding on the surface of the elastic body, and a third step of sintering the electromechanical transducing element by heating and bonding the elastic body with the electromechanical transducer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8553920
    Abstract: An arrangement includes a circuit carrier and a housed microphone. A mounting side of the housed microphone is mounted on a top side of the circuit carrier. The housed microphone includes solderable contacts on the mounting side and a sound entry opening facing the circuit carrier. An acoustic channel connects the sound entry opening and surroundings above the circuit carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Gregor Feiertag, Anton Leidl
  • Patent number: 8542850
    Abstract: A miniature microphone assembly comprises a capacitive-microphone transducer, a microphone carrier, and an integrated circuit die. The capacitive-microphone transducer includes a microphone-electrical contact or terminal. The microphone carrier comprises a carrier electrical contact or terminal formed on a first surface of the microphone carrier. An integrated circuit die includes a die electrical terminal operatively coupled to signal amplification or signal conditioning circuitry of the integrated circuit die. The first surface of the microphone carrier comprises a hydrophobic layer or coating. The side surfaces of the integrated circuit die and/or the capacitive-microphone transducer may also include the hydrophobic layer or coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Epcos Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Christian Wang, Jörg Rehder, Leif Steen Johansen, Peter Ulrik Scheel
  • Patent number: 8542853
    Abstract: A sound transducer structure includes a membrane, a counter electrode, and a plurality of elevations. The membrane includes a first main surface, made of a membrane material, in a sound transducing region and an edge region of the membrane. The counter electrode is made of counter electrode material, and includes a second main surface arranged in parallel to the first main surface of the membrane on a side of a free volume opposite the first main surface of the membrane. The plurality of elevations extend in the sound transducing region from the second main surface of the counter electrode into the free volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alfons Dehe, Stefan Barzen, Marc Fueldner
  • Patent number: 8542851
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor includes a semiconductor substrate with a back chamber, a conductive diaphragm arranged on an upper side of the semiconductor substrate, an insulating fixed film fixed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate covering the conductive diaphragm with a gap, a conductive fixed electrode film arranged on the insulating fixed film facing the diaphragm, an extraction wiring extracted from the conductive fixed electrode film, and an electrode pad to which the extraction wiring is connected. The acoustic sensor converts an acoustic vibration to change electrostatic capacitance between the conductive diaphragm and the conductive fixed electrode film. A plurality of acoustic perforations are opened in a back plate including the insulating fixed film and the conductive fixed electrode film. An opening rate of the plurality of acoustic perforations is smaller in the extraction wiring and a region in the vicinity thereof than in other regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kasai
  • Patent number: 8520878
    Abstract: A microphone unit is provided with an electroacoustic conversion portion that includes a diaphragm vibrated by sound pressure and that converts the sound pressure into electrical signals and a board on which the electroacoustic conversion portion is mounted. In the board, there are provided a board opening portion that is formed to face the diaphragm and locating walls that come in contact with the electroacoustic conversion portion to locate the electroacoustic conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8503693
    Abstract: A system and method for sensing acoustic sounds is provided having at least one directional sensor, each directional sensor including at least two compliant membranes for moving in reaction to an excitation acoustic signal and at least one compliant bridge. Each bridge is coupled to at least a respective first and second membrane of the at least two membranes for moving in response to movement of the membranes it is coupled to for causing movement of the first membrane to be related to movement of the second membrane when either of the first and second membranes moves in response to excitation by the excitation signal. The directional sensor is controllably rotated to locate a source of the excitation signal, including determining a turning angle based on a linear relationship between the directionality information and sound source position described in experimentally calibrated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Miao Yu, Haijun Liu
  • Patent number: 8472648
    Abstract: MEMS microphone packages and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. A MEMS microphone package includes a casing with a conductive part disposed over a substrate, to enclose a cavity. A MEMS acoustic sensing element and an IC chip are disposed inside the cavity. An opening with an acoustic passage connects the cavity to an ambient space. A first ground pad is disposed on a backside of the substrate connecting to the conductive part of the casing through a via hole of the substrate. A second ground pad is disposed on the backside of the substrate connecting to the MEMS acoustic sensing element or the IC chip through an interconnection of the substrate, wherein the first ground pad and the second ground pad are isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General MEMS Corporation
    Inventors: Yunlong Wang, Yi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 8472647
    Abstract: A surface mountable package includes a base and a cover with a cavity defined thereby, and an acoustic transducer unit received in the cavity. The cover includes a first metal ring to enclose the acoustic transducer unit. The base includes a second metal ring to press against the first metal ring in order to form a metal shielding area. First and second metal connecting paths are formed electrically connected to the metal shielding area and the acoustic transducer unit, respectively. Besides, two pairs of first and second surface mountable metal electrodes are electrically connected to the first and the second metal connecting paths, respectively. As a result, the package can be selectively double surface mountable to a user's circuit board via the metal electrodes of the base or the metal electrodes of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Memsensing Microsystems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jia-Xin Mei, Gang Li
  • Patent number: 8472646
    Abstract: An inversed microphone module is provided. The module includes a substrate, a microphone chip, a back acoustic cavity cover, and a sealing material. The substrate has a plurality of connection pads and an acoustic hole. The microphone chip has a first surface and an opposite second surface. A plurality of electrically bonding portions and an acoustic sensing are disposed on the first surface. The microphone chip is electrically coupled to the connection pads of the substrate through the electrically bonding portions, and the acoustic hole corresponds to the acoustic sensing portion. The back acoustic cavity cover is fixed to the second surface and defines a back acoustic cavity with the acoustic sensing portion and the microphone chip. The sealing material encapsulates the microphone chip and covers the substrate, so that the sealing material, the substrate, the acoustic sensing portion, and the first surface define a front acoustic cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jung-Tai Chen, Chun-Hsun Chu