SIMIC: Silicon Microphone Projects uri icon

researchers

  • HERNANDEZ CORPORALES, LUIS   Principal Researcher  
  • PATON ALVAREZ, SUSANA   Researcher  
  • PREFASI SEN, ENRIQUE JOSE   Researcher  
  • TORREÑO CARRERA, JUAN ANTONIO   Researcher  
  • GUTIERREZ FERNANDEZ, ERIC   Researcher  
  • CONESA-PERALEJA RUANO, LAURA   Researcher  
  • CARDES GARCIA, FERNANDO   Researcher  
  • PEREZ SANJURJO, JAVIER   Researcher  
  • JEVTIC, RUZICA   Researcher  
  • BUFFA, CESARE   Researcher  

type

  • European Research Project

reference

  • PIAPP-GA-2013-610484

date/time interval

  • October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2017

abstract

  • MEMS (Micro-Electrical-Mechanical System) based microphones, so called “silicon microphones” - are relevant in many
    applications as their manufacturability is better compared to electret condenser mics (ECM). Often MEMS mics hold
    embedded ADCs (Analog-to-Digital Converter) on the same CMOS chip. Those “digital output mics” perfectly fit into
    innovative digital products e.g. smart phones. Extremely small form factors and better performance in dynamic range and
    high sound pressure levels (voice recognition&command, music recording) are highly requested.
    The project aims to develop revolutionary components for Silicon based microphones (SiMic) to satisfy challenging
    requirements of multiple marketplaces. On a European level innovations from academia will be directly transferred into
    marketable products for a global market, supporting the top level research and jobs in European semiconductor industry.
    UC3M is well known for its highly innovative concepts and forefront research. Quality of those concepts strongly depends
    on features of the technologies needed for system integration, competitiveness of academia is connected to the access to
    latest manufacturing technologies. SiMic collaboration approach guarantees, that UC3M system and circuitry concepts will be
    leading edge within the EU.
    IFAT is the second largest supplier of SiMiCs using ASIC designs, similar to those used with ECM. From customer feedback
    IFAT anticipates the need for advanced electronics and sensors with focus on developing new ASICs for novel read-out
    topologies for existing and new MEMS sensors.
    IFAT envisions possible techniques to cope with the challenges but it is extremely difficult to find the researchers (and a
    budget) to cover the risks related to unproven concepts. Therefore the requested funding will be used for target oriented
    innovation with room for creative concepts thus enabling new products for a growing market and investment in more
    resources

keywords

  • audio; microphone; silicon; mems; asic; mixed signal; low power; semiconductor industry; high performance/low noise; high pressure; heterogeneous integration; multi technology; system in package