Tiny Akustica 1mm x 1mm MEMS Microphone Is Now Digital

PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwire - November 10, 2008) - Akustica, Inc., maker of award-winning Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones, today introduced its latest generation of digital microphones that greatly improves voice quality in notebook computers and other consumer-electronic devices. The new AKU2002C is the first digital microphone product from Akustica to leverage its new 1mm x 1mm monolithic digital-output microphone.

Earlier this year, Akustica introduced the world's smallest analog microphone, the AKU1126, a fully integrated 1mm x 1mm analog microphone die in a compact 2mm x 2mm package. This and all other products in Akustica's portfolio are manufactured using Akustica's patented and revolutionary CMOS MEMS technology, in which both the transducer and the electronics are fabricated in a single chip, in a CMOS wafer, using standard CMOS processes.

"Laptop manufacturers recognize the improvement in voice quality that can be achieved using digital microphones and are adopting them rapidly," said Davin Yuknis, vice president of marketing and product management for Akustica. "Because our CMOS MEMS technology allows us to quickly innovate and introduce new digital microphones such as the AKU2002C, we provide manufacturers with features and form factors they need now to move forward with next-generation laptop designs."

About the AKU2002C

The AKU2002C is an omni-directional, digital-output, CMOS MEMS microphone in a 3.76mm x 4.72mm industry-standard package. It is pin- and footprint-compatible with earlier generations of the AKU2002. The AKU2002C is lead-free, surface-mountable, RoHS compliant, and automated pick-and-place-compatible for improved manufacturing reliability and efficiency.

The output of the AKU2002C is pulse density modulated -- a single-bit digital output stream that can be decimated by a digital filter in downstream electronics for a high degree of design flexibility. The output of two AKU2002C microphones can be multiplexed for stereo microphone functionality on only one data wire. The robust digital output of the microphone provides a high degree of immunity to RF (Radio Frequency) and EM (Electromagnetic) interference on the audio path, a problem which is costly and difficult to overcome when placing a traditional analog output microphone into the bezel of a laptop monitor. The AKU2002C provides as good or better PSR (Power Supply Rejection) and SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) as previous generations of Akustica digital microphones as well as other digital MEMS microphones in production today.

Price and Availability

The AKU2002C is currently in limited production and will be in full production in Q109. The AKU2002C is $2.09 in 1000 unit quantities. For more information and volume pricing, customers may contact Akustica at (412) 390-1730 or sales@akustica.com.

About Akustica

Akustica is the leading supplier of analog and digital output microphone products that are improving voice input quality in a host of voice-enabled applications, from Internet telephony on notebooks to PC camera modules and mobile phones. More information about Akustica is available at www.akustica.com or by calling (412) 390-1730.

Akustica executives attended the MEMS Executive Congress 2008 in Monterey, CA, last week.

Akustica and the Akustica logo are registered trademarks of Akustica, Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Contact Information: Press Contact: Akustica, Inc. Marcie Weinstein Phone: 412/390-1730 Email: mweinstein@akustica.com