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The worldwide shipments of MicroElectrical-Mechanical System (MEMS) microphones rose to 1.3 billion units in 2011, up 82 percent from 704 million in 2010, according to HIS.  This increase was primarily driven by handsets.

Cashing in on this market trend, Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) - a Massachusetts-based provider of high-performance semiconductors for signal processing applications - has rolled-out a new low-noise surface mount MEMS microphone, ADMP504, which provides twice the far-field sound capture capability of competing solutions and wideband frequency response for high-definition (HD) audio recording.

The ADMP504 is able to deliver twice the far-field sound capture capability of competing solutions, because it features high SNR of 65 dBA, or 29 dBA EIN. The high SNR in turn facilitates excellent sound quality in high-definition applications.

According to ADI, the ADMP504 addresses the demanding requirements found in many industrial, professional audio and video conferencing applications. Because, it provides an extended frequency response up to 20 kHz and a high PSR (power-supply-rejection) of 70 dBV. In addition, it delivers an SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) of 65-dBA, or 29-dBA EIN (equivalent input noise) and the same SNR performance as an array of two individual 62-dB SNR microphones.

Powered by ADI's patented MEMS technology and audio signal processing expertise, the new ADMP504 microphone is available in a thin 3.35 mm x 2.50 mm x 0.88 mm surface-mount package. It is reflow solder compatible with no sensitivity degradation and has sensitivity specification of -38 dBV, which is well suited for many codecs and discrete signal chain components.

Apart from featuring low current consumption of < 180 A (typ) with a power supply voltage of 1.6 V to 3.3 V that extends battery life for portable applications, the new ADMP504 MEMS microphone also features extended frequency response out to 20 kHz that produces a well-balanced and natural sound.

ADMP504’s high PSR of 70 dB V, which provides superior RF and electrical noise rejection, also facilitates for greater design flexibility for microphone placement and power trace routing.

Available immediately for a price of $1.85 per 1000 unit, the ADMP404 is function- and pin-compatible with the ADMP404 to provide designers with an easy upgrade path.

Official with ADI said that additional 65-dB SNR MEMS microphones have been planned for this family, including a PDM (pulse-density-modulation) output version.

"ADI's high-performance MEMS microphones have earned market acceptance since they entered the market in 2008, particularly in smartphones and media tablets," said Jeremie Bouchaud, director and principal analyst, MEMS and sensors, IHS (News - Alert), in a press release. "With further performance improvements, ADI is poised to enable many new and innovative applications in other markets such as industrial equipment monitoring and building security."

In recent news, ADI had rolled-out a new 11-bit digital-to-analog (D/A) converter – AD9737A 2.5-GSPS, which reduces the cable head-end signal chain footprint by allowing cable television and broadband operators to synthesize the entire cable spectrum up to 1 GHz into a single RF port.