From traditional ECMs to MEMS microphones; 10 times smaller than electret condenser microphones (ECMs), with more functionality, MEMS microphones are important components in smartphones and tablets as they are used to improve sound clarity and eliminate ambient sounds.
Their digital output,
monolithic structure, and high tolerance to mechanical vibration are a game
changer.
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MEMS microphones. |
The rapid adoption of mobile
devices is and will create a high demand for MEMS microphones. The technology
is also gaining traction in the healthcare sector as it is being integrated
into hearing aids and blood pressure monitoring systems.
According to Technavio’s
latest report on the global
microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone market , the Global MEMS microphone market expected to
reach close to USD 2 billion by 2020.
For those who are unfamiliar, DigitalEcono recalls
that, MEMS microphones integrated in
most audio applications are growing in popularity in our mobile age. Apple and
Samsung are the major revenue contributors to the market.
These companies purchase
majority of the MEMS microphones for integration into their numerous consumer
electronic products.
Critical trends cover: Miniaturization, Advanced MEMS packaging, the entry of
numerous new vendors in the global MEMS microphone market and the decline of
average selling prices of MEMS microphones.
Some of the key vendors in the
global MEMS microphone market:
- AAC Technologies
- BSE
- GoerTek
- InvenSense
- Knowles
- STMicroelectronics
According to Technavio, Knowles dominates the
market with almost 50% of the overall market share. Companies such as AAC and
GoerTek are dependent on demand from Apple, who is their largest client, and
accounts for more than 40% of the MEMS microphone revenue for both companies. Both
AAC and GoerTek MEMS source their die technology from Infineon.