Microphone With Trimming

• US 20160134975A1
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Inventors: Albers, John, Frst, Claus, Kuntzman, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/926,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/02 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/005 using semiconductor materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/04 Microphones H04R19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/003 Mems transducers or their use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/06 of electrostatic transducers

Abstract

A microphone includes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device, an amplifier, and an attenuation apparatus. The MEMS device converts acoustic energy into electrical signals. The amplifier is coupled to the MEMS device and receives an input signal from the MEMS device and performs amplification on the input signal to produce an output signal. The attenuation apparatus is coupled to the amplifier. Activation of the attenuation apparatus is effective to attenuate the output signal of the amplifier. A self-noise of the amplifier is attenuated and a sensitivity of the microphone is reduced such that a first signal-to-noise ratio is substantially the same as a second signal-to-noise ratio. The first signal-to-noise ratio occurs when the attenuation apparatus is not activated, and the second signal-to-noise ratio occurs when the attenuation apparatus is activated.

Claims

1. A microphone, comprising:

a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device, the MEMS device converting acoustic energy into electrical signals;

an amplifier coupled to the MEMS device, the amplifier receiving an input signal from the MEMS device and performing amplification on the input signal to produce an output signal;

an attenuation apparatus coupled the amplifier, wherein activation of the attenuation apparatus is effective to attenuate the output signal of the amplifier;

wherein a self-noise of the amplifier is attenuated and a sensitivity of the microphone is reduced such that a first signal-to-noise ratio is substantially the same as a second signal-to-noise ratio, the first signal-to-noise ratio occurring when the attenuation apparatus is not activated, and the second signal-to-noise ratio occurring when the attenuation apparatus is activated.

2. The microphone of claim 1, wherein the attenuation apparatus comprises a plurality of resistors that are selectively utilized in the attenuation apparatus.

3. The microphone of claim 1, wherein the attenuation apparatus comprises a plurality of resistors and at least one capacitor that are selectively utilized in the attenuation apparatus.

4. The microphone of claim 1, wherein the attenuation apparatus comprises at least one capacitor that is coupled to the output of the amplifier.

5. The microphone of claim 4, wherein the attenuation apparatus further comprises a plurality of resistors that are selectively utilized by the attenuation apparatus.

6. The microphone of claim 1, wherein the attenuation apparatus comprises an active attenuation circuit that is selectively utilized by the attenuation apparatus.

7. The microphone of claim 1, further comprising a second attenuation apparatus coupled to an input of the amplifier.

8. The microphone of claim 1, wherein the attenuation apparatus comprises one or more of a capacitor, a resistor, and an operational amplifier.

9. The microphone of claim 1, wherein the attenuation apparatus comprises a plurality of capacitors that are selectively utilized by the attenuation apparatus.