Hey Siri: A Revolution in Voice Recognition
In 2011, when Siri was integrated into the iPhone 4s, it sparked a wave of discussions and entrepreneurial ventures in voice technology and voice assistants. Subsequently, Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa voice assistants emerged, leading to an increasing prevalence of voice intelligent assistants on smartphones. KPCB partner and “Internet Queen” Mary Meeker dedicated over a tenth of her Internet Trends report this year to the word “voice,” highlighting that “touchscreen + microphone” is replacing the “keyboard + mouse” interaction method.
From wearable devices to home assistants, microphones have been installed in nearly all smart hardware to meet voice interaction scenarios. When it comes to the accuracy of sound capture, the two most commonly used technologies in microphone construction are Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microphones and Electret Condenser Microphones (ECM), both playing a crucial role.
When choosing between ECM and MEMS microphones, many factors need to be considered. ECM, as a traditional model, has been widely adopted in the market; however, the new MEMS microphones demonstrate irreplaceable advantages – they have strong resistance to RF interference, solve the common current noise (TDD noise) issue in mobile phone designs, and are structurally easier to design. The new MEMS microphone technology that allows for small package sizes is more suitable for smart devices that achieve noise reduction through multiple built-in microphones.
Risks and Rewards: How Can Mobile Phone Brands Ensure MEMS Microphone Quality?
Currently, MEMS microphone manufacturers in the market are facing multiple technical challenges. During the mass assembly of printed circuit boards, there are several technical issues that could jeopardize the integrity of MEMS microphones, and the high defect rates caused by these issues ultimately have to be borne by mobile phone brands.
These issues include pressure buildup due to extremely high temperatures during reflow, particulate contamination, and solder droplet atomization, which can damage MEMS microphones, resulting in decreased acoustic performance, significantly reduced yield, and increased manufacturing costs. All these problems stem from improper handling during installation and a lack of effective testing.
From a quality risk perspective, the decline in acoustic performance of MEMS microphones can lead to higher defect rates for mobile phone brands, affecting shipment volumes and market launch times, creating supply risks, and even impacting profits.
From a long-term economic and brand benefit perspective, quality issues with MEMS microphones can also affect consumer experience and, in the long run, have a negative impact on the brand, harming brand reputation.
In the face of such challenges, Gore’s design and engineering team has developed a unique solution, the newly launched GORE® MEMS Protective Acoustic Products. This product can reduce supply and quality risks for mobile phone brands, providing comprehensive protection for microphones during MEMS microphone manufacturing and circuit board assembly, shielding them from particulate contamination and pressure buildup, while also supporting testing during the process, allowing mobile phone brands to firmly control product quality and achieve cost control.
GORE® MEMS Protective Acoustic Products: Two Flexible Solutions
The GORE® MEMS Protective Acoustic Products provide reliable particulate protection, while the breathable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane allows gases to pass through the microphone sound port, alleviating pressure buildup and protecting the microphone from damage.
This product comes in two styles, designed to meet the specific needs of circuit board assembly and microphone manufacturers.
· Style100: Suitable for Circuit Board Assembly
In the SMT process, reliable particulate protection can effectively reduce contamination, while efficient breathability can alleviate pressure buildup, ensuring safety in the SMT process, helping to improve yield and reliably control manufacturing costs. For mobile phone brands, being able to conduct testing during the process ensures better quality for MEMS microphones and further enhances process efficiency. Style 100 can be installed before the reflow process, either on the top of the microphone with a sound port or on the back of the circuit board at the bottom of the microphone. The product is provided in a roll format to seamlessly match high-speed SMT placement machine production lines.
· Style200: Suitable for Microphone Manufacturers
Style 200 can be installed inside the MEMS microphone during the packaging process, providing particulate protection without requiring any special handling during circuit board assembly. The product is digitally mapped in a wafer format and is compatible with high-speed die bonding equipment. Gore collaborates directly with brands, microphone manufacturers, and contract manufacturers and has produced over 100 million GORE® MEMS Protective Acoustic Products. These products meet the stringent requirements of high-volume, high-speed installation processes and can withstand temperatures of up to 280°C (390ºF) for 40 seconds during multiple reflow cycles. For mobile phone brands, Style 200 can prevent particulate contamination of MEMS microphones from the start of circuit board assembly, achieving better product quality and further reducing supply and quality risks. Additionally, the Style 200 product is considered by the industry to be the trend for future MEMS microphone protection solutions.
In the long run, GORE® MEMS Protective Acoustic Products, with their reliable particulate protection, efficient pressure balance, and flexible in-process testing, can provide exceptional protection for MEMS microphones from production to manufacturing, ensuring yield and quality while improving economic benefits.
The domestic consumer electronics market, including smartphones and wearable devices, has entered a heated competitive stage, with functions gradually becoming homogenized. The market is transitioning from past “hardware competition” to “experience competition,” where voice recognition, as a crucial aspect of user experience, makes the reliable quality of microphones even more important. Today, due to the rapid development of the domestic economy, various manufacturing costs are rising, and cost reduction has become the mainstream voice of major mobile phone brands. Better cost control is the foundation for sustainable development of enterprises. Gore Technology is committed to enabling mobile phone brands to achieve controllable costs and quality, thus gaining an advantage in fierce competition and winning a larger market share.
Note: GORE is a trademark owned by W.L. Gore & Associates
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