Until recently, many smart speakers had to compromise between playback sound quality and voice accuracy because strong bass saturated the existing microphones. And ultra-high AOP microphones were either extremely expensive, large in size, or not as robust. With the VM2020, this compromise has been greatly reduced, while preserving the standard internals of a smart speaker.
The new VM2020 is based on Vesper’s patented piezoelectric MEMS transducer technology. This technology is already in mass production and has been proven in many applications, such as simplehuman’s latest line of sensor trash cans. Its inherent robustness and linearity make it uniquely suitable for applications where a microphone will be exposed to extremely high sound pressure levels. Unlike competing solutions, the VM2020 does not saturate even when located in close proximity to large professional audio speakers or heavy industrial equipment. It also doesn't saturate and continues to function normally in rugged industrial settings and automotive environments.
"This is the only mass manufacturable microphone on the market that can function above 150dB and opens up an incredible variety of new audio applications," says Matt Crowley, CEO of Vesper. "It is now possible to have acoustic monitoring systems in the loudest, dirtiest environments."
According to Vesper, the new microphone functions perfectly to 150dB and only hits 10 percent distortion at 152dB. Even when the sound levels go above 152dB the single layer microphone will recover instantaneously. For reference, 150dB causes an eardrum to rupture or is equivalent to the volume of a fighter jet taking off and 152dB is the volume level generated by a heavy-duty train horn and will spontaneously pop balloons.
As with all Vesper microphones, the VM2020 solves a critical need for stable, reliable and accurate microphone arrays that operate in environmentally harsh surroundings. All Vesper microphones are natively immune to environmental contaminants such as dust, water, moisture, oil, particulate matter and shock. Vesper microphones are also immune to stiction, which can cause catastrophic system failure.
With the new VM2020, Vesper's portfolio now includes the VM1000, VM1010, and VM1001 piezoelectric MEMS microphones. The VM2020, now broadly sampling, has a small 3.76 mm X 2.95 mm X 1.3 mm package. It's reflow solder compatible with no sensitivity degradation.
www.vespermems.com
