miniDSP Introduces UMA-8 USB Microphone Array for Voice-Activated Applications

The new miniDSP UMA-8 is a high-performance yet low cost multichannel USB microphone array built around XMOS multicore technology, designed for voice-recognition application development. Seven high-performance MEMS microphones are configured in a circular arrangement to provide high-quality voice capture for a wide range of applications. Leveraging the onboard DSP processing, the UMA-8 supports voice algorithms including beamforming, noise reduction, acoustic echo cancellation and de-reverb.

At Mobile World Congress 2017, Barcelona, Infineon Technologies and XMOS partner to deliver a new building block for voice recognition. It features a combination of Infineon’s BGT60TR24B 60GHz 2Tx/4Rx radar IC with accompanying antenna, 70dB SNR silicon microphone sensors, based on Infineon’s dual backplate MEMS technology, and an audio processor from XMOS. In combination, the solution provides far field voice capture by audio beamforming combined with radar target presence detection.

Top MEMS supplier STMicroelectronics, DSP Group, and Sensory, a leading technology provider of voice interface and keyword-detect algorithms, have revealed details for a highly power-efficient, voice-detecting and -processing microphone that delivers keyword-recognition capabilities in a compact package. Ultra-low power voice processing and MEMS microphone circuitry enables sound detection and keyword recognition in a miniaturized single package.

XMOS announced the launch of its xCORE Array Microphone aggregation solution for voice user interfaces (VUI) in smart home applications. With the ability to aggregate up to 32 MEMS microphones, and offering USB and I2S backhaul, XMOS enables a new class of array microphones to be created. Applications include smart TVs, soundbars, virtual digital assistants (VDAs) and smart home automation.