Most microphones used today are based on century-old technology, while MEMS microphones, which are relatively new, are established as a leading solution for mobile, wearable, and highly miniaturized, low power applications. The problem is that current MEMS microphones have not been able to break the signal to noise barrier that would take the technology closer to even in the most modest conventional condenser capsules.
sensiBel says that it will be able to break that frontier with its patented optical technology that allows creating MEMS microphones with true studio-quality performance in a small size package — claiming a quantum leap in performance compared to today’s mainstream MEMS microphones. sensiBel’s ambition is to enable new and improved user experiences in a wide range of applications, even in traditional professional markets dominated by conventional microphone technology.
According to the Norwegian company, the improvement of the key microphone parameters for MEMS microphones has today reached a ceiling and its new optical MEMS transducer technology is required to make a significant leap in performance. sensiBel’s patented technology is based on the optical phenomena of interference and diffraction, observed in light waves. In simple terms, the sensiBel microphone uses a tiny energy-efficient laser in combination with a miniaturized and integrated interferometer to measure the motion of a silicon-based membrane with extreme accuracy. The entire optical system is in fact smaller than a cubic millimeter! This ultra-low self-noise readout principle offers the higher SNR and AOP characteristics that are challenging for existing MEMS microphones, while keeping the same small MEMS package and low power consumption.
The company has now implemented this technology in a small package that it says is able to offer "true studio-quality," with high dynamic range and easy product integration. Additional benefits of the optical MEMS transducer system, sensiBel adds, are enhanced environmental robustness e.g. against dust, and significantly reduced likelihood for stiction (the membrane stuck to the backplate).
The sensiBel SBM100 ultra-low noise, optical MEMS microphone features 80dBA Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR), 140dB SPL Acoustic Overload Point (AOP), <0.5% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and yet with low power consumption in a small MEMS package with digital output – a quantum leap in performance compared to today’s mainstream MEMS microphones.
"sensiBel’s microphone is a breakthrough innovation that could revolutionize the fields of voice control and sound detection analytics," says Dieter Kraft, Managing Director at TRUMPF Venture, the company that now led the funding round. "We are pleased to be able to accompany an excellent team on its journey to success together with strong syndicate partners."
"We were told a few years back it would not be possible to make a MEMS microphone with 10 times better performance than today’s state-of-the art MEMS microphones. We have now proven with our microphone, tested together with customers, we have such a disruptive performance, and are looking forward to further grow the company together with our experienced investors and great team of employees into all markets where such performance is requested,” adds Sverre Dale Moen, the CEO of sensiBel.
sensiBel was founded in 2016 based on years of research at SINTEF, one of Europe’s largest independent research organisations, to commercialize the optical MEMS sensor technology. The sensiBel optical MEMS technology can also be used in other MEMS products like accelerometers. The funding will enable sensiBel to ramp up production and support development and research activities.
Egil Garberg, an investment manager at longstanding sensiBel shareholder Investinor, has followed the company for years and states: “sensiBel is one of the most exciting deep-tech companies in Norway. We have backed the company since 2018 and are looking forward to working closely with new owners with complementary experience and additional capital as we prepare the company for scaling-up."
www.sensibel.com
