Thomas Gmeiner Joins USound as Vice President Global Program Management and Business Development

Austrian manufacturer and supplier of MEMS-based audio systems, USound, has extended its management team with Thomas Gmeiner, who was appointed as USound Vice President Global Program Management and Business Development. A former Knowles and AKG executive with more than 20 years experience in the audio industry, Thomas Gmeiner reinforces USound in a critical moment for the company, about to release its patented thin-film piezo-electric MEMS micro-speaker technology.

STMicroelectronics and Austrian company USound GmbH announced their collaboration on the industrialization and production of the world's first miniature piezoelectric MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) actuators for smart audio systems in portable devices. The patented micro-speaker technology from USound aims to replace commonly used balanced-armature and electrodynamic receivers for handsets with a small piezo-MEMS actuator.

This VC Spotlight article, from Mike Klasco includes some really great insight on upcoming developments and new companies active in the MEMS field. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) loudspeakers are just now appearing. As Mike explains “this is a really new technology, so new that only recently were functional lab prototypes operational.” Article originally published in Voice Coil, May 2015.