Vesper Launches High Performance VM2000 Microphone for Smart Speakers

Vesper announced its newest VM2000 high performance piezoelectric MEMS microphone, targeting microphone arrays used in voice-activated systems such as smart speakers, smart home and Internet of Things (IoT) products. According to Vesper, the VM2000 enhances voice capture and clarity, while ensuring long-term voice performance in harsh environmental conditions, and maintains high system performance over the life of a product.

Vesper, developer of the world’s most advanced piezoelectric acoustic sensors, announced a collaboration with Synaptics Incorporated, to improve developers’ ability to create ultra-durable, high-performance and highly stable voice interfaces for Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS) devices. Synaptics has selected Vesper piezoelectric MEMS microphones for its two- and four-microphone Amazon AVS development kits.

Since 2009, Vesper has built a broad and deep patent portfolio around its proprietary MEMS piezoelectric technology, which works quite differently from conventional capacitive MEMS microphones. As Matt Crowley, CEO of Vesper, says during an interview with Voice Coil, “We are just beginning to realize the potential of piezoelectric MEMS microphones.” This article was originally published in Voice Coil, December 2016.

The 32nd annual edition edition of Sensors Expo & Conference took place June 27-29, 2017, at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. During the event, focusing exclusively on sensors and sensor-integrated systems, the winners of the 2017 Best of Sensors Expo Awards, designed to spotlight the advances in both innovations and real-world applications of sensors, were announced. MEMS microphones developer Vesper was considered Engineering Team of the Year.

Vesper has launched VM1010, the first wake-on-sound MEMS microphone that consumes nearly zero power — allowing consumers to voice-activate battery-powered smart speakers, smart earbuds and TV remotes without draining the battery. The inaugural member of Vesper’s ZeroPower Listening MEMS microphone product line, VM1010 is a tiny, ultra-rugged piezoelectric MEMS microphone.

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.

Voice Coil December 2016 features a Spotlight article on Vesper’s new and revolutionary proprietary MEMS piezoelectric transducer architecture, a comprehensive Directory of Measurement Microphones and related solutions, and the always indispensable Acoustic Patents article, which discusses an interesting new subwoofer design. Vance Dickason characterizes a new compression driver from Eighteen Sound and a mid-bass woofer from Dayton Audio and remembers the notable life and work of industry pioneer Leo Beranek (September 15, 1914 – October 16, 2016). Now available online!