Knowles MQM series microphone.
Knowles Corporation, Itasca, Ill, announced that it has shipped the company’s two millionth Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) microphone for hearing instruments. The hearing industry started to adopt MEMS microphones in 2010, and Knowles surpassed the 1-million mark for distribution in November 2013. The company reached the 2-million milestone four times faster, the company explains, due its dedication to continuous advancement and increased customer demand.
The development of the MQM MEMS microphone series, said by Knowles to be the world’s smallest and most production-friendly hearing instrument microphone, aided this volume milestone. The engineers at Knowles developed the MQM series to provide best-in-class acoustic performance for users, including a high signal-to-noise ratio and environmental robustness. The small size positions it as an attractive design for manufacturers and the ability to be surface mounted simplifies the hearing aid assembly process.
“Achieving this milestone in the hearing health category reflects the growing demand for solutions with superior performance and easy manufacturing integration,” says Gordon Walker, Knowles co-president of specialty components. “Our commitment to the industry makes us the only company with mature, highly customizable, and market-proven MEMS manufacturing processes focused on the hearing instrument space.”
Knowles’ patented technology, which is used in the majority of hearing care products on the market, has enabled technology leaps in hearing health innovation over the past 60 years. Knowles reports that Starkey Hearing Technologies was the first manufacturer to adopt Knowles’ MEMS technology for hearing aids and continues to use it in several premium products. Knowles is also the producer of MEMS microphones in the GN ReSound LiNX™ and Beltone First™ MFi hearing aids.
“Knowles continues to innovate and enhance MEMS technology to produce the highest-quality sound performance for hearing aid users,” says Brian Crannell, Knowles senior director of marketing and business development, specialty components. “Our engineering expertise and rigorous testing allows us to consistently deliver microphones with the best performance in the world and most manufacturing flexibility.”
Source: Knowles Corporation
