MEMS Gamepad Microphone for Pressure Gradient Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing miniature microphones, particularly those utilizing MEMS technology, struggle to accurately measure both pressure and in-plane pressure gradients, with existing designs often limited to resolving pressure and a single axis of pressure gradient, necessitating multiple microphones and complex signal processing.
Innovation Solution
A MEMS microphone design featuring multiple deformable elements, such as outward-facing cantilevers, coupled to detect uniform and out-of-phase movements, utilizing piezoelectric materials for sensing, and integrated circuitry for signal processing, including neural networks to enhance desired signals and suppress unwanted ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple separate microphones are used to measure pressure and multiple pressure gradient components, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and microphone quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple deformable elements (diaphragms, cantilevers) into a single integrated microphone structure that can simultaneously measure pressure and multiple pressure gradient components. This merging approach allows one microphone device to perform functions that would traditionally require multiple separate microphones, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone structure is designed with multiple deformable elements that can respond to different acoustic stimuli (pressure, pressure gradients in different directions). By making the single microphone structure multi-functional, it can capture various acoustic parameters simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple specialized microphones and simplifying the overall system.
2Volume of moving object
If miniature microphone structures are used to reduce device size, then compactness is improved, but measurement accuracy of pressure gradients deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the microphone into multiple distinct deformable elements (such as multiple cantilevers or diaphragms) within the miniature structure. Each element can be optimized for specific measurement functions while maintaining the compact overall size. This segmentation allows the small microphone to capture multiple acoustic parameters with adequate precision despite the reduced scale.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes out-of-plane deformable elements (cantilevers bending perpendicular to the diaphragm plane) to sense pressure gradient components. By incorporating deformations in multiple dimensions (in-plane and out-of-plane), the miniature microphone can accurately measure pressure gradient vectors without requiring a larger structure, thus maintaining measurement precision while achieving compactness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simultaneous measurement of pressure and multiple components of pressure gradient with reduced microphone count and simplified signal processing, enhancing sound localization capabilities in compact electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
Deformation of each deformable element can be detected via a sensing material (e.g., such as a piezoelectric material) in contact with each deformable element
Data Source
AI summary
A microphone can include at least two deformable elements anchored at a center and sharing a common backside cavity. The at least two deformable elements can be deformable under pressure. Vibration modes of the at least two deformable elements can be coupled such that a first vibration mode can be associated with a uniform movement of all deformable elements and a second vibration mode can be associated with out-of-phase movements among the deformable elements. Deformation of each deformable element can be detected via a sensing material in contact with each deformable element to form a sensing port. Thus, the microphone can include at least two sensing ports and signals from the at least two sensing ports can be subtracted using analog or digital electronics to yield a signal responsive primarily to a pressure gradient along an axis.