The new generation of smart phones can record 4K video quality. With audio recording progress in this matter is worse. The main problem in this case - it's small size enclosures devices. Worthy microphones in this format simply does not fit. At the moment, there is a tendency of using compact microphones based on MEMS structures (MEMS). Such microphones are produced on silicon wafers as electronic circuitry and compact enough: they are assembled in the dimensions of about 2 x 3 mm. At the heart of today's MEMS-microphones is capacitive method of converting voice into an electrical signal. Better solution, the developers believe the young company Vesper - a transition to MEMS with piezoelectric sensors.
The piezoelectric or electret microphones also invented a long time ago. The new production level of piezoelectric sensors are placed inside a compact MEMS-circuits. These microphones are able to operate in environments with high noise levels and not to lose the quality of voice recording. It is reported that the piezoelectric MEMS-microphones, despite their relative simplicity have the best in the industry ratio SNR (signal / noise) - at the level of 66 dB. In addition, these microphones are able to record sound without distorting the level of 135 dB. The pain threshold for humans, note, is at around 130 dB.
Other advantages of piezoelectric MEMS microphones are considered high dust- and waterproof. For example, at the MWC 2016 held a demonstration in which the microphone was placed in a water tank and still maintain performance. Conventional microphones in this respect much more sensitive to the operating environment and require special protection. According to statistics, the second most common failure of smartphones - is a failed microphone, and often this is due to its pollution. Also, according to the conviction of developer electret MEMS microphones work better in arrays, so you can provide targeted entry with the choice of the target source.
It is interesting to note that the development of a piezoelectric microphone assembly was carried out at the company GlobalFoundries. There are produced plates with microphones, which the company supplies Vesper largest vendor in this area - Hong Kong AAC Technologies company. The latter is interesting because it is considered to be the main supplier of microphones for Apple devices.