Miniature MEMS actuators under development

Semiconductor company STMicroelectronics is collaborating with audio start-up USound on the industrialisation and production of the world’s first miniature piezoelectric MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) actuators for smart audio systems in portable devices.

USound’s microspeaker technology aims to replace commonly used balanced-armature and electrodynamic receivers for handsets with a small piezo-MEMS actuator. Manufactured using ST’s thin-film piezo-electric (TFP) technology, the actuators will improve scalability while assuring lower power consumption and heat dissipation in hearables and smartphones devices, without compromising audio quality.

“USound’s technology and the transition to piezo-MEMS actuators will bring semiconductor reliability, manufacturing efficiencies and — most importantly to the consumer — sound improvements to portable devices,” said Anton Hofmeister, vice president and GM of MEMS Microactuators Division, STMicroelectronics. “The announcement is a further step by ST … to expand our MEMS portfolio by leveraging our valuable actuation technology to address large market opportunities with high barriers to entry.”

“With its outstanding semiconductor and MEMS expertise, ST is the ideal partner to bring this never-seen-before technology to the market,” said USound CEO Ferruccio Bottoni. “Compared to standard speakers, our piezo-MEMS devices offer unprecedented mechanical precision, improving audio reproduction fidelity and device reliability in very thin form factors. As the first-of-its-kind device, our MEMS ‘Moon’ speaker targets earphone applications, bringing superior performance to the audio world at a competitive price.”

The technology will be on show in the ST stand at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, held from 27 February–2 March. The companies anticipate the piezoelectric MEMS actuator will move into production in Q3 of this year.