Knowles Introduces Smart Microphone with an Embedded, Open DSP
Knowles, a global supplier of advanced micro-acoustic, audio processing, and precision device solutions, has announced it has sampled the new IA-610 smart microphone, combining a world-leading MEMS microphone with a best-in-class open digital signal processor (DSP) into a single subminiature package. This complete and customizable solution is similar in size to a MEMS microphone found in today's leading mobile electronic devices.
The IA-610 smart microphone provides an open DSP platform, enabling OEMs and third-party software developers to create and customize advanced features, or leverage Knowles industry-leading software and algorithms for a turnkey solution. This is the first intelligent microphone from Knowles built on the Company's internally developed microphone and DSP technology platforms. The IA-610 enables features like voice wake with voice commands, spatial recordings, and acoustic event detection, such as breaking glass or an infant crying. With voice rapidly emerging as the primary user interface, the IA-610 is the industry's first customisable solution in a single package which simplifies audio design and can reduce total system costs.
"Our strong position with mobile consumer OEMs, control of our microphone and DSP design, and breadth of our product portfolio makes Knowles the ideal partner to solve our customers' audio challenges," said Mike Polacek, president, Intelligent Audio. "We are very proud to introduce our first smart microphone with an embedded, open DSP that will enable a new ecosystem where partners can develop new audio features across mobile, ear and IoT applications."
Dedicated to innovation, the IA-610 is also the first embedded device to adopt the MIPI SoundWire interface. Knowles, a contributing member of the MIPI Alliance, selected this interface to simplify the design integration process and enable engineers to meet increasingly sophisticated designs. The interfaces also minimize costs, pin count, and power consumption. The enhanced processor is also capable of connecting to all major audio and data interfaces, such as PDM, I2S, SDW, SPI, UART, and I2C. The IA-610 includes a Low Power Sound Detector (LPSD), an audio processing algorithm with acoustic activity detection technology licensed as an IP block, from Sensory, Inc., that can be enabled.
