Panasonic Develops New MEMS Microphone with Low Profile and High Heat Resistance

- Sample shipment from May 2007,
slim 1.05mm profile to contribute reducing the height of portable electronic appliances -

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Osaka, Japan -- Matsushita Electronic Industrial Co., Ltd. has developed a slim MEMS microphone suitable for portable electronic appliances typifying mobile phones. Sample shipment will start at the end of May 2007. The new MEMS microphone is constructed from an acoustic transducer (MEMS chip) made of MEMS technology and a CMOS amplifier, realizing low profile, at the same time, high heat resistance which enables Pb-free reflow solder mounting.

The new MEMS microphone contributes to reducing the height of portable electronic appliances, as well as reducing the mounting cost in their production process. It also contributes to realizing environment-conscious appliances by high heat resistance of 260 degree C which is required by Pb-free automatic reflow solder for print circuit board surface mounting.

[Features]

The new MEMS microphone has the following features:

1. Low profile 1.05mm contributes to reducing the height of portable electronic appliances
2. Less sensitivity change even after Pb-free reflow solder mounting (260 degree C, three times) with stable high heat resistance, and
3. Newly developed CMOS amplifier contributes to portable electronic appliances to be low power consumption and anti-noise designed.

[Description]

The new MEMS microphone incorporates the following technologies:

1. Solid metal shield structure and mounting technology realizing 1.05mm low profile
2. Newly developed technology of high heat resistance inorganic multilayer electret diaphragm formation; and
3. CMOS amplifier design technology realizing low power consumption, low noise and low output impedance.

Current ECMs (Electret Condenser Microphones) are weak to high heat due to organic electret material, it was requested to be durable to Pb-free high heat solder reflow mounting. Current MEMS microphones are using inorganic material which has enabled the high heat duration, however, there are still some issues. Some high heat 260 degree C resistance MEMS microphones are not slim enough, and some slim ones are not high heat resistance enough. Simultaneous realization of high heat resistance and low profile is requested from downsizing portable electronic appliances.

[Production plan]

Start of sample shipments: May 2007
Price of sample: Depends on quantity

About Panasonic

Best known for its Panasonic brand name, Matsushita Electronic Industrial Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic appliances for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the Company recorded consolidated net sales of US$77.19 billion for the year ended March 31, 2007. The Company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:MC) stock exchanges. For more information on the Company and the Panasonic brand, visit the Company's website at http://panasonic.net/.

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