Beyond Vision: The Power of Sound

As vehicles become more intelligent, the integration of diverse types of sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, radar, and ultrasonic sensors is essential for creating a comprehensive perception of the surrounding environment. In addition to vision sensors, several use cases such as emergency vehicle detection and voice commands have recently emerged, proving the need to pick up reliably sounds external to the vehicle. Autonomous driving (SAE Level 3 and beyond) for instance requires the capability to detect an approaching emergency vehicle and react accordingly. MEMS microphones, traditionally used for this purpose, are prone to failure in harsh environments, exposed to snow, dust, water, and other contaminants through their acoustic porthole.

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Knowles’ porthole-less V2S200D vibration sensor is a robust alternative to traditional capacitive MEMS microphones and is specifically designed to deal with the demanding environments of automotive applications. With its small size, high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and large bandwidth, V2S200D achieves comparable performance to a traditional MEMS microphone. The PDM output interface facilitates seamless integration with vehicle electronic systems, offering automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers a more dependable, high-performance, and cost-effective alternative to traditional MEMS microphones.