Imagine a microphone that can hear things even the human ear misses. Instead of using traditional electricity-based sensors, it uses light and color shifts to detect sound waves. This allows it to pick up the tiniest whispers without adding any background hiss.
Current MEMS microphones cannot match the human ear's sensitivity and noise floor, forcing a trade-off between size, robustness, and audio quality.
A proof-of-concept miniature photonic microphone. Deliverables include high-level device designs, laser structures, and acoustic chamber prototypes.
If you are a hearing aid manufacturer dealing with background noise and limited sensitivity — this project developed a photonic microphone that reaches a self-noise below 0 dB(A) SPL. This allows users to experience sound quality that exceeds natural human hearing.
If you are an autonomous vehicle developer dealing with the need for precise acoustic environment sensing — this project developed a sensor with a dynamic range surpassing 130 dB SPL. This enables vehicles to detect a wider range of sounds with unprecedented selectivity.
If you are a smart device OEM dealing with the trade-offs between microphone size and audio fidelity — this project developed a miniature photonic sensor using VCSEL technology. This provides high-fidelity sound capture in a small form factor.
Based on available project data, specific unit costs are not provided, but the project aims to use established photonics manufacturing techniques to ensure scalability.
Yes, the project is designed to be scaled using established photonics manufacturing techniques and involves three SMEs and one larger industry partner to facilitate this.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not listed, but the project is coordinated by Lumiary AB with a consortium of 7 partners.
The device integrates electronic, micro-mechanic, and photonic technologies, specifically using VCSELs and optical frequency shifts to convert sound to data.
The project period runs from 2024-02-01 to 2028-01-31, suggesting that a proof-of-concept will be developed by early 2028.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, featuring a 43% industry ratio with 3 SMEs and 1 larger industry partner. With 7 partners across 4 countries (SE, CH, IE, PL), it combines academic research from 3 universities with specialized industrial expertise in VCSEL manufacturing and micro-transfer printing.
Contact Lumiary AB in Sweden
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for chromometric sensing.
