MEMS Devices Electret Condenser Microphone

Question: Discuss about theMEMS Devices for Electret Condenser Microphone. Answer: Introduction In this report, discussions would be made on MEMS based Hearing Aids Device which is currently being considered as the most effective alternative of electret condenser microphone (ECM) hearing aids systems that are traditionally recommended to patients having hearing issues. The basic information of the system would be discussed, along with the methods of operation, ethical considerations, and advantages of the same over the ECM. Besides this, answers to the post activity questions would also be included in the report. MEMS Based Hearing Aids Device: Basic information Use of MEMS based Hearing Aids Device According to the reports of the World Health Organization, approximately 5 million people residing in the United Kingdom experience issues with hearing (Wang et al. 2015). However, only 25 percent of these people use hearing aids, and even those who use these systems voluntarily wait for at least 10 years for doing so. Researchers Raj et al. (2015) are of the opinion that low adoptability rate of hearing aids has several factors associated with it: lack of aesthetics, price, cosmetic issue, lack of comfort and size being the primary ones. The authors are also of the opinion that MEMS based Hearing Aids Devices are popular among those particular parts of the population who are reluctant to adopt hearing aids due to the cost and lack of aesthetic values of the devices, in spite of not being able to hear properly. Type of the MEMS Device Authors Dwivedi and Khanna (2015) have pointed out the fact that MEMS device can be classified in the following groups based on the type of sensor used in the same: Devices using force sensors Devices using accelerometers Devices using pressure sensors and Devices using humidity sensors MEMS based Hearing Aid Devices utilize pressure sensors to detect any incoming sound, which is the converted to a signal of higher amplitude (Raj et al. 2015). MEMS Based Hearing Aid Device: Method of Operation Experts Killion et al. (2016) have explained the mode of operations of MEMS based Hearing Aid Devices in a detailed manner. According to them, the device consists of a diaphragm that can freely move over a fixed back plate. The diaphragm and the backplate are encased within a silicon wafer, and the entire setup acts like a variable capacitor and an electrical signal is applied between the two. Incoming sound pressure waves, that enter the silicon wafer through the holes, cause movement of the diaphragm to move away from the back plate, hereby varying the capacitance between the two. Figure: Changes in capacitance between the diaphragm and fixed back plate of MEMS (Source: Chang 2017, pp-15) This change in capacitance, on the application of a constant charge, converts into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is then amplified and reconverted into sound energy (Chang 2017). Thus, the user gets to hear a much-amplified version of the incoming sound. Use of MEMS Based Hearing Aids Device in the field of medicine According to Popelka and Moore (2016), the utilization of MEMS technology has made it possible to develop hearing aid devices that in spite of being small in size, are capable of generating high quality sound. Besides this, such devices match the capabilities of traditional ECM based hearing devices in terms of affordability and reliability. On the other hand, the use of MEMS technology has facilitated the process of reducing the size of the devices to such an extent, that at present, such devices appear almost invisible to the external world (Dwivedi and Khanna 2015). Thus, MEMS based hearing aid devices have actually eliminated the social stigma factor associated with the low rate of adoption of hearing aids. Ethical Implications of MEMS Based Hearing Aids Device According to experts Popelka and Moore (2016), MEMS based hearing devices have been undoubtedly devised keeping in mind the benefit of the users. However the novel intent has not been capable of eradicating some of the ethical challenges that are associated with the use of modern deices for healthcare practices. The authors have highlighted two such challenges, namely: Malpractices by medical experts: According to the researchers, the availability of the new technology might encourage certain sections of the physicians to prescribe the same to patients without considering any other factors that might lead to difficulties in hearing (Killion et al. 2016). Degradation of patient-doctor bond: The availability of MEMS based hearing devices in the market might actually encourage people suffering from hearing issues to start adopting them without any consultation with the physicians (Dwivedi and Khanna 2015). MEMS Based Hearing Aids Device V/s Traditional Methods As pointed out by Chang (2017), MEMS hearing aid devices are not only affordable to the common mass, but has are also capable of providing high quality services to the users. The unmatched aesthetic values of the same also make the devices far more acceptable than the traditional ECM devices that have been utilized for long. Thus, it can be said that the MEMS hearing devices provide better facilities to the users as compared to traditional systems. Post- Activity Questions Limitations to using MEMS based Hearing Aids Devices The research work conducted for developing this report indicates that as of now, no particular limitation of using MEMS based Hearing Aids Devices has been identified. Advantages of using a MEMS device over previous methods The advantages of using MEMS hearing aid devices are: The devices are small in size and are aesthetically built (Chang 2017). The devices provide quality services to the users. The devices are cost efficient. Potential or existing application of MEMS in agriculture In the field of agriculture, research works are being conducted with the aim of developing sensors that can detect the presence of pathogens in livestock products (Valente 2017). However, MEMS based sensors capable of measuring the moisture content of soils have long been utilized in agricultural fields (Palaparthy, Baghini, and Singh 2013). Limitations of MEMS and MEMS devices in replacing existing macro-electromechanical devices No such functional limitation of MEMS hearing aid devices has been identified as of now, that might act as a constraint to use the same as a replacement of existing ECM devices (Raj et al. 2015). Conclusions Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) or devices can be defined as an integration of electrical and mechanical devices, which when constructed on ICs are capable of conducting the operational activities of traditional macroelectromechanical devices. The discussion made in this paper highlight the wide range of applications of such devices in supporting people having issues with hearing. References Chang, C.S., 2017. Development and Research of Digital Hearing Aid. Dwivedi, A. and Khanna, G., 2015. Performance evaluation of MEMS based capacitive pressure sensor for hearing aid.International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS),2. Killion, M.C., Van Halteren, A., Stenfelt, S. and Warren, D.M., 2016. Hearing Aid Transducers. InHearing Aids(pp. 59-92). Springer International Publishing. Palaparthy, V.S., Baghini, M.S. and Singh, D.N., 2013. Review of polymer-based sensors for agriculture-related applications.Emerging Materials Research,2(4), pp.166-180. Popelka, G.R. and Moore, B.C., 2016. Future Directions for Hearing Aid Development. InHearing Aids(pp. 323-333). Springer International Publishing. Raj, A., James, A., Mathew, A., James, A. and Kirubaraj, A., 2015, February. Model design of MEMS based acoustic sensor for cochlear implant-wearable technology. InElectronics and Communication Systems (ICECS), 2015 2nd International Conference on(pp. 350-352). IEEE. Valente, A., 2017. MEMS Devices in Agriculture. InAdvanced Mechatronics and MEMS Devices II(pp. 367-385). Springer International Publishing. Wang, Z., Zou, Q., Song, Q. and Tao, J., 2015, June. The era of silicon MEMS microphone and look beyond. InSolid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems (TRANSDUCERS), 2015 Transducers-2015 18th International Conference on(pp. 375-378). IEEE.