On May 16, the widely influential 2024 Asia Audio Expo, a major event for Bluetooth headphones and audio technology, officially commenced. As a leader in the field of sensory experiences, AAC Technologies showcased an impressive array of integrated achievements across sensors and semiconductors, acoustics, optics, and extended reality (XR) and deeply engaged with industry peers during the fair.
Four key domains are progressing steadily, with multiple innovative sensor products setting industry benchmarks
In the field of sensors and semiconductors, AAC Technologies exhibited innovative products such as low-power digital microphones, bone conduction microphones, and MEMS speakers. The low-power digital microphones, operating at only half the power consumption of typical microphones on the market with equivalent performance, boast excellent SNR and superior acoustic overload point (AOP) performance. They are widely applicable in wearable fields such as True Wireless Stereo (TWS), smart glasses, and smartwatches.
AAC Technologies’ bone conduction microphone exclusively captures sounds through bone vibrations, offering a remarkable SNR of up to 76 dB, low power consumption, and superior sound isolation. Primarily utilized in TWS earphones, it excels in uplink noise reduction in noisy and windy environments and also supports functionalities such as voice switch detection, tap detection, and sidetone assist. Even in a noisy setting like on the subway or in an elevator, it ensures clear call quality, delivering a superior voice experience.
Additionally, AAC Technologies showcased the ultra-compact MEMS speaker tweeter unit, SOPRANO, which offers exceptional high-frequency response. It is the only MEMS speaker solution on the market that does not require a power amplifier, effectively addressing the final challenge in delivering TWS hi-res audio quality. This innovation can be widely applied in earphones, hearing aids, and other products.
Currently, AAC Technologies is making steady progress in four key areas: high-end microphones, MEMS speakers, inertial chips and modules, as well as RF front-end devices. Its barometric pressure and microphone combo sensor along with MEMS speakers not only feature ultra-compact designs but also exhibit superior performance. A variety of these products have been widely commercialized across multiple sectors.
Years of acoustic expertise along with waterproofing and anti-leakage technologies ensure a composed and elegant audio experience across all scenarios
In the field of acoustic and electromagnetic technologies, AAC Technologies showcased a range of innovative products, including the waterproof super linear speaker SLS0715, the ARVR super linear speaker SLS0820, and high-performance X-axis linear actuators. Notably, the SLS0715 boasts a waterproof depth of 20 meters, fully meeting the waterproof requirements of various consumer electronics, allowing users to confidently record underwater with their handheld devices.
Furthermore, AAC Technologies provides the more compact super precise speaker SPS0613 speaker, which features a waterproof depth of 50 meters. Additionally, this speaker perfectly addresses the spatial stacking requirements for smaller wearable devices. AAC Technologies also exhibited an ultra-compact speaker tailored for open-type TWS earphones, aiming to deliver premium audio experiences to users in new markets.
WLG Technology: Unleashing the Power of Optics for Enhanced Visual Perception
In the realm of optics, AAC Technologies’ subsidiary, AAC Optics, unveiled its wafer-level glass (WLG), accompanied by an array of high-specification lenses and high-pixel camera modules, which are regarded as flagship offerings. The exclusive WLG technology developed by AAC Optics has attracted widespread industry interest for its versatility in various applications, spanning smartphones, automotive devices, LiDAR, drones, action cameras, AR/VR, optical communications, and medical equipment.
This technology facilitates the manufacturing of a diverse range of glass lens products, including aspheric imaging glass, collimation lenses, array lenses, freeform lenses, and aspheric prisms, dramatically improving the clarity and authenticity of visual experiences.
Seamless software-hardware integration: Smart audio glasses elevate communication efficiency and protect privacy
In the XR domain, AAC Technologies showcased its smart audio glasses, which weigh a mere 43g including the lenses. The glasses feature a near-ear acoustic design that seamlessly integrates the functionality of eyeglasses with that of Bluetooth earphones. The exhibit is equipped with AAC Technologies’ proprietary super linear speaker, the 0820 speaker unit, which represents the smallest volume design in the industry for equivalent acoustic performance, making the glasses lighter and more comfortable to wear.
Leveraging years of expertise in acoustic technology, AAC Technologies possesses top-tier capabilities in near-ear acoustic system design, including sound cavity structure design, customized algorithm development and integration, tuning by the Golden Ear Team, and far-field sound leakage cancellation, ensuring an open acoustic effect while enhancing privacy.
In the sound pickup domain, the exhibit was equipped with AAC Technologies’ high-performance dual-microphone system, complemented by AAC Technologies’ proprietary intelligent noise reduction and acoustic echo cancellation algorithm, delivering a clear call experience across all scenarios for users. Additionally, in the realm of audio glasses, AAC Technologies offers a comprehensive solutions from product definition, speaker monomer development, and acoustic system design to whole device solutions,and final assembly, testing, and packaging (FATP). This enables rapid response to diverse customer needs and facilitates the expansion of high-quality smart audio glasses into a wider array of application scenarios.
Industry insights: Automotive voice pickup takes center stage
At the 2024 Asia Automotive Audio Conference, Zhang Jinyu, the development engineer for automotive sensors at AAC Technologies, delivered a keynote speech titled Automotive Voice Pickup Systems in the Era of Intelligent Driving. He introduced AAC Technologies’ automotive voice pickup technologies and products across five domains: active noise cancellation, full-automotive voice pickup, independent sound zones, exterior voice pickup, and the balance of performance and aesthetic design.
Zhang Jinyu stated: “In the era of intelligent driving and smart cockpits, full-automotive voice pickup has become a necessity for both OEMs and users.” AAC Technologies offers a range of solutions, including automotive analog microphone arrays, digital microphone arrays, ANC vibration sensors, and voice pickup systems tailored for exterior vehicle applications. These can be strategically placed in locations such as the interior roof, ceiling lights, headrests, or exterior mirrors and high-mounted brake lights. AAC Technologies also provides acoustic solutions that strike a balance between voice pickup effectiveness, protection performance, and visual appeal.